This thread is a bit of an amalgam of the topics covered in the hyperbole thread, oversensitivity of audiophiles thread, and the concept that small changes can produce potentially distinctly negative and positive outcomes, often seemingly out of proportion, interchangeable, and hard to predict.
Since 1997, I've changed major components multiple times, and apart from a couple of major mistakes (2001, Marantz SA1, just WHAT was I thinking?!), have always been able to gauge what I like and what I don't, and upgrades have been generally worthwhile and often inspiring.
Alongside component swaps, I've been maxxing power/isolation/signal integrity via balanced power/grounding/cables, and this is actually changing the sound radically for the better.
Interestingly, in the last 6-9 months, changes I've made have been even more transformative, but the initial effects were TOTALLY schizophrenic, and it's amazing I have any hair left!
Firstly on this dizzy trip was my upgrade to Nat SET amps - demo totally fantastic, then the next day, OMG I was pleading w/the dealer to take them back, the SQ had so unwound overnt. But a suggestion to alter the VTF on my cart just flipped the sound 180, I was back in love, and now I will never vary from Nat. Just by the change of 0.05g!
Next Sablon cables, I was great w/the initial loom, tried a higher model in the line i/c, even better, but added more of the latter to my system, and SQ bottomed out again. Just what is going on, again?! But completed the loom w/spkr cbls to go 100% on the new line, and voila, ease and joy back in my life.
Next Lundahl transformers to my Zu sub amps. Amazing boost in bass extension, but after a few days, a seeming blunting of dynamics. Had to work really hard in getting the bass x/over setting dead right resulting in locking the sound right in, and bass has never been so precise.
Then GIKs. Great impvt in coherence to start, and then a seeming loss of focus that was totally frustrating. But a resiting of the 242s behind the rack to behind the spkrs reintroduced the magic.
Finally, today, moving Zus 1' into room, my seating position from 14' to 12' distant, and toeing them out a few inches is really focussing the sound and immersing me in the s'stage, whereas a year ago, positioning was pretty indecisive.
So, the days of, yep this component sounds better and continues to do so, has been replaced by, wow this change is amazing but be ready to have to ABSOLUTELY finetune to maintainn the joy.
What's great is that the mood swings mid process, when I succeed, are totally worth it, my sound has been taken to heights I really couldn't have been prepared for.
I'm obviously in the territory where reviewers say a well-tuned system can be so easily unbalanced by a simple change, the chain only as good as the weakest link.
And also, not good for your health to do too many radical changes all in the same time period.
I'm also surmising that getting power/grounding/isolation/signalling impvd is allowing components to really shine, but the balance is a lot more of a tightrope, less tolerance but greater potential.
Isn't this just like real life, as you get older, decisions need not to be taken lightly, but get it right and family/work can all come together.
Since 1997, I've changed major components multiple times, and apart from a couple of major mistakes (2001, Marantz SA1, just WHAT was I thinking?!), have always been able to gauge what I like and what I don't, and upgrades have been generally worthwhile and often inspiring.
Alongside component swaps, I've been maxxing power/isolation/signal integrity via balanced power/grounding/cables, and this is actually changing the sound radically for the better.
Interestingly, in the last 6-9 months, changes I've made have been even more transformative, but the initial effects were TOTALLY schizophrenic, and it's amazing I have any hair left!
Firstly on this dizzy trip was my upgrade to Nat SET amps - demo totally fantastic, then the next day, OMG I was pleading w/the dealer to take them back, the SQ had so unwound overnt. But a suggestion to alter the VTF on my cart just flipped the sound 180, I was back in love, and now I will never vary from Nat. Just by the change of 0.05g!
Next Sablon cables, I was great w/the initial loom, tried a higher model in the line i/c, even better, but added more of the latter to my system, and SQ bottomed out again. Just what is going on, again?! But completed the loom w/spkr cbls to go 100% on the new line, and voila, ease and joy back in my life.
Next Lundahl transformers to my Zu sub amps. Amazing boost in bass extension, but after a few days, a seeming blunting of dynamics. Had to work really hard in getting the bass x/over setting dead right resulting in locking the sound right in, and bass has never been so precise.
Then GIKs. Great impvt in coherence to start, and then a seeming loss of focus that was totally frustrating. But a resiting of the 242s behind the rack to behind the spkrs reintroduced the magic.
Finally, today, moving Zus 1' into room, my seating position from 14' to 12' distant, and toeing them out a few inches is really focussing the sound and immersing me in the s'stage, whereas a year ago, positioning was pretty indecisive.
So, the days of, yep this component sounds better and continues to do so, has been replaced by, wow this change is amazing but be ready to have to ABSOLUTELY finetune to maintainn the joy.
What's great is that the mood swings mid process, when I succeed, are totally worth it, my sound has been taken to heights I really couldn't have been prepared for.
I'm obviously in the territory where reviewers say a well-tuned system can be so easily unbalanced by a simple change, the chain only as good as the weakest link.
And also, not good for your health to do too many radical changes all in the same time period.
I'm also surmising that getting power/grounding/isolation/signalling impvd is allowing components to really shine, but the balance is a lot more of a tightrope, less tolerance but greater potential.
Isn't this just like real life, as you get older, decisions need not to be taken lightly, but get it right and family/work can all come together.
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