2. misc-audio
  3. 129451-43

Too Many Forums asking about how to improve ones system, etc.

I have been reading so many forum posts lately that are asking for advice on improving ones system.  They ask about amps, preamps, speakers, cables, etc., but the person asking for information does not state what improvements they are looking for.  Recently one person said he did not hear a difference with a particular product but others did.  Well that seems useless to me as I don't know what the other people were hearing with a product that I am familiar with to know how to provide advice.  There are many ways to improve ones system but we need more information to narrow down the advice otherwise you will get too many suggestions from cabling to amps, preamps, etc.  You can improve a component by replacing a few resistors but each of those has a sound so I cannot recommend something if I don't know what exactly you are looking to improve.

Thoughts????
bigkidz
jond's avatar
jond
5,660 posts
 
My thought is the vocabulary describing audio, not too mention music, can be frustratingly imprecise. Also sound quality can be very subjective based on our hearing, or lack thereof, and other factors. Our experiences, especially for someone just starting out, may not give us the knowledge or the vocabulary to express the sound we have or the improvements we are after. I think the best one can do is provide our own experiences and hopefully the OP will take those to heart but even better be inspired to go out and do some listening of their own.
chayro
2,925 posts
 
I'm sure it varies, but IMO, many people have no concrete idea of what they are listening to.  They have little or no reference to live music and are basically making decisions based on reading reviews and forums like this.  Also IMO, the only way for these people to gain knowledge of how to put a system together is either to join an audio club or utilize the services of a dealer who can walk them through what each component contributes to a system so they can hopefully find the solution that suits them.  But many are afraid to walk into a dealer because of fear of being criticized or pressure or whatever.  That's just the nature of the beast I guess.  
cerrot's avatar
cerrot
1,700 posts
 
Totally agree with chayro, but I will add that a large part to me is to visit hi fi stores and other properly set up systems so I can hear what I think my recordings were supposed to sound like, on a really good hifi.  Live music references is important, agreed, but I don't have Carnegie Hall in my house, so every once in a while, I will take a few LP or sacd and bring them to my dealer to hear in his megabuck system )or a manufacturer I know...).  This process has actually gotten me to where I want to be as it exposed my system for what I was lacking.  
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