Going in reverse for a while

[jai1611]

I've set up my main system quite painstakingly over the last two years and spent a lot of time as well as effort fine tuning it. The system as it stands today is:
- Teac VRDS 10/PC with Lynx AES16 and JPlay as transport
- Lampizator Level 3 DAC
- Rethm Gaanam Amplifier
- Rethm Saadhana speakers
- Rethm speaker cables and interconnects
- Naim power cords, misc digital ICS, homebrew power box
- Misc tweaks on isolation, reflections etc

The sytem had evolved to a level of performance I was very happy with in my house in Mumbai. I had moved beyond the constant tweaking and was really enjoy the music.

My move to Bangalore late last year meant that the system had to be reset in a new room. The room in question is large enough and the initial setup went smoothly enough (except for an issue with wiring in one of the bass units).

However, in the last two months I find myself thinking more about tweaks needed to the system rather than enjoying the music. Just how bad this had gotten is something I realised when I found myself listening to music on the movie setup more than the main system.

I think I dont have the patience currently to actually fine tune the main system (especially since this is a rented house and I have no visibility on how long I would stay here). I would rather listen to a simpler rig for the next few months and not worry about the last 10-20% of sound as long as I am enjoying the music. The complexity of the main rig is an additional overhang.

As a result of this thought, I have decided to pack up my beloved Saadhanas. Most of the electronics mentioned above will be put up for sale. I wont sell the Saadhanas as the version I have is no longer in production. The only other component I seriously considered retaining was the Lampizator, which I am terribly fond off. Still, I will likely sell that as well (I can always import another if/when I set up the system in my next house).

The listening setup which will take its place is as follows:
- Assemblage 2.3 DAC with a basic CDP (old Nad) as transport and probably a basic PC transport. Using the Teac for now till the Nad is bought over from Bombay
- Pulz RS180DC (soon to be replaced by an amp from Kanwar)
- Pulz B4 speakers (10+ years old)

I have already set this up and have been listening to it the last few days. The number of hours I spend listening has more than doubled, which is what is important to me.

Anyone who is keen to listen to the big setup with the Saadhanas should pm me to fix up a time for this weekend. I think they will be packed up after that. You are welcome to listen to the simpler setup as well.

 

[iaudio]

jai, That is quite a big step. But it's good that you have so much clarity about what you need at the end, which is enjoying your music. Good luck with the 'simple' rig.

 

[ranjeetrain]

It's good to go backwards every once in a while. It helps remain connected to the basics.

The amount of music that I used to love to pieces and don't listen to anymore because they are absolutely unlistenable on newer and more resolving systems is increasing day by day. Its good to stop and give oneself time to listen to favorite music regardless of recording quality on ordinary systems. I haven't sold my 10-15 years old Aiwa boombox. Till date that's the player in which I have inserted a CD the most number of times. And there is always a chance I will start listening to it again, even if for a change.

 

[denom]

Just read this piece by Steve Lefkowicz & he is SPOT ON!!!

music

 

[prem]

Hi denom

nice article.

 

[square_wave]

Just read this piece by Steve Lefkowicz & he is SPOT ON!!!

music

I have read this before. It is a lovely article.

 

[square_wave]

Back to basics Jai !

The important thing is to be able to enjoy music.

 

[jai1611]

It's good to go backwards every once in a while. It helps remain connected to the basics.

The amount of music that I used to love to pieces and don't listen to anymore because they are absolutely unlistenable on newer and more resolving systems is increasing day by day. Its good to stop and give oneself time to listen to favorite music regardless of recording quality on ordinary systems. I haven't sold my 10-15 years old Aiwa boombox. Till date that's the player in which I have inserted a CD the most number of times. And there is always a chance I will start listening to it again, even if for a change.

I haven't really faced that problem with my system. Having a top quality source goes a long way with that. The problem arises when you stay worrying about that last but of airiness, soundstage depth etc.

 

[arj]

Just read this piece by Steve Lefkowicz & he is SPOT ON!!!

music

Good one..

 

[mpw]

jai,

i guess i was among the first to read this thread when you posted this yesterday and i was stumped for a while.

Folks may say YMMV, whatever rocks your boat etc.. but i suppose you have been used to a much higher level of hardware than what you are playing now.

maybe.. just maybe.. you need to spend more time tweaking what you have to achieve a certain satisfaction level or move laterally to a different sound.

I think you are at the latter point now and possibly enjoying the difference.

But for how long ?

If its for longer.. good for you i suppose but maybe you need to look out for a "largish" standmount and a nice integrated which can serve you wherever your work takes you.

For me.. i have switched off.. in the sense the wait is longer than expected and this is a pause for me ..if you are going reverse

The circle of life.. creation.. sustenance.. destruction.. creation...

regards,
mpw
=======================================================

 

[sidvee]

My remedy for the times when I feel that I am obesessing with my gear too much is simple. This is what I do - I simply stop listening to my system for a couple of days. I either use my headphones, or my bedroom system (just basic setups) if I need to listen to music. Then after a couple of days when I go back to listen to my main system, I realize it sounds really good.
Try this out and see if it works for you. I have realized that a clear mind lets one enjoy the music more, rather than some nagging thought that the sound can be made better by tweaks, placements etc.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[arj]

My remedy for the times when I feel that I am obesessing with my gear too much is simple. This is what I do - I simply stop listening to my system for a couple of days. I either use my headphones, or my bedroom system (just basic setups) if I need to listen to music. Then after a couple of days when I go back to listen to my main system, I realize it sounds really good.
Try this out and see if it works for you. I have realized that a clear mind lets one enjoy the music more, rather than some nagging thought that the sound can be made better by tweaks, placements etc.
Cheers,
Sid

I second this suggestion to give that Geek Audiophile in you a holiday once in a while . I very often shut off for days (and once for 3 months) due to travel/work etc and actually still do enjoy music from my iphone/Car . but listening to the main rig does give a sudden "aah" moment.
the "Nags" are quite often not due to the system but due to the mind and its sometime good to realise, the hard way, as to why you built that system in the first place

take a break..its good .

 

[jai1611]

jai,

i guess i was among the first to read this thread when you posted this yesterday and i was stumped for a while.

Folks may say YMMV, whatever rocks your boat etc.. but i suppose you have been used to a much higher level of hardware than what you are playing now.

maybe.. just maybe.. you need to spend more time tweaking what you have to achieve a certain satisfaction level or move laterally to a different sound.

I think you are at the latter point now and possibly enjoying the difference.

But for how long ?

If its for longer.. good for you i suppose but maybe you need to look out for a "largish" standmount and a nice integrated which can serve you wherever your work takes you.

For me.. i have switched off.. in the sense the wait is longer than expected and this is a pause for me ..if you are going reverse

The circle of life.. creation.. sustenance.. destruction.. creation...

regards,
mpw
=======================================================

Thanks mpw. I've been through the cycle and have decided to just let things slide for a while. Its not about a better sound / lateral movet etc but about a simpler way to enjoy music.

My remedy for the times when I feel that I am obesessing with my gear too much is simple. This is what I do - I simply stop listening to my system for a couple of days. I either use my headphones, or my bedroom system (just basic setups) if I need to listen to music. Then after a couple of days when I go back to listen to my main system, I realize it sounds really good.
Try this out and see if it works for you. I have realized that a clear mind lets one enjoy the music more, rather than some nagging thought that the sound can be made better by tweaks, placements etc.
Cheers,
Sid

Thanks Sid. I'd been doing exactly that and realised I dont feel like going back to the main system. Its been like that for over a month and shows no signs of changing.

I second this suggestion to give that Geek Audiophile in you a holiday once in a while . I very often shut off for days (and once for 3 months) due to travel/work etc and actually still do enjoy music from my iphone/Car . but listening to the main rig does give a sudden "aah" moment.
the "Nags" are quite often not due to the system but due to the mind and its sometime good to realise, the hard way, as to why you built that system in the first place

take a break..its good .

Thanks arj. I actually really enjoy listening to music in my car. More so than at home in the last few months.

 

[Vijay_s]

Keep the gear with you unless you want to sell it for throw away prices. Even if you list it for 1/2 the original price few quote half of the price you quoted. I am not talking about our regular folks in forum.

You may happen to see different set of "active" forum members in PM once you list your valuable gears for sale, whom you never want to see again

Even if you keep the items packed do not allow to realize "their dream of owning" high end gears at your cost.

 

[avidyarthy]

^^ had a real bad experience, did you not?

 

[square_wave]

Jai,

I have only listened to your system once. And I loved it. The musicality is amazing. I wish you retain that gem of a dac ( lampizator) and get a simple amplifier and speaker if you want to simplfy the system. Importing another lampizator ( the prices have gone up since ) will be a big hassle !

 

[prem]

Hi square_wave

How much more simpler can you get than a single driver and a SET amp?

 

[corElement]

Hi square_wave

How much more simpler can you get than a single driver and a SET amp?

A single driver on a PWM amp without dac, interconnects, input stages and preamp >=)

 

[prem]

Hi jai1611

I feel you have not dialled in your speakers to your room. The Rethms are very sensitive. It took me almost a long time to figure out what to do with them. I have never had speakers which are sensitive to 1cm shifts. It takes a while to figure that out.

My suggestion is start setting up the speakers all over again. Do not switch on the bass unit. Just use the single driver. Start with side wall clearance of 2 ft. Keep pulling the speakers out from the back wall till you get the most open sound. Do not look for anything else. Once you feel you have got an open sound, switch off the system. After about 4-5 hrs, switch it on again and move the speakers a little forward and backward and try and get the exact position. When i say forward and backward, its 1 cm at a time. Now listen to the system for a couple of days without the bass unit on. Then start dialling in the bass. Keep the crossover at about 50 hz. Increase the bass vol. For your amp and cables, it should dial in at about 10.30 level.

I have had many speakers in my home costing much more than the Rethms. The Rethms are truly fantastic speakers. The only problem is you need to spend time with them to dial them in.

 

[square_wave]

Hi square_wave

How much more simpler can you get than a single driver and a SET amp?

Yup, that is the simplest system you can achieve.

But Jai was looking at from another angle