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Post by rexton on May 8, 2020 8:16:37 GMT
I'm sometimes guilty of this. I'm always trying to get the best out of my equipment but today I realised I don't get the best out of my vinyl. I suppose you could say that the two are very much intertwined. I think equipment obsession can be a very counter productive obsession in that you end up spending more time working/obsessing on your equipment rather than listening. Lockdown has changed my attitude towards worrying about the latest fad, or who's got what etc. I'm just looking forward to exploring music whilst occasionally dipping my toes into the equipment side of the hobby.
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Post by jimbo on May 8, 2020 8:22:14 GMT
I have always put music first and the Hifi part is really a hobby. Getting to obsessive about stuff can take over but it is what drives people on to excellence.
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Post by rexton on May 8, 2020 8:48:29 GMT
Yeah, that's the crux of how I feel. I'm just a bit fed up of chasing the next best thing.
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Post by firebottle on May 8, 2020 9:09:42 GMT
I think I've got it bad because I am always thinking of modifications I can design and implement to improve performance. That said I have bought quite a bit of new and second hand kit this year which has propelled the system towards excellence. Disclaimer: Aren't I a good/bad boy, depending on your viewpoint. New Neurochrome power amp, modified. Second hand Line controller/pre, modified. Followed by new Line controller/pre, modified. New Topping Dac, unmolested. Second hand Innuos NAS, unmolested, though does have an excellent linear supply with it. New Paradise phono stage, considering changes  |
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2020 9:11:07 GMT
I think theres a point where you have to sit back and just enjoy what you've done.
I am at that point and when I've built my preamp and built the Paradise, anything after that would just be for interest, rather than improving anything.
The Bigbottle phonostage will probably continue to roll on as a developing DIY project too.
I've largely moved away from box swapping but that's only happened due to my satisfaction with what I'm listening to.
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Post by macca on May 8, 2020 9:37:58 GMT
I've never been obsessed about anything. Too lazy. Music is something I like to enjoy but not the only thing I like to enjoy. And the hi-fi bit, chasing excellence, that's just a hobby, not an obsession. A man should have a hobby, it gives him a goal in life. Without a gpal to aim for he gets restless.
Never chased flavour of the month either. Years ago I had no money to do it anyway and now I have I'm not interested. If I buy something it is usually because I've always wondered what it sounded like, or I like the look of it, rather than expecting it to improve the system. If it does that's a bonus. I'll just carry on ploughing my own furrow I think.
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Post by jandl100 on May 8, 2020 9:57:11 GMT
I enjoy trying new things, I tend to get restless if gear hangs around too long, even if there's no specific reason to change it.
Everything gives at least a slightly different view on the music, sometimes substantially different, and it's good to have a continually changing perspective imo, it maintains interest and can make the over-familiar worth re-exploring.
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Post by rexton on May 8, 2020 10:40:51 GMT
I think I've got it bad because I am always thinking of modifications I can design and implement to improve performance. That said I have bought quite a bit of new and second hand kit this year which has propelled the system towards excellence. Disclaimer: Aren't I a good/bad boy, depending on your viewpoint. New Neurochrome power amp, modified. Second hand Line controller/pre, modified. Followed by new Line controller/pre, modified. New Topping Dac, unmolested. Second hand Innuos NAS, unmolested, though does have an excellent linear supply with it. New Paradise phono stage, considering changes
I think that's just how you are Alan, it seems like you to experiment and mod. Nothing wrong with that in my book! I think i've gone beyond the stage of buying a piece of kit and then instantly thinking how can I mod this to make it better. I'm all for modification and I've been very guilty. I've actually had quite a lot of pleasure from messing around with a US cleaner, cleaning up old records and actually listening and then letting my kit do it's work.
I think theres a point where you have to sit back and just enjoy what you've done. I am at that point and when I've built my preamp and built the Paradise, anything after that would just be for interest, rather than improving anything. The Bigbottle phonostage will probably continue to roll on as a developing DIY project too. I've largely moved away from box swapping but that's only happened due to my satisfaction with what I'm listening to.
Oli, it sounds like you've modded your system through experimentation and educated assumptions? I too would probably only now want to build something for fun rather than seeking the next best thing. My set-up's have been pretty stable for years, the last new thing was the EAR clone and that must be 2-3 years old buy now.
I've never been obsessed about anything. Too lazy. Music is something I like to enjoy but not the only thing I like to enjoy. And the hi-fi bit, chasing excellence, that's just a hobby, not an obsession. A man should have a hobby, it gives him a goal in life. Without a gpal to aim for he gets restless. Never chased flavour of the month either. Years ago I had no money to do it anyway and now I have I'm not interested. If I buy something it is usually because I've always wondered what it sounded like, or I like the look of it, rather than expecting it to improve the system. If it does that's a bonus. I'll just carry on ploughing my own furrow I think.
Some would argue that a hobby is an obsession, albeit a weak obsession. I've got the money but I just can't be arsed with excessive comparison of equipment. I'm also guilty of chasing flavour of the month, even though I abhor heard mentality!!
I enjoy trying new things, I tend to get restless if gear hangs around too long, even if there's no specific reason to change it. Everything gives at least a slightly different view on the music, sometimes substantially different, and it's good to have a continually changing perspective imo, it maintains interest and can make the over-familiar worth re-exploring.
I think you've got a valid point, Jerry. It's always worth listening to other gear and comparing against old familiars but I was far too much of this and actually listening to music. I've always had an open minded perspective on everything, now, it's less on equipment and more on music
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Post by gninnam on May 8, 2020 10:50:22 GMT
Having bought my own HiFi kit over the last 40 years or so, I tend not to change that often.
When I do change I often find that I end up going back again to some tried and trusted bits of kit.
About time I sold some of what I have accumulated as it will probably not get used again - I am very happy with the sound and SQ I am getting with what I have so it will probably stay fairly static - especially the vinyl end.
Digital my change.....
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2020 11:10:48 GMT
I think I've got it bad because I am always thinking of modifications I can design and implement to improve performance. That said I have bought quite a bit of new and second hand kit this year which has propelled the system towards excellence. Disclaimer: Aren't I a good/bad boy, depending on your viewpoint. New Neurochrome power amp, modified. Second hand Line controller/pre, modified. Followed by new Line controller/pre, modified. New Topping Dac, unmolested. Second hand Innuos NAS, unmolested, though does have an excellent linear supply with it. New Paradise phono stage, considering changes
I think that's just how you are Alan, it seems like you to experiment and mod. Nothing wrong with that in my book! I think i've gone beyond the stage of buying a piece of kit and then instantly thinking how can I mod this to make it better. I'm all for modification and I've been very guilty. I've actually had quite a lot of pleasure from messing around with a US cleaner, cleaning up old records and actually listening and then letting my kit do it's work.
I think theres a point where you have to sit back and just enjoy what you've done. I am at that point and when I've built my preamp and built the Paradise, anything after that would just be for interest, rather than improving anything. The Bigbottle phonostage will probably continue to roll on as a developing DIY project too. I've largely moved away from box swapping but that's only happened due to my satisfaction with what I'm listening to.
Oli, it sounds like you've modded your system through experimentation and educated assumptions? I too would probably only now want to build something for fun rather than seeking the next best thing. My set-up's have been pretty stable for years, the last new thing was the EAR clone and that must be 2-3 years old buy now.
I've never been obsessed about anything. Too lazy. Music is something I like to enjoy but not the only thing I like to enjoy. And the hi-fi bit, chasing excellence, that's just a hobby, not an obsession. A man should have a hobby, it gives him a goal in life. Without a gpal to aim for he gets restless. Never chased flavour of the month either. Years ago I had no money to do it anyway and now I have I'm not interested. If I buy something it is usually because I've always wondered what it sounded like, or I like the look of it, rather than expecting it to improve the system. If it does that's a bonus. I'll just carry on ploughing my own furrow I think.
Some would argue that a hobby is an obsession, albeit a weak obsession. I've got the money but I just can't be arsed with excessive comparison of equipment. I'm also guilty of chasing flavour of the month, even though I abhor heard mentality!!
I enjoy trying new things, I tend to get restless if gear hangs around too long, even if there's no specific reason to change it. Everything gives at least a slightly different view on the music, sometimes substantially different, and it's good to have a continually changing perspective imo, it maintains interest and can make the over-familiar worth re-exploring.
I think you've got a valid point, Jerry. It's always worth listening to other gear and comparing against old familiars but I was far too much of this and actually listening to music. I've always had an open minded perspective on everything, now, it's less on equipment and more on music
Yes Andrew, I spent alot of time hearing whats i did and didnt want from the system. I found what I desired and went the DIY route of getting it. My system is pretty much nailed on now. I have a couple of phonostages in the works other than a preamp build, I cant see me changing anything again. I'm serious about that too. |
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Post by rexton on May 8, 2020 11:14:30 GMT
I think I've had one cartridge change in the valve system in the last 3 years, and it's been at least 5 years in the SS system.
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2020 11:36:37 GMT
I think I've had one cartridge change in the valve system in the last 3 years, and it's been at least 5 years in the SS system. Didnt have to money to go straight for what I wanted so tried to get there by buying and selling. It did give me a great amount of pleasure and listening to all that gear was a great way of gaining experience |
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Post by gninnam on May 8, 2020 11:50:22 GMT
I think I've had one cartridge change in the valve system in the last 3 years, and it's been at least 5 years in the SS system. Didnt have to money to go straight for what I wanted so tried to get there by buying and selling. It did give me a great amount of pleasure and listening to all that gear was a great way of gaining experience Same here but different - didn't have the money, but got here by buying and hoarding  |
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Post by jimbo on May 8, 2020 13:14:59 GMT
When I was a fair bit younger I went through a period where I could never really settle with the system or the sound I had and I became a massive box swapper. I realised in later life this was just a process I needed to go through in order to find the sound or aspects of sound that I liked and this allowed me to translate this into a system that played music in a way that I found satisfying long term.
On the way I was constantly blown off course and mistakenly went down avenues thinking they would bring about huge sonic gains but they were often mirages and what I deduced was that I was perceiving different was better rather than different was just different.
It was easy to drown in hifi in the 70s and 80s when there was so much going on often turbo charged by reading magazines and having access to listen to lots of equipment at some friendly dealers.
Like a self confessed alcoholic I knew I had become obssessed with hifi and it was only when I bought a house and I could no longer afford to buy hifi that it stopped.
In these last few years I would say I have a healthy interest in hifi and enjoy just listening to music rather than watch TV but I do worry how much time I spend on here.........Is that obssessive?
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Bigman80
Grandmaster
The HiFi Bear/Audioaddicts/Bigbottle Owner
Posts: 16,400
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Post by Bigman80 on May 8, 2020 13:15:59 GMT
When I was a fair bit younger I went through a period where I could never really settle with the system or the sound I had and I became a massive box swapper. I realised in later life this was just a process I needed to go through in order to find the sound or aspects of sound that I liked and this allowed me to translate this into a system that played music in a way that I found satisfying long term. On the way I was constantly blown off course and mistakenly went down avenues thinking they would bring about huge sonic gains but they were often mirages and what I deduced was that I was perceiving different was better rather than different was just different. It was easy to drown in hifi in the 70s and 80s when there was so much going on often turbo charged by reading magazines and having access to listen to lots of equipment at some friendly dealers. Like a self confessed alcoholic I knew I had become obssessed with hifi and it was only when I bought a house and I could no longer afford to buy hifi that it stopped. In these last few years I would say I have a healthy interest in hifi and enjoy just listening to music rather than watch TV but I do worry how much time I spend on here.........Is that obssessive? As long as being on here or messing with hifi isnt intruding on the rest of your life, it's fine IMO. |
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Post by jimbo on May 8, 2020 13:18:44 GMT
When I was a fair bit younger I went through a period where I could never really settle with the system or the sound I had and I became a massive box swapper. I realised in later life this was just a process I needed to go through in order to find the sound or aspects of sound that I liked and this allowed me to translate this into a system that played music in a way that I found satisfying long term. On the way I was constantly blown off course and mistakenly went down avenues thinking they would bring about huge sonic gains but they were often mirages and what I deduced was that I was perceiving different was better rather than different was just different. It was easy to drown in hifi in the 70s and 80s when there was so much going on often turbo charged by reading magazines and having access to listen to lots of equipment at some friendly dealers. Like a self confessed alcoholic I knew I had become obssessed with hifi and it was only when I bought a house and I could no longer afford to buy hifi that it stopped. In these last few years I would say I have a healthy interest in hifi and enjoy just listening to music rather than watch TV but I do worry how much time I spend on here.........Is that obssessive? As long as being on here or messing with hifi isnt intruding on the rest of your life, it's fine IMO. It is intruding on the rest of my life... I need to be banned!  |
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Post by sq225917 on May 8, 2020 13:54:43 GMT
I have a list of things I want to do.
New external xo for mid and treble, class d amp and dsp xp for the bass and new boat tail cabinets for my ns1000m.
Additional psu and speaker outs for each chassis of my power amps and add switch to allow bridged or dual mono operation.
New platform for my deck with motor isolating cut out. Proper fixing of optical tacho unit to chassis.
New wiring and speaker outs and pads for my Stax.
Replace top left panel and eht boards in my 63s.
But I'm not in any rush to start any of them.
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Post by antonio on May 8, 2020 15:43:53 GMT
I emigrated, 13 years ago, and although I returned to the uk and now spend time in two countries hifi has certainly taken a back seat. When I returned to the uk I sold my LP12 and that gave me finances to purchase a complete NVA system and PTtoo. I did spend a bit extra on the phono stage though at a later date. I am perfectly happy with what I've got, even though it is mainly used as a 2nd system. If I had the money would I change, doubt it really since NVA suits my ears. I enjoy reading about and seeing other peoples systems on forums, and many remind me of me in the past always wanting more. I blame Linn and Naim for that, as I'm sure many others do. I only wish hifi forums had been around 40 years ago, or at least had friends interested in hifi to compare a wider selection of hifi. These days I'm pretty easy to please and would rather joke about hifi than take it too seriously, must be my age.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 15:44:25 GMT
As long as being on here or messing with hifi isnt intruding on the rest of your life, it's fine IMO. It is intruding on the rest of my life... I need to be banned! Your wish is my command . You're barred for a fortnight. Go service the wife and get your life back. 🤨 |
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Post by antonio on May 8, 2020 17:08:50 GMT
I'd go an service my wife this minute, unfortunately I don't have one. . . . . Come to think of it I'd rather be single and free. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2020 17:46:15 GMT
I think both situations have pros and cons.
My problem is I need someone to stop me being a total adolescent.
As my controller says ...
" You're sixty going on seven" 😟
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Post by firebottle on May 8, 2020 18:17:34 GMT
It isn't a bad thing to be regressing in your old age, I'm doing my best and driving the wife crazy  |
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Post by jimbo on May 8, 2020 19:39:32 GMT
It is intruding on the rest of my life... I need to be banned! Your wish is my command . You're barred for a fortnight. Go service the wife and get your life back. 🤨 I don't think I could take Isolation and being banned and I don't think normal "service" will be resumed until covid over!  |
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