How do you know when you are done?

[Rensselaer]

My experience says there is a direct relationship, once you understand how the ear perceives sound and what measurements are actually important.

This is my point: actually you can if you know what to measure and understand its implications. Certainly designing for best square wave response isn't it.

Eventually the boulder is a bit of sand and not so hard to move. Plus the hill wears down too.

I recall THD measurements as a selling feature for stack systems. Claims of less than 0.0001% total harmonic distortion printed across the box in big letters supposedly allowed the potential buyer to quickly discern which hi fi system would sound best. Solid state amps usually measure much lower distortion than valve amplifiers, does that prove they sound better?

In regards to the boulder wearing down the hill; really? You totally missed the analogy.

The question posed by the OP is how does one know when they are finished with this process?

Does one believe if they keep making upgrades that eventually they will end up with a system that satisfies completely, or does one eventually realise that what they actually enjoy most is the pursuit and process?

 

[tima]

How do you know you're not done?

 

[Tangram]

How do you know you're not done?

When we’re at 34 pages of comments and counting!

 

[Atmasphere]

I recall THD measurements as a selling feature for stack systems. Claims of less than 0.0001% total harmonic distortion printed across the box in big letters supposedly allowed the potential buyer to quickly discern which hi fi system would sound best. Solid state amps usually measure much lower distortion than valve amplifiers, does that prove they sound better?

In regards to the boulder wearing down the hill; really? You totally missed the analogy.

The question posed by the OP is how does one know when they are finished with this process?

Does one believe if they keep making upgrades that eventually they will end up with a system that satisfies completely, or does one eventually realise that what they actually enjoy most is the pursuit and process?

As I mentioned in my prior post, knowing what measurements mean is the important bit. For example the THD isn't an important measurement without knowing the harmonic spectrum generated by the amp at 1 Watt, 6dB below full power and at full power.

I simply pointed out that a rock wears down, just as doing our systems we wear down big problems into little ones. If we're paying attention and learning, those problems will be quite small when we're 'done'.

Everyone gets different things from pursuit of this hobby, just like any other hobby. Some people like collecting equipment. Others like to horse trade and listen to many different types. Others actually collect LPs and want to see how good they can sound. On and on. Know 'when you're done' is a personal pathway.

 

[Rensselaer]

Everyone gets different things from pursuit of this hobby, just like any other hobby. Some people like collecting equipment. Others like to horse trade and listen do many different types. Others actually collect LPs and want to see how good they can sound. On and on. Know 'when you're done' is a personal pathway.

Yes, the pursuit and process.

 

[Elliot G.]

How do you know you're not done?

you are not done if
A- you still love music
B- you still have passion
C- you still actually listen
D- you still have money
E- you can find a home for your old gear
F- you don't spend all day on Forums

 

[Another Johnson]

How do you know you're not done?

When you pop popcorn, you know you’re done when the time between kernels popping is more than a few seconds.

With audio, you know you’re done when your time between upgrades is more than a few years.

 

[Ron Resnick]

I feel like I am nearly done, done with the same old tiresome feuds being played out over and over again.

This not particularly a criticism of What's Best Forum as it happens everywhere online. I haven't come across a single forum that isn't plagued by ideological and overly opinionated posters and, in some cases, even moderators. Grumpy old men, I guess.

Hi John,

We have a very simple solution for this ailment: the "ignore" button. A few months ago I reversed my years-long personal policy of not putting anybody on "ignore."

Now I have on "ignore" the biggest feuders, the most ideological and overly opinionated posters and the grumpiest old men. Life is now better!

I encourage you to put your personal offenders on "ignore."

 

[andromedaaudio]

How do you know you're not done?

Ask F toole if you re done or any other " authority "

 

[bonzo75]

Now I have on "ignore" the biggest feuders, the most ideological and overly opinionated posters and the grumpiest old men.

You don’t talk to yourself anymore?

 

[Billygxx]

Sometimes conflict is the only way to remain connected. Every family has its moments of dysfunction and personal swipes. At the very core of being human.
You can be done buying new gear but want to remain part of the audiophile culture and identity which though not entirely focused, definitely embraces music.

 

[Kingrex]

Now I have on "ignore" the biggest feuders, the most ideological and overly opinionated posters and the grumpiest old men. Life is now better!

You don’t talk to yourself anymore?

Ron never saw your post!!!

 

[PeterA]

Ron never saw your post!!!

I don’t think he sees mine either based on my observation that he does not seem to want to answer any of the questions I ask him.

 

[Kingrex]

I don’t think he sees mine either based on my observation that he does not seem to want to answer any of the questions I ask him.

Peter A = Peter Agitator.

 

[bonzo75]

Ron never saw your post!!!

Am aware, but that is more because he did not enjoy being challenged on some of posts and approach on his thread

 

[tima]

Peter A = Peter Agitator.

Actually I think not. Peter may ask challenging questions but he is always polite -- even to snarks and ankle-biters. He makes positive contributions to the forum in many areas.

Kedar is an agitator and I'm fine with that because he is an intelligent agitator -- we need intelligent agitation. He likewise makes valuable contributions to the forum.

 

[PYP]

Perhaps you are done when you think "good enough." I had done that just before Mola Mola announced their new mono amps. I don't think much of marketing verbiage, but the technical description wormed its way into my head. The only difference now vs. my younger self is that I can put it on the back burner of my brain and go about my business. There may be a time in the future to look at these more closely...or not.

From the Mola Mola website:

"The Mola Mola Ossetra is a full-bridge power amplifier design, the full-bridge output makes the amplifier design fully balanced from input to output.

For the Mola Mola Ossetra we designed all new discrete class A gain stages. Using these new gain stages enabled us to revise the gain structure of the entire amplifier. This results in exemplary noise and distortion performance of the complete system.

The amplifier bandwidth of over 100kHz, keeps the frequency response absolutely flat within the audio band. The minimal load dependency establishes absolute consistency, irrespective of loudspeaker load.

The input stage distortion is below our current measurement threshold at approximately -150dB (~0,000003%), ensuring an immaculate power stage performance."

 

[andromedaaudio]

I ve put 50 % on igonore so that i m always right lol

 

[cjfrbw]

You have to ignore first, though, otherwise you lose if the other guy ignores you first. Maybe we need a thread about he who ignores first ignores best.

 

[Rexp]

I only ignore one person, when an 'ignored member' post appears I know who it is and can be assured it's not worth reading. Others who mainly post nonsense but occasionally say something interesting I simply never reply to. Works for me.