I get what you are saying. My first "high end" speakers were a pair of DCM TF-350s back in 1988. They wouldn't play very loud or very deep and weren't the last word in resolution, but man, they were fun to listen to all night long. I've owned many much more complete speakers since then, but I always have a fond memory of those. And I doubt that any since then have brought more pleasure than those cheap DCMs purchased at Best Buy and driven with a Carver receiver.
Am I no longer allowed to consider myself an Audiophile?
OK, I actually have some pretty decent equipment to listen to. But lately I've been inundated with reviews/opinions about the unmatched transparency of the Magico M9 loudspeakers. But at the same time I have been admiring the new Yamaha NS-5000 speakers (about $15K) which are considered quite awesome sounding in their own right. This brings me back to my 1st wonderful sounding ADS-810-II speakers (2X 8in. woofers, and a dome-midrange and tweeter). Easy to set up, nice wood cabinets, matching stands, less than $900/pair, with remarkable separation of instruments, great for ALL types of music, and only minor limitations. Anyway, as nice as the Magico's are, the required room and a whole lot of other things that are necessary to make them play music makes me want to complain about all the over-the-top gushing coming from various experts. It's not the cost of the M-9's that bothers me, but the "laboratory conditions" you almost have to place them in. OTOH, the Yamaha speakers got favorable reviews from the Abs,Sound in 2020, so what more do you really need if you have a living room (a couch, a coffee table, pictures on the wall.etc.) to really "listen" when the music takes over? I find the bewildering complexity involved with scientifically "almost perfect" sounding million-dollar systems to be what it is- an experimental approach rather than a pleasurable way to relax and imagine becoming a part of the performance. So I would want to go to a dealer and audition the Magico's,no question about it. But I would bring some music with me, and I'm certain it would be an enlightening experience. But I wonder if it would change my overall opinion about recorded music.
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@french_fries holy smokes! I was way off with my response, but appreciate the clarification. |
A man works all his life to build, hoping for a chance to consume the fruits of his labor. Sometimes that window of enjoyment is missed. Are you asking if it's now ok to simply enjoy the music? YES!, before the hearing declines further. Artifial intelligence decribes it this way: While audiophiles appreciate high-quality equipment, their primary passion is for the music itself and the experience of listening to it in the best possible quality. Perhaps consider putting the $14,100 speaker budget into music you have never heard? Or, if you have not done so yet, pay for help to curate your vinyl collection to ready it for transfer. Rate the vinyl by listening.
Just some thoughts. Enjoy the music! |
The "bewildering complexity" is what gets people to part with more money than they could ever have otherwise justified. There is beauty in a small cabin, a lakeside cottage, a cozy study. Why must everything be big and expensive to be aesthetically best? Answer: consumerism run amuck. Your wisdom is already in your post. No reason to doubt it. |
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