Listening to other audiophiles rigs will help to accelerate your journey to audio nirvana!

I'm in Westchester. I wouldn't mind getting together.

@evank, I probably should have posted this when I got here last Monday! I’m leaving later this afternoon and having lunch downtown with my daughter who lives here in about an hour.

I’ll probably be back within six months at the most. Feel free to join my private FB hifi group: HiFi and music media releases  One guy said a week ago when another new member joined that "our group doesn’t feel like social media, it feels real." We’re not a huge group but there’s definitely a friendly vibe. 

 

@vuch 

I sent you a private message

Cool, good advice. If you get up to the Pacific Northwest, send me a message. Yes, in general we are a solitary bunch. I have met with a number of AudioGoners. I'm a bit more social since I am retired.

I agree. People who want a good audio music need to find a good reference sound that he/she can enjoy for a long time. Listening other people’s rigs will help to find their musical nirvana.

I welcome people who are looking for a good sound and music to my shop for an audition.

Some say going into the audio room is like going to a war. I feel that since I listen good sounds (my audio system) always, listening other audio systems hurt my stomach (+ brain fog, blur my vision, itch my ears, etc.).

Too many people are suffering by audio systems’ sounds and wasting money and time. The dirty and distorted audio sounds can hurt you whether you feel or not. Many splendid and impressive audio sounds aren’t all good for your health. Fall asleep (knock down) while listen audio music due to the listener’s fatigue isn’t healthy. Listen to other audio systems as much as you can. Alex/Wavetouch audio

Awesome. Will message….

the best advice I ever received was from fellow audiophiles who came over and listened to my system. $50 tricks that were worth $1000s. Some members here are awesome. And then there are the narcissistic weird jerks with too much to spend like anywhere in society.

@parkergetdean, your post got my attention! What are the $50 tricks you speak of? I’d love to share those in my group. Of course I’ll give you full credit! 

Good discussion.  mihorn, I'm not sure how "listener fatigue"  causes a person to fall asleep. Seems to me just the opposite is true.  My sometimes multi hour listening sessions will result in a nap but it's always when the music selections and sound quality are perfect for me.

OP. Agreed!  Just made new audiophile friend in my town. Went and listened to his bi amped system that he (mostly) built himself. Amazing sound quality!  It sounded better that any showroom setup I’ve ever heard. Including d’Agostino monos driving Wilson’s!  

One member just rented offic space downtown for our “clubhouse!” 

That's serious dedication.

Does that member pay the monthly rent/electric bill also?? Very generous, if so.

"Some members here are awesome. And then there are the narcissistic weird jerks with too much to spend like anywhere in society."

Always nice having a social gathering, when a hobby like audio is involved, it can get weird.

@tablejockey Yes, the member who rented space does pay the rent and I assume other utilitity bills. He said he was going to do it for a year and would ask us to chip in if he keeps it. He’s a real estate agent and said he’s also using it as an office, although I don’t think he has clients meet him there unless they’re into audio. Some of the other members have gear there but the majority of gear and albums are his. He likes to buy a lot of used gear and this is the place he keeps most of it. 

Some members are there more than others. Several weeks ago a few of us met there and then walked to a bar to hear live music. 

Our local group is a fun group and all of us get along well. There are differences in political views within our group but we don’t let that come between us. We have respect for each other as people and enjoy each other’s company when we’re together.

" He said he was going to do it for a year and would ask us to chip in"

Hah! In my initial post, I was going to include "asking for a donation/organized meetings- that's when I tap out" but didn't want to appear as "negative guy" 

"He’s a real estate agent and said he’s also using it as an office"

That's a "creative write off" 

Also in the PNW. I try to listen to anything I can. Go go to a few of the local stereo stores and demo what ever they have hooked up. To get the best sound, you have to learn what works, and what doesn't. How much time, money and effort that last 10-20% takes. 

Listening to other audiophiles rigs will help to accelerate your journey to audio nirvana!

It certainly did with me. A couple of years ago, I heard a friend’s vinyl system. It reminded me what I was missing after I selling my turntable a few years earlier. One thing led to another and I borrowed a traded in Klimax LP12 from my dealer to try out. Now, vinyl has become my main source again.

Many years ago, I thought I had a decent sounding system.  When I moved to another city, I discovered that a professional audio reviewer lived nearby.  I introduced myself via email.   He was very hospitable and invited me over to his place for a listen.   When I sat down in his listening chair, it was an OMG moment.  I was sitting in front of the musicians. 

Generously, he invited me over often to listen to new components and new tweaks that he was reviewing.  It was an amazing learning experience.  He was the one who introduced me to the concept of clean AC power as being the foundation of high-fidelity reproduction.   Right he was.

@steakster 

@vuch maybe it was more my ignorance, but...

they told me to switch from an optical to a coax cable between my CD transport and DAC. The improvement was stunning. I also got turntable mats, isolation pads, turntable, speaker and sub placement advice that were all better than anything I have read.

That’s great about the group.  My wife and I were just discussing this topic.  I’ve met some great guys buying and selling gear and connecting with audiophiles online.  One thing we have in common is the love of music and the equipment we play it on.  Another commonality I’ve found is that no one else in our families and most of our friends share the same passion for equipment.  We have to connect outside of our usual social circle.  I am starting the Boston Audio Group or BAG right now.  

I spent many years listening to far better systems than I knew how to assemble or afford. Over time, between greater knowledge and greater expenditure my systems began to compete or exceed most other systems I heard. While I did enjoy the social interaction with other audiophiles during this phase of my life I'm now completely content with listening to my system exclusively. No longer any utility in listening to other systems and my social interaction comes from other activities. I do still enjoy conversing about audiophile things through forums.

@sns 

Me too. 

@ghdprentice ​​​​@sns 

Thanks for sharing your insights with the rest of us as we strive for audio nirvana. 

@sns I feel similar to your thoughts regarding listening to other people’s systems when it comes to attending shows. 

I attended AXPONA this year, the first show I ever attended. I ended up staying all three days. Mostly to hang out with friends. Listening to all of the gear was fun since it was a new experience for me. I did enjoy the record fair and picked up a few albums, one of which made it into my reference system’s collection.

I also attended the show in NJ last weekend while I was in NYC. This time, frankly I was bored. I went on Friday and didn’t really stay that long. I may go to AXPONA again next year to see friends but if it wasn’t for friends being there I probably wouldn’t go. Perhaps if there was something new or something really special then I might go. 

I didn’t hear anything at AXPONA or in NJ that sounded better than what I have in my room. I’ve put in a lot of work the last five years and it was nice to have confirmation of what I’ve done is working.

We have a strong music club in our area and it's been a great way to hear what I like and what I don't like, as well as to learn about the value of system setup, room treatments, and much more.  I'm sure I could have and would have learned much of this from forums like this one, but there's no substitute for actual listening experience.

I consider the relationships that have blossomed as a result of being part of this group to be more important than the hobby.

coppy777    mihorn, I’m not sure how "listener fatigue"  causes a person to fall asleep. Seems to me just the opposite is true.  My sometimes multi hour listening sessions will result in a nap but it’s always when the music selections and sound quality are perfect for me.

Whisper "hello" repeat with your system sounds. Try to hear your voice. You’ll hear much glare/distortion sounds. That’s the true sound of your system. Your ears trick you to not hear it. But you are listening that distorted sound constantly anyway. The reproduced electronic sounds are not natural and your brain must process it. That's hard and makes you tired ( to fall asleep). In long run, your ears try to shut off (numb) itself with the electric hi-fi sound. And that makes you wanting more stimulus sounds. Also, your brain stop processing and ignore distorted sound (and more) signals. There is no study about this. I’m not a sound PHD. All I can say is people need to know the true sound of their systems.

Why this is important? I used suffer from Tinnitus. Since my system sounds natural, I don’t suffer by T. The side effect of bad hi-fi sounds (car radio/audio, cellphone, PA speakers, audio systems, electric guitar sound, etc.) can be serious. No wonder, many electric guitar (using severe distortion sounds) players are bit different. The quality of these electronic sounds have gotten really bad last 30 years. 

The world’s best microphones are from 1950’s. The world’s best sound electronic guitars are from 1950’s. Same for audio tubes. People who made those best sounding electronics are dead now without transferring their knowledge to their students. 60~90 years old good sound mics are broken and work no more now and all new mics sound so bad that we must hear noisy recording and broadcasting always.

Alex/Wavetouch audio