I can't get no satisfaction ...... smile


These days with my allaerts breuer tonearm cart combo and the rest of my system, together I have a sound that is very close to the kind of sound i am looking for and the kind of sound i expect from a hi fidelity system. At moments it sounds state of the art... with certain recordings, with certain instruments. I'm talking mostly hear about the timbre of certain instruments and overall tonal shadings.

I am still trying to identify the qualities that i dont feel i have with my systems sound that once i DO have, will get me to the point where i am absolutely blown away almost every time i listen!

Huge order I know. But i feel like i'm getting close to that. I might be just a couple tiny steps away from that. It could be a record mat change or a stand or a cable or something. The quality that i lack isnt obvious but subtle and fine but i can't seem to pin point it.

Part of my problem is...I have no idea of how good it can get? I wish i could fly to some of the systems that are shown here on audiogon so i can get a better read on how i'm doing! [smile]

I have heard other audiophiles systems but the more the better i think.

Does anyone else struggle with the question of how good their systems sound or doesnt and with the question of whats possible?[ i guess as audiophiles we all do to some degree or another]

How many people Love the sound of their system every single time they listen and are not trying to find ways to better their sound? [i thought this might become an interesting thread]

I would imagine their are some really, really frustrated people out there! some wont even find this thread because they sold their gear about 3 years ago and bought an ipod!

[smiling]

I would say for me it changes, not because i get a new component but even from one listen to the next with the same identical system. It could be my mood...ie, the angle at which i come at the music, if you know what i mean.

Overall i am pretty satisfied, sometimes all the tweaking of vta and vtf and different pressings can throw the sound, that drives me batty sometimes. For many years i went back and forth between loving hifi and loathing it. I'd say i'm a couple years away from having all the bugs hammered out of my system and will have it running optimally and will be just listening and buying records only, with maybe the occasional exploration into different gear for pleasure purposes. We'll see what time brings though!

How bout' you?

.
vertigo

Showing 5 responses by tmsorosk

I think building a system with good neutraility will get you close to what you are looking for . I've built a system that sounds very involving night or day , hot or cold , Jazz or rock/pop , good recordings or bad . I won't say it makes a poorly recorded disc sound like a good one , but almost all disc's are very listenable and enjoyable but never frustrating . It's taken many years , much listening and of coarse $ to finally get a system that sounds right all the time with all music , and there's no hint of anguish just pure pleasure .
I don't whats vexing about it , we new from the first audio component we purchased many years ago that it would not sound like live music and to this day we no that a new piece of kit , no matter how great will leave something behind .
What we can do is create a music maker that will entertain and dazzle us into joyish submission .
Vertigo... As far as sources go I've owed and heard many of both digital and analog and think I'm safe in saying neither one is superior in every way . Many audiophile friends have systems that are a whisker bright so analog seems to be the way to go for them . About 8 years ago I decided to put all my resources in to one format , because high end can have a very high price tag . At that time LP's were fading and hard to get in Edmonton , so I decided to go digital since I'm mostly into music , ya I no my system link says otherwise . So all my resources /money went to a close to state of the art type player ,DAC , cabling , cords isolation not to mention power conditioning that is crucial to good digital playback . I guess I'm a little biased but I think most big eared audiophiles would enjoy my system , even vinylphiles . Regards Tim
Hello Vertigo .. I was speaking from a pure sonic prospective . I guess we all have different sonic perimeters that we value . I value a natural , neutral tonal balance with the just the right amount of musicality and superior bass performance , I have found that in digital in a way that analog just doesn't seem to convey . Clearly a personal preference . I have spent considerable time and money getting things just right , and it wasn't until the last two components were purchased and correctly voiced that the musicians entered my music chamber and player for me personally . ( Ayre KXR preamp and Ayre C5MP used as a transport ). When I traded in my LP's for CD's I always felt I would hear an analog rig that would bring me back to vinyl , but so far that hasn't happened , I do get allot of exposure to other system's being involved in an audio club . I think easy access was one of the reason's I original wen digital only but since then , sonic's and musical pleasure is my only concern . Regards Tim
I not sure what you mean by extreme Vertigo , but the cartridge I liked best was a Lyra Helikon on a Simon Yorke table . I had a bunch of different phono stages , I think the ARC 3SE was the best match . Not state of the art but not bad , this setup made most of the early digital stuff sound sterile . I no analog has come along way in the last ten years but I think digital has come even further . The price of that 8 to 10 year old rig still outweighs my currant digital setup .
Maybe you can share with us which digital player and DAC you feel , "can't pull off that last bit ".
I have several friends that spent considerable time , money and resources upgrading a turntable rig , including dedicated high end turntable stands , not to mention considerable time matching and changing other components in there system . But when it came to digital just plunked down a mid priced CD player without proper setup or matching and announced it was inferior . I think if the same time and care was taken with digital the results would surprise many . I have also found that an audio system that has been setup and voiced using an analog source won't sound right when a digital source is introduced . Regards Tim