What "Bugs" you with your gear?

[DaveyF]

We all talk about the positives of our gear, the sound, the looks, the operational aspects, the value---well not so much the value, the quality, etc.
However, I suspect that we all have gear that has a negative issue that 'irks' us a little, or a lot....in my instance it's the biasing procedure of my ARC D series amp. Basically, it is a task left for a tech and definitely not for the faint of heart or general home user. This aspect to me is a MAJOR failing of the design and one, which of I wasn't so in love with the sound, could disqualify the amp for me in a potential purchase decision.

What piece of gear do you own/did you own, that has an issue/design failure that "bugs" you and why?

 

[rockitman]

Nothing bugs me with my gear. I have finally reached the point of audio bliss with my components, connecting wires and room. I do wish my Studer A810 was 30 years younger though...

 

[NorthStar]

What "bugs" me?

All my girlfriends don't really care 'bout my electronica (gear).

They care more 'bout some other type of gear.

I feel underappreciated, not fully resolute, not revolutionized, incomplete...

 

[JackD201]

No remote control. At least I get some exercise. Yeah right

 

[andromedaaudio]

Also convenience , walking to that turntablee every time , and handling the records , drop the needle that kind of stuff.
I need to improve the bassoutput a little bit more (more extension/biggercabinet ) and also increase the woofer efficiency a little(different type ) plus i want a stiffer membrane than paper for the bass.
And i want to get rid of mdf

 

[flez007]

All my girlfriends don't really care 'bout my electronica (gear).

L O L

..and they never will....

 

[NorthStar]

L O L

..and they never will....

But they do care 'bout the Music though! :b
And in particular Kate (she's into Brazilian, Classical; violins, operas, ...).

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

No remote control. At least I get some exercise. Yeah right

I'm the opposite...I hate freagin' remotes. Guess I'm really Old School!

 

[treitz3]

Since I have tube pre and an SS amplifier? Having to wait until the pre is ready with the B+ power up in order to turn on the amplifier without fear of damaging the input. Very minor delay, I know but it still bugs me nonetheless. The single most thing that bugs me really has nothing to do with the gear, while at the same time, it has everything to do with the gear. That being having to unplug it all when Mother Nature is throwing a light show. Living in the Carolinas, this happens often. Especially in the spring and summer months. Last summer it got real bad, almost daily with the severe storms.

Not much else bugs me. I guess I'm blessed.

 

[fas42]

The fact that everything, but everything matters! Fighting this "problem" over 25 years or so has got me down at times, but the acquisition of knowledge, in hindsight, has made it worthwhile.

And the fact that the better the system works, the more one little thing out of whack knocks the SQ on the head: there is so little margin of error.

At this precise moment, that it is still too susceptible to wireless phone RF interference: no crackling or obvious noises, it just degrades, dulls the SQ ...

Frank

 

[mep]

Davey-If you don't have me on ignore, I share your pain with regards to the D-70 as we have talked about numerous times. Anyone who owns the VT-100 series amps also have big time complaints with the bias scheme. As for me, what bugs me is when the gear breaks. Another thing that bugs me is when you have different sources that invert phase and it can only be fixed at the speaker terminals.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Equipment with sharp, pointed edges like my amps. Can't tell you how many times I've gouged my shins. Ouch!

Heavy AC cords, ICs and speaker cables. They always bend the hell out of your connectors! You also better have a very tight, lock fit at the plug/receptacle end or the connection will dangle no matter what you do.

Speakers that kitties like to climb!

 

[mep]

Equipment with sharp, pointed edges like my amps. Can't tell you how many times I've gouged my shins. Ouch!

Heavy AC cords, ICs and speaker cables. They always bend the hell out of your connectors! You also better have a very tight, lock fit at the plug/receptacle end or the connection will dangle no matter what you do.

Speakers that kitties like to climb!

How about a significant other that steps on said heavy ICs and breaks your RCA jacks on your amps??

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Lack of visual feedback from the remote control. I use active systems with preamp and amps built in. There is no visual feedback for the volume (not much of a problem) or even the inputs. My consolation is that it is pretty clear the manufacturer skipped this, and a few other things, to put all the money into the sound and deliver a product that hits way above its class.

Tim

 

[Thomas.Dennehy]

My networked AVR does not have a smartphone control app rather than a line-of-sight remote control. I seldom listen to music in the same room as the electronics stack.

 

[puroagave]

a few pet peeves...

No phase inversion switch or capability either in preamp or digital domain (DAC). Too many recordings are out of phase, why is this not considered essential?

No mute switch on a preamp. I used the source selector on a CJ preamp to mute the phono input while changing records or changing out interconnects - it’s not convenient. by contrast ARC has always provided a mute switch.

Lack of remote volume control – I cant live with out it.

Preamp gain adjustability. All mfrs should provide gain adjustments in their line stages and I would include input sensitivity in power amps. Some mfrs will include dip switches or jumpers to do this. Gain matching is so crucial in any system, and they’re usually out of whack with varying speakers sensitivity all the way back to front end gain that’s available in your phono setup. You can’t optimize the overall s/n of your system without this.

 

[puroagave]

another peeve that has nothing to do with me but ive noticed it in videos...why oh why do some 'philes drop their LPs on a spinning platter - whats up with that? is this a race, whats the hurry. watch the greek audiophile vid, a guy drops a heavy stablizer ring on a spinning record!!

 

[fas42]

another peeve that has nothing to do with me but ive noticed it in videos...why oh why do some 'philes drop their LPs on a spinning platter - whats up with that? is this a race, whats the hurry. watch the greek audiophile vid, a guy drops a heavy stablizer ring on a spinning record!!

Possibly, just possibly, he's found out that the bearing takes a long time to stabilise, for the lubricant to get to optimium temperature, etc. The first OTT system I heard in the 80's used a Goldmund Reference that was always spinning. Why, I asked? Because, the owner said, it took several days to optimise, so it was left running 24/7!!

Frank

 

[puroagave]

frank, ive heard that before but from someone that values his software above all else - and you should too - then i can live with the very remote chance that a continualty spinning deck might provide - imagined or not - a very slight improvement in sound. but thats just me

 

[flez007]

Warm-up time!

My amp starts sounding decent after 15 minutes, but ready until 40-45 minutes where bass gets rounder, fuller and soundstage goes 1mt behind the speakers. I need to call my son some days to turn it on while driving back home....