2. analog
  3. 1200789010

Strange phenomona this hobby.

I can't help but be competetive, that's just me. Not so much with others, but with myself.
Thats why when I heard the MBL system I told myself "self", I have to have that sound in my home.
And I agreed with myself. That was about the jist of the conversation. That kind of realism one does not hear too often or some never hear it.
So where do I stand now?
My system does not scream out "realism realism" like the MBL does. It's quite neutral though, I can play music all day long with out getting fatigued. Merlins are just that type of speaker-great design.
I just recently was forced to change my favorite cartridge, and the sound is different. The sumiko was closer to life-like, but the grado is more engaging.
I am willing to bet the cognoscienti here will agree that live music will not be found in our homes with playback systems that easily.
But I heard it once at the show, actually twice.
So is there a class A++ for those systems that recreate the live event and do I really have to have it. I just went from sumiko to grado and I am enjoying myself more-so.
I am willing to bet that as I gain more experience I will find myself picking up cartridges and cables that don't necessarily cost the most but just work better with the rest of my equipment, no?
Another example is my phono stage the EAR834p. No where near the same price as phono stages in class a , but I would say in the same league with the right tubes and mods.
Now as before I really understand the goners (good way to describe the nuts on this site including myself) owning multiple tt and arms. I was hoping to find one rig that can do it all, but also my intentions from the very beginning were to have three tables at least, for comparisons of arms, cartridges, p. stages and tables. I can't wait to get there, all I need is time because I will catch up to you nuts!!!
I would like to hear your stories or interpretations of vinyl play back. There is some mysticism to this, that may not be understood but is felt like no other thing.
I have had fun hobbies before but this takes the cake!
pedrillo

Showing 2 responses by piedpiper

piedpiper
753 posts
 
Well put Stringreen.

Pedrillo,

I think if you did head to head comparisons you would find that you really do have to pay more for the best products. Whether you choose to prioritize your funds to get them or not doesn't negate that they're better any more than the existence of the best negates that the great but more affordable ones make wonderful music for the money. I'm not saying that quality always follows the price but almost always the best is relatively more expensive than the not quite so good.

For instance, you might find a $40k turntable that is arguably the best thing out there even in comparison with $100k ones, but you won't find a $1k table that will compete at that level, although it might be better than most $2k tables.

And then there is the question of which ones are the best which is subjective anyway as Stringreen so eloquently put. Satisfaction is a complex equation.
piedpiper
753 posts
 
...and only unamplified. Most PA assisted gigs are awful, especially the bigger they get, often downright get-your-money-back abominable.
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