Am I loosing it?

[Thad E Ginathom]

<cross-posted>

Why dont you invite some fm to your place who has something comparable to what your setup is

He can listen to music which he is very familiar with. If he also feels something is amiss then if you feel like you can look into cables, speaker placement, etc

I am not sure that Shivam feels that something is amiss, although if I might easily have missed something. From reading his recent posts, I have the impression that he is very happy with his AP-speaker based system, excepting low bass which one might not expect from smaller book-shelves anyway, and which he is on course to remedy with the addition of a good sub.

It is not so much a case of something wrong, as one of box B not sounding better than box A, when the name (and probably price) suggests that it should.

I've learnt a lot from HFV, both on and off line. I suppose I used to just accept a lot of stuff that I now question, such as top-brand values and whether they offer any guaranteed superiority. I recall a conversation with Srinisundar that helped to put me right on this one.

This is not saying that there is anything wrong with the Linn. Maybe it is an entirely accurate and transparent source and just great at doing what it does --- but maybe the Marantz is too. Maybe the headline here should be Marantz is as good as Linn, rather than Linn is not better than Marantz.

Anyway, brand perception is a funny thing, and often wrong. Marantz may be the mass producer, as opposed to the speciality high-price label, but Marantz, too has produced some high-price speciality kit. I haven't heard many complaints!

 

[rikhav]

<cross-posted>

I am not sure that Shivam feels that something is amiss, although if I might easily have missed something. From reading his recent posts, I have the impression that he is very happy with his AP-speaker based system, excepting low bass which one might not expect from smaller book-shelves anyway, and which he is on course to remedy with the addition of a good sub.

It is not so much a case of something wrong, as one of box B not sounding better than box A, when the name (and probably price) suggests that it should.

I've learnt a lot from HFV, both on and off line. I suppose I used to just accept a lot of stuff that I now question, such as top-brand values and whether they offer any guaranteed superiority. I recall a conversation with Srinisundar that helped to put me right on this one.

This is not saying that there is anything wrong with the Linn. Maybe it is an entirely accurate and transparent source and just great at doing what it does --- but maybe the Marantz is too. Maybe the headline here should be Marantz is as good as Linn, rather than Linn is not better than Marantz.

Anyway, brand perception is a funny thing, and often wrong. Marantz may be the mass producer, as opposed to the speciality high-price label, but Marantz, too has produced some high-price speciality kit. I haven't heard many complaints!

I am sure shivam is happy with his AP gear and also that marantz makes equally good products and cant be looked down upon

But if I am not wrong its a marantz dvd player and I am sure its auduo circuits, (2 channel) wont be as good as say its dedicated cdp

Its a common thing with all companies that their analogue audio sectiojln of dvd players is a level.or two down from what they use in their cd players

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Good point, rikhav. Yes, DVD player... not reading carefully, I then assumed "CD."

Afterthought... But if I was to buy a DVD player with the Marantz name, I would expect it to sound better than just good! Else I would just stick to the low-end, which, being a seldom-watcher, is what I buy.

 

[soulforged]

Shivam, what you might be experiencing is 'Audiophile Maturity'...where you really do not go by the plaque or the price tag but by what you hear. Another sign is that you, like Magma so succintly put, grew the ba**s to go public with it...

just enjoy your music...all else be damned!

 

[Shivam]

I am keeping my NAD CD player too along with the Marantz DVD player. The NAD has very refined low frequency performance apart from other attributes. M1 Clic does a wonderful job with flac too. (I don't use my analogue setup now a days because of my daughter who is learning to fiddle around with the system).

I don't know if I have the ba**s or it is audiophile maturity but yes, I am enjoying music more than the system now a days.
Marantz DVD player's high performance was a pleasant shock for me and I intend to enjoy its performance till its last working day !

 

[unleash_me]

Have your hearing professionally tested by an ENT or audiologist; just to be sure.

In the meantime, invite few friends/family over and have an A/B session. Try not to sound analytical while encouraging them to see if they can hear any differences.

Alternatively, if you have access to any good quality headphone see if that helps analyze better.

End of the day, as arj mentioned and you quoted..

I don't know if I have the ba**s or it is audiophile maturity but yes, I am enjoying music more than the system now a days.

..this all that matters!

FWIW I haven't changed a single component of my system in last 3 or 4 years. Might have reached the 'synergy' that I had been searching. Who cares. Music is beautiful. Bliss.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Have your hearing professionally tested by an ENT or audiologist; just to be sure.

No offence, I'm sure Shivam will take this with a laugh, but a headline comes to mind: Audiophile Unable To Hear Difference Calls Emergency ENT!

:lol:

Actually, it is very mundane things that make me realise that ears need their regular syringing. Stuff like being unable to hear the kitchen timer.



~

 

[square_wave]

The Linn guys have pretty much spearheaded the network player revolution and critical reviewers as well as consumers have lauded their achievements. I happen to own a Naim NDX ( which directly competes with the Linn players in the market) which when compared head to head with a well-regarded DAC + Dual pc config with Jplay, held on its own. The difference was just in the presentation characteristics. I have owned some Marantzs in the past also a modded one by TS lim. To be fair, those players cannot hold a candle to the Naim. Marantz apparently has some high offerings among their cd players and I am sure they will sound really good.

The fact that Shivam rates both players the same in his setup is indisputable but drawing any other conclusion is erroneous unless one makes a focused effort to do a fair comparison.

Not being biased by price and brand value is laudable ..

 

[manoj.p]

But if I am not wrong its a marantz dvd player and I am sure its auduo circuits, (2 channel) wont be as good as say its dedicated cdp

Its a common thing with all companies that their analogue audio sectiojln of dvd players is a level.or two down from what they use in their cd players

It is an assumption and not a rule. Some of Marantz DVD players like DV-9600/8400 are quite renowned. Usually, companies use same components across their products to take advantage of bulk pricing and keep products cheaper.

 

[unleash_me]

No offence, I'm sure Shivam will take this with a laugh, but a headline comes to mind: Audiophile Unable To Hear Difference Calls Emergency ENT!

:lol:

None taken! Must confess, I did have a smile on my face as I was typing..