Top 10 things I've learnt in a decade

[kratu]

Top 10 things I’ve learnt as an audiophile in the last 10 years.

1. Music is intensely personal. Take others’ opinion with a grain of salt. Trust your own ears.
2. Room/acoustic treatment is highly UNDER-rated. It makes a lot of difference.
3. Expensive equipment doesn’t [necessarily] equate with better quality. Evaluate its intrinsic value by yourself.
4. After a certain price point, the law of diminishing returns kicks in.
5. It’s all about synergy between the devices. The whole is often greater than the sum of all its parts.
6. Consider vinyl and digital as different flavours. Each has its own distinct characteristics and idiosyncrasies.
7. Cables do make a difference, provided you have transparent system and ears to observe that.
8. He is richest who is content with the least or the adequate. That applies to an audiophile.
9. Often times, what some audiophiles need is not another upgrade but some therapy.
10. You can’t have everything in a system like <fill audiophile jargons>; know your priorities and the tradeoffs you can live with.

What's yours?

 

[Mayasandra_l]

Great points Kratu. Here is what I think -

1. Expecting tube like sound from solid state amp and solid state like sound from tube amp is oxymoronic.
2. Spend the max amount on speakers. Amp come next, dacs and cables come last.
3. Good to grow old as hearing ability comes down. I tend to notice subtle differences even less now. This ensures I continue to like what I have.

 

[Bhaskar Jyoti Talapatra]

Agreed with most of the points mooted here. Really speakers come first then amplifier . Other things like phono , cartridge, stylus and a decent TT , good DAC etc. are also important. However, i am no audiophile but a music lover. I have learnt that
1. Music is entirely personal.
2. Media is the most important thing in an audio chain. If one has a good vinyl or CD , he will enjoy the music to his heart's content. If the vinyl or CD is not up to the standard then one can't enjoy music.
3. My system is mine and I don't bother over what one says about my system. I strongly believe that my system aims at pleasing me, not my friends. Ofcourse if my system has any fault and it is mentioned by my friends then I shall try to have it fixed.
4. CD listening and vinyl listening are two different experiences and I don't compare between the two. Rather i like both of them.
5. Some of the audiophiles say that the red nipper vinyls are better than the normal ones but I have never found any difference between them .
6. To my ears the 45 rpm vinyls by far surpass the 33 rpm . As regards CDs the AAD Cds are much sought after and ahead of ADD cds.
So these are the things I have learnt.
Regards

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

1) Give free advise on a forum and you're a nuisance, you'd get paid for the same if you were a consultant.
2) If your system sounds better after a drink, you will end up spending more on the drink than the music.
3) cables make a difference only if they are directional and exactly aligned with your stars.
4) never sell your gear, it will always come back into fashion.
5) cable lifters make a difference, and viagra works best.
6) dont bother telling your budget, the suggestions will always be above it.
7) When it comes to choosing between cables, always choose the right length.
8) buy BIGGG speakers and you will end up fighting with both your room and your wife.
9) We buy new stuff, because its cheaper than changing the wife.
10) CD's and vinyl dont sound the same, because records are bigger.

 

[kratu]

There are no agreements or disagreements; just personal learnings. Sarcasm is fine too but if it helps to save time, money and effort, then its gold. So, please keep them coming.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I have been in different forums over many years. The best ones are really fun. Lots of humour, sarcasm and friendly leg pulling make it so much fun to just be around. I do realize that i might come across as sarcastic, but life is too short to be serious. Have fun and enjoy your music

 

[arj]

1. There is something called " Too Much Advise !" .
2. Every system is a compromise..but what is the compromise you are ok with

Everyone looks for something from music and its very very important to understand what is it that really floats your own boat when it comes to music. Hence the points above on it being personal and hence any advise needs to be looked at this priority on how its applicable personally.

Learning whats important for you is not easy and needs the time and effort personally in listening to different setups and learn. based on the above one can build on areas one is willing to compromise and what one is not.

Eg some folks might prefer midrange to be uncompromised even if the bass is missing and others , since they listen to classical, prefer dynamics and highs/bass over vocals. still others soundstage takes priority etc etc ,...

 

[kratu]

1. There is something called " Too Much Advise !" .
2. Every system is a compromise..but what is the compromise you are ok with

Everyone looks for something from music and its very very important to understand what is it that really floats your own boat when it comes to music. Hence the points above on it being personal and hence any advise needs to be looked at this priority on how its applicable personally.

Learning whats important for you is not easy and needs the time and effort personally in listening to different setups and learn. based on the above one can build on areas one is willing to compromise and what one is not.

Eg some folks might prefer midrange to be uncompromised even if the bass is missing and others , since they listen to classical, prefer dynamics and highs/bass over vocals. still others soundstage takes priority etc etc ,...

#2 aligns with my own learnings as described in my point #10. That's +1.

It is hard to get everything in a system. Knowing ones' priorities and tradeoffs helps to find an ideal system. I've found a way out through a two-pronged approach. Instead of trying to find a "one size fits all" approach, why not split that into two? Both systems with their own priorities and tradeoffs. Yes, it is expensive and unnecessary but that's fine if the end product works well.

 

[shibashis]

The single greatest component to make your music listening pleasurable is not a drink, not the media, not your DAC, not the streaming platform, not the cable, not the amp or speaker, it is time, and then it is peace of mind.

 

[Yeraditya]

1.Diminishing returns is mostly because the company charges significantly higher. It does not mean it's not better and there is huge SQ left to explore at higher price points.

I.e as a crude example, 10 lakh system is atleast 3 times better than 1 lakh system. While it's diminishing in returns there is a lot left to see in high end audio.

2. Money is no guarantee for Sound Quality. But money well spent is. Research is, auditioning is.

3. Everything matters, including your mood and state of mind

4. When it comes to most gear it the person listening that's the determiner of pleasure. But there exists systems where it's the system that determines the pleasure. They are so overwhelmingly good.

5. Listen to everyone's opinion to learn. Don't listen blindly.

6.The best person to take advice from is you, having listened to the gear for several others.

7. Do not beleive that others have better ears than you. You cant love what you cant hear.

8. You're never going to get the right, perfect and the best system money can buy. Miracles are miracles.

9. If you were to do it all over again, you most likely will go down a different path

10. There is very little use for objective truth in Audio

 

[kratu]

The single greatest component to make your music listening pleasurable is not a drink, not the media, not your DAC, not the streaming platform, not the cable, not the amp or speaker, it is time, and then it is peace of mind.

I see something profound hidden in there. I do get the drift. Would you care to elucidate this further? What is about “time” here. Are we talking about that high place where gear doesn’t matter?

I have had some thoughts percolating for a long time. The state of mind makes a difference; a mindful, calm state takes in the music like a parched soil.

 

[essrand]

I have been planning to write out my experiences over past 10+ years of audiophilia madness, but it turned out to be too wordy so I started a substack: https://audiofool.substack.com/

Just posted my first essay (previously posted, but a good intro to myself and my addiction).

Will try to get my top 10 out soon, currently circulating in my head.

But here's an easy one (but most difficult to do in India).

1. Audition in your home and in your system. If a dealer agrees to that, buy new, buy from him.

 

[kratu]

I have been planning to write out my experiences over past 10+ years of audiophilia madness, but it turned out to be too wordy so I started a substack: https://audiofool.substack.com/

Just posted my first essay (previously posted, but a good intro to myself and my addiction).

Will try to get my top 10 out soon, currently circulating in my head.

Here is an observation. When someone posts a query about the “best recommendation for X”, each one responds with their own limited knowledge.

If it all you listen, then listen to those who have a wide gamut of experience, gear-swapping. So, I look forward to reading your personal learning from a decade long journey.

 

[shibashis]

I see something profound hidden in there. I do get the drift. Would you care to elucidate this further? What is about “time” here. Are we talking about that high place where gear doesn’t matter?

I have had some thoughts percolating for a long time. The state of mind makes a difference; a mindful, calm state takes in the music like a parched soil.

Well....I have not yet attained that state of mind where gear does not matter but time is what you make of it, is not it?
For me with time, I have reached a point where a musical experience matters more than the gear. That is definitely not to say that I have gotten rid of that itch, that will never get away, we are born that way.

Also, with life being the busiest, I appreciate time more and it is a privilege to be able to devote time to music when I can.
Plus life has a way of teaching you things, now listening to music is a companion of mine rather than an event on its own, as a result I am glad to have that companion, during work, or when I write or commute. Previously that 'event' of listening to music on the main setup was a very stringent ritual, where things if not perfect would impede on the experience. Having music as your companion is much easier, it is a conversation where we both understand one another, if that makes sense!
Enough rambling, peace!

 

[essrand]

Here’s my top ten:

1. When you are an amateur audiophile spend all your time and money getting the speaker right.
2. Build your system for your music not audiophile approved music.
3. Love the journey (hard to do so in India, thanks to the #^%#*% customs).
4. There are many roads to Rome, the easiest and quickest is tube amps with high efficiency speakers.
5. Everything matters, everything.
6. More the money better the component usually holds true except when it doesn’t.
7. You will almost always fall for the mother of all cognitive errors : confirmation bias, don’t fall for it too many times.
8. Trust your ears only.
9. Don’t listen for sound, listen for music, (does it get your fingers tapping?)
10. Ignore the flavour of the month, opinionated gurus, almost all magazine reviewers except Art Dudley may he RIP.

 

[reignofchaos]

1. Audition in your home and in your system. If a dealer agrees to that, buy new, buy from him.

This is so very true. I wanted a subwoofer for my bookshelf speakers and went through quite a few used deals. Then a dealer sent the item I wanted for a home demo. I requested it be left at my place for a couple of days to listen to it and they obliged. It worked really well in my room and at the end of it, I got offered a sweet deal which was the icing on the cake.

New items sold by understanding dealers who give you a home demo of the same should be bought to support the industry.

 

[chander]

Amazing stuff here Various routes to the same mountain top. As most are covered here I will put only those I think I didn't see here and have become really important in my journey

1 - Keep an open mind. Class D Vs Class A/B is the same difference as within various amps in Class A/B topology. Tubes are romantic, LPs/CDs are great, streaming is convenient and good They all serve the same purpose - music .
2 - Placebo is a real thing. Involve those who are around you and ask them if they can hear a difference. If they can't it is "POSSIBLE" it is just bias & placebo.
3 - It takes time. Give your system/new components some time to grow on you. If they do not, then go for the change. Even a plant takes some time to grow.
4 - We all hear different. Something most of us forget. Opinions are opinions and they come from experience. Our experiences are based on what we heard (in most cases).
5 - There is no perfect system.
6 - Listen to as many genres as possible. Music is not a single genre. I am not a big fan of electronic music or metal generally; however some of my favorite music has come from electronic music artists like - Unkle, Underworld, FatBoySlim, Morcheeba and many others. Don't write it all off - there are talented guys everywhere.
7 - Enjoy. Wasn't this the reason for going through all the pain? Do that sometimes. Be Truthful to yourself - how many times in the last one month have you sat down to just listen to something, without analysing, without looking for faults. Just sit down and hum along?