Listening to other audiophiles rigs will help to accelerate your journey to audio nirvana!
Our hobby can be solitary existence. It can also be an extremely social experience.
When I got back into the hobby after a 15 year hiatus; my amp died and my wife asked me to get the stereo out of the living room, I started a FB private hifi group to mainly gain information about music releases and gear topics I wanted to learn more about. That was in 2019, also the year I joined Audiogon.
Since then my group has led me to meet some very cool audiophiles from around the country. I’m also looking forward to meeting some in Europe who’ve I’ve gotten to know in my group. Currently I’m in NYC on the last day of my “HiFi Vuchcation 2.0” I’ve been here for eight days listening to a couple of my audiophile buddies rigs and hanging out.
I’ve learned a lot this trip, some things I’ll employ when I get back home. I’ve also gained an appreciation of sonics as you go up the ladder, especially vinyl related. The buddy I’m staying with this week has the Acoustic Signature INVICTUS turntable with a couple 5 figure tonearms and cartridges to match. The rest of his gear is just as incredible!
I’ve also learned a lot from the local audiophile group I created in my hometown. We have about 10 active members. We go to each others homes for listening sessions. One member just rented offic space downtown for our “clubhouse!” There are two listening rooms and a room for extra gear, albums and a Degritter machine.
As audiophiles we buy gear but don’t always know if our gear is reaching its sonic potential in our rooms? Having access to other audiophiles listening rooms and experience can really accelerate the learning curve hopefully leading to sonic bliss!
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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. |
@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. |
