top ten things you learned about HiFi on Agon


Here's my list in some semblance of order:

1. how to more critically listen to music and determine what my system is doing right and what areas could stand some improvement
2. room shape and speaker position matter a lot
3. about other websites where I can get more detailed information on a particular subject
4. importance of the source
5. importance of good power cables
6. importance of a solid foundation for your equipment
7. importance of tonearm and cartridge matching and setup
8. about silver fuses
9. concepts related to amp and speaker matching
10. the concept of overall system balance and working towards a particular system sound.

I have really learned quite a bit by coming on this site. I generally used to think I knew my way around HiFi gear, having built speakers and owned various systems over the years, some that worked "pretty good" (put together by budget, market research, ear and accident), and some... well, not-so-much. I have a much better idea of where my understanding is now (thus the screen name), and feel like I am only scratching the surface.

With that said, every time I listen to my system these days I am aware of how much better it sounds compared to only a few years ago - due in large part to advice based on your writings and rantings on here. And this accomplished by adding many tweaks, a few key accessories and without adding or swapping very many major parts over that time span (except three turntables and four cartridges [but no microphone!]). Thanks Agoners for all the great information!!!
Ag insider logo xs@2xknownothing

Showing 1 response by jadem6

1) The world is a very small place. I have learned that I have commonality with people from all parts of the globe. Those brought up in political or social environments very different than mine, yet music is universal.

2) We all have our own tastes and listening preferences, yet non of us are completely right or completely wrong. Find those whose experiences most resembles your own and form a friendship with them.

3) There will always be jerks in the world!

4) Some people just refuse to accept that what they do not understand.

5) Isolation is more important and less understood than we think.

6) "Audiophiles" look for a two dimension cut out and call it detail. Music lovers look for enjoyment and call it music.

7) This hobby is big enough to support both the audiophile and the music lover alike.

8) When given the chance, the Internet can bring people closer together than we ever expected (LUGNUT) and therein we discover humanity.

9) Audiogon offers an education in system set-up that will take your systems performance to places it would not be without Audiogon.

10) Many people who post here want so badly to be right and to have a following that they post opinions on everything. A few people who post here have vast knowledge in academic application, yet are completely blind to the possibility of what they don't know. A very few have knowledge based in experience with many systems, are open minded to the possibility that we have not learned all there is to know and are actually able to provide this knowledge in terms that we can learn from. Seek those people, there are about twenty or thirty of them, ask learn and enjoy. The rest of those who post are here for other reasons, give them exactly the credit they deserve.

Beyond all, enjoy the music, if you love music, enjoy the imaging if that's your thing. No matter what, enjoy the community and the opportunity to enjoy life with people we would not other wise know without Audiogon.

jd