Wtf

[siddh]

So....I'm sitting in the g-spot listening to a re-release of Charles Mingus Presents Charles Mingus, taken by the creativity and musicianship, along with a most pleasant, non-fatiguing audio presentation. I mean the system is really tuned in. Night after night, album to album, consistently delivering an evening of delightful, top to bottom non-stereo sound. All the while, I have been reading through the recaps of Axpona...a number of sources with best-ofs; with descriptions of the latest technologies in speakers, cartridges, cabling, etc., etc, etc. The speaker stuff is getting to me, because I have heard some of the newest driver/ crossover technologically advanced speakers...and damn...they are so accurate. Phenomenal detail, with airy highs and super taut bottom ends. The Avalon Diamonds I have, driven by CAT JL 2/ Jadis pre, sourced from Walker tt/Koetsu cart; has been no slouch in the area of detail, but quite a distance from the likes of Vandersteen, Magico, Tidal, YG, Wilson, and the rest. Granted, I have no long term experience with these speakers, so little do I know if the uber lucidity would grow to grate. I doubt it, though. Many of the owners I have met of these grand specimens continue to relish their distortion-less performers.
I now have a Chick Corea lp pumping fabulously room filling post modern; with detail aplenty, sizzling cymbals and pretty darn good bass.
So WTF. I have tweaked and grounded and cabled and re-cabled, re-fused and re-tubed. Isolated components, room-tuned, run separate 20 amp lines into tweaky outlets. Placed stuff on top and under speakers and amps, and spent huge dollars on record weight/clamps...incidentally the Dalby record weight is the finest I have ever placed on a record. After weeks running into months, I continue to be impressed with how non-critical my listening has become. But, with all this...still the possibilities of better...more...less...leave me coveting.
WTF!!!

[Rob]

Agreed. The leaps in performance from the latest driver tech that has found its way into direct radiating speakers is amazing. IMO, speakers have always been the weakest link with measurable distortion an order of magnitude beyond even mediocre electronics. When you hear the latest crop of speakers w/o distortions you've become used to, its revelatory. I had an epiphany like that hearing the latest Magicos, Raidhos, YG and others like Tidal and as of late Vandersteen carbons.

[fcrowder]

I am more familiar with the Avalon Isis than with your model; however, I would like to suggest a somewhat different take on what you said. The fact that your listening has become non-critical says alot to me and all of it is positive. It is easy to get caught up in the equipment wars and lose track of why we listen in the first place. It's all about the music and getting caught up in the emotional message. One of the best systems which I have heard is built around Isis speakers and Ypsilon electronics and a very well designed listening room.

[MylesBAstor]

Lighting up a cigar,

....how long have you felt that way about your mother? Well I think I can save you the trouble and cost of going to a shrink and give you the quick diagnosis: you are suffering from a flare up of acute audiophile nervosa. Want to be happy with your system? Don't listen to any others!

But I understand that itch. We all suffer from it at one time or another. Sadly, there's no know cure either. But listening to or buying music can sometimes help reduce the severity of or length of outbreaks.

Seriously now and as Fred pointed out--it's great whatever your system consists of or price just disappears--and lets you focus on the music. Hearing deeper into the musical intent of the composer and/or musicians. Nothing like jazz to let you hear what the musicians are about either.

It's always educational, though, to try and listen to some of the new speakers on the market. Especially at friends systems in whom you trust. If nothing else, it's doing your homework for every product brings something just a little different to the table. Just leave your wallet behind. Certainly there are many opinions on the subject but I think perhaps the greatest strides made in the sound of high-end audio systems has been in the area of speaker design. In particular, cabinet design, settling time, resolution, low end (and in part seemingly somehow contradictory, stemming from better tweeter design), dynamic contrasts and dynamics, transparency and a whole host of either items. Isn't this in the end, all driven by the goal of trying to get more out of our system and that seems best served by improvements in the front-end, speakers and room?

Obviously manufacturers build up followings in part because customers like the signature of the product. So why not give a listen to some of the new Avalon speakers. Though it seems the dealer network and availability to audition is becoming difficult. Might also be just my impression.

[1morerecord2clean]

....how long have you felt that way about your mother? Well I think I can save you the trouble and cost of going to a shrink and give you the quick diagnosis: you are suffering from a flare up of acute audiophile nervosa. Want to be happy with your system? Don't listen to any others!

But I understand that itch. We all suffer from it at one time or another. Sadly, there's no know cure either. But listening to or buying music can sometimes help reduce the severity of or length of outbreaks.

Seriously now and as Fred pointed out--it's great whatever your system consists of or price just disappears--and lets you focus on the music. Hearing deeper into the musical intent of the composer and/or musicians. Nothing like jazz to let you hear what the musicians are about either.

It's always educational, though, to try and listen to some of the new speakers on the market. Especially at friends systems in whom you trust. If nothing else, it's doing your homework for every product brings something just a little different to the table. Just leave your wallet behind. Certainly there are many opinions on the subject but I think perhaps the greatest strides made in the sound of high-end audio systems has been in the area of speaker design. In particular, cabinet design, settling time, resolution, low end (and in part seemingly somehow contradictory, stemming from better tweeter design), dynamic contrasts and dynamics, transparency and a whole host of either items. Isn't this in the end, all driven by the goal of trying to get more out of our system and that seems best served by improvements in the front-end, speakers and room?

Obviously manufacturers build up followings in part because customers like the signature of the product. So why not give a listen to some of the new Avalon speakers. Though it seems the dealer network and availability to audition is becoming difficult. Might also be just my impression.

👍👍👌👌 there's always a great sounding system at the next show or in someone's house. You just can't do the knee jerk reaction and make drastic changes to a good system without that slippery slope. Chase the music, not the equipment.