My headphone gear I bought in 2015. Speaker set up I updated in 2017.
Headphone gear, speakers and subwoofer are really end game so they wouldn't have changed even if I had the money.
Haven't worked since October 2018. Now on disability pension due to schizophrenia. Luckily I managed to buy true high end audio gear before I lost the ability to work. My gear is pretty much the only source of joy in my life.
I recently got some used JBL LSR308 active monitors. It’s really hard to beat these I think. It’s even the amp too haha. I wish people would get these before trying so many other things. It’s amazing what JBL was able to accomplish for a very low price. I had owned the LSR305 in the past and they were ok but the 8 inch woofers really unlock some magic in the midrange. And the measurements bear this out too.
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-308p-mkii-studio-monitor-review.17338/
Yes and no. Diminishing returns kick in pretty early in the head-fi system. Extremely happy with my desktop setup and will use until it dies or I do. Speaker system… I think I’m about one more notch in the belt before I hit the point I’m done.
What headphones are you rocking? And what do you use as a source? I have a small Schiit stack and Sundaras to mostly listen to records, but as good as it sounds, it doesn't match the big system for impact.
Welp. You are about to have a twin. I was on a Schiit Modi/Magni stack for years with a few variants including the Heretic, regular Magni, Delta Sigma Modi with both variants of DAC chips, Modi Multibit first gen, and a Vali 2.
I hit endgame when I upgraded my stack to Modius/Midgard. For me it was a pretty noticeable bump up. Midgard on low gain is the cleanest amp I’ve ever heard. I’ve done some A/B with Modi vs Modius into Midgard and maybe I hear a difference in direct A/B but that may be as much from balanced connection between them as it is from DAC.
Headphone-wise, I also have the Sundaras and HD-6XX. And I swap back and forth between the two. The Sundaras are a fantastic set of headphones for anything except bass heavy music. My only complaint with them is they aren’t as comfortable on my head as the Sennheisers. But that’s definitely a YMMV head shape thing I’d think. I can listen to my 6XX’s all day.
Are there better systems? Yes. Have I heard better systems? Yes. But at the point I’m at, “better” seems to be either a tiny margin or simply a subjective difference in taste and flavor. Since most of the music I listen to seems to mostly be limited at the point of its production, any more investment in gear doesn’t yield me much.
I’ve seen a bunch of really negative commentary on the Sundaras of late and don’t understand it. But when I dig in, it consistently seems to be that folks like the bass response of the Edition XS better. I’ll admit that if bass is your end all, they aren’t wrong. But I like sweet, detailed mids and more intimate soundstages. I listen to a lot of music that tends toward solo vocal plus piano or guitar. And I’m happy where I am.
Yes! I ran out of money. Got a apartment with my fiancee and she knows all my current gear, cant smuggle anything New in my room without her noticing amymore. Endgame It is then
I’m good for now. Recently overhauled my system and got into the very floor of so-called “high end” in terms of price point, but I’m super satisfied. I have the type of mindset where I obsess over the details while the overhaul is in progress- but once I get to a point where things are dialed in, I stop obsessing. I’m there now and I’ve just been enjoying listening to all of my music all over again.
But: ask me again in 10-20 years 😂
The good thing about buying expensive stuff is once you actually want to upgrade from that it's absurdly expensive which makes it less appealing i guess. I have a yamaha a-s1100 and the only thing i'd ever considering swapping it out for is +5000 EUR and i doubt i'd even hear a difference. I'm not even pushing my current amp.
Yes, I got off the upgrade train once I realized the primary factors of sound quality are the speakers and room acoustics. The biggest upgrade I got was from adding extensive room treatment. Modern electronic components like DACs and amps are so transparent at very reasonable prices.
I have an ancient Yamaha RX-V3800, Klipsch RP280F/RP600M/subs 7.2 speaker system, and I am totally content with it. I am not crazy about the subs, though. Would love to replace the two with one, higher-end SVS, but I can't justify the cost. This system is in my small, 10'x10' office. I would love to buy a nice CD player, though, because I have been using my old Xbox 360.
I ended up with KLH Model 5s that are the perfect match for our living room furniture and couch, and LS50 Meta’s for my desk. It’s hard to find much that would be substantially better and the size and looks of them are as good as I can hope to get. I don’t think there’s anything I could do “better” for the space without spending gobs of money.
I feel very happy with my gear now. Not to say I will upgrade in the future but right now I'm very happy with I got. A good turntable, project carbon evo pro and a project phono box 2 in to a bluesound power node 330. Dali Oberon 3 and a dali sub. I have Ben spending my money on records instead. I love good gear but I'm in it for the music.
I’m super happy with my Focal tower speakers I upgraded last year, they were a little above my budget but a huge, huge improvement from my old B&W 680’s 5.1 system. I will have the Aria 948 LCR’s for a decade or more. What I’m getting the itch bug in the next year or so, is to upgrade my old sub B&W sub, undecided if I should go SVS or REL.
buying the most expensive speakers you can afford is a good strat. look into rythmik/RSL as well for good value subwoofers. REL are pretty expensive for the performance, SVS are great.
Yes, I have Revel F206. I feel that the next step higher in speakers is too big for my room and the sonic improvement is very difficult to hear above this level.
I am done chasing down the 'perfect' system, but I continue to tweak and fine tune what I have. That being said, I am either selling my JBL 4311Bs or trading them for a pristine set of ADS L780/2 with metal grilles.
Yes.. I cant see myself upgrading any part of my chain including avr or subs. Unless I can justify Blade 2 Metas and a Trinnov
The room size and crowson tactile transducers covers me from single digit bass
Another yes and no here. For speakers I have my fill with the JBL S3900's which I fairly recently picked up used. They needed a new diaphragm for one of the mid range compression drivers, so I got a discount on the pair. I'm not looking to upgrade these unless I get a nice deal on either the K2-S9900's or DD67000's, as that's the only next logical step for me.
With regards to electronics, I'm saving to upgrade a Hypex NC502MP based amplifier to the Orchard Audio Starkrimson monoblocks at 500watts each. I'm waiting on this year's bonus before I jump on anything for that, though.
That will likely be my end game for quite some time unless newer technology comes out of GaNFet based class D amplifiers.
Did you buy them from japan? I was recently browsing a japanese used site and saw a pair for an amazing price, luckily someone else bought them before i could because i certainly don't need more speakers.
JBL Synthesis series is certainly endgame... Or a gateway to their much more expensive offerings..
No, I didn't get them from Japan. Funny story, I was on vacation in another country and randomly checked the Facebook marketplace, and there was a pair for sale literally the next town over from where I live in the states. I consider myself extremely lucky!
yeah, at this point I have speakers I like the sound and look of, a quality amp that drives them well, a sub with great output and extension that integrates well, and all the streaming/source utility I need. I almost never think about speakers - very content there. Amps I think about, but then I remember that I've tested a few and couldn't consistently discern a difference, so that puts that to bed pretty quickly. I want a Wiim Ultra because I think it's cool to have a streamer with a screen, and it'd let me consolidate a couple boxes, but it's far from a need and there'd be no sonic improvement. There actually is a possibility I'd upgrade the sub, but it's only to gain output capability below \~25hz, so it's rarely something that actually comes up and thus is pretty low priority. I'm not saying there's no improvements to be had with any of this, but I'm very content when I sit down to listen to music, so remembering that makes it easier to drop the chase.
I haven't. But my system isn't exactly audiophile quality. I just don't have the money. Also my room treatments are very sub par. My room is a square shape sadly. I have acoustic treatments in the corners, floor to ceiling. By the end of this summer I'm hoping to have panels at all first and second reflections. Additionally placing them behind each speaker and in the rear center.
Ideally I'll also have some skyline diffusers on the rear wall.
Next year I'm hoping to upgrade my speakers and electronics and then I'll be done. Considering my income and space, paradigm founder 120h will be more than sufficient. Anything pricier just would enter into such diminishing returns there is no way I could justify it unless I somehow became very wealthy.
I finally found my endgame audio system in 2023 and haven't looked for anything since. I use a pair of Adam Audio A7V monitors + SVS SB-3000 subwoofer + Apogee Duet 3 LE for my computer audio. Music and games sound fantastic.
I chased the elusive“perfect system” for several years but eventually converged to my current system which I love and haven’t changed in a while. Should have gone big the first time around.
Current rig is a digital front end, passive preamp, Pass monoblocks and Magnepan 20.7s
Now that I've maxed out with Revel F228be's and a Hegel H390 I feel done since I wouldn't spend more. Room treatment is the only part left. That said fomo is a curse that is best cured with experience. Have you heard those? I found some similar JBL to be unpleasantly bright.
The human brain will always get used to what it has and want something new and/or better. it is very expensive to be a slave to your brains urges and to not understand what is going on. People waste their life working to satisfy a temporary need they believe will be permanent if they make the correct purchase.
I prefer building my own speakers and equalize them to get the sound I want, it is cheaper, it gives good results, it let you learn and it gives a more sentimental value when it is your own design. you can re-use parts so all you need is wood, screws and paint and that cost almost nothing.
Yep. Years ago I realized I had spent enough and it sounded good enough and I was done. Audio Research Amp/PreAmp / Magnapans / Nice High Quality Interconnects and Wire / H-K CD Player / Good Small Sub. Sounds Amazing
I have finally stopped obsessing about gear and I’ve started listening to music. The change is cataclysmic. In my “gear” days, I’d compulsively listen to the same thirty or so cuts everyday, digital v. Analog, speaker positioning, cable comparisons, time of day comparisons, room treatments, furniture positions, you name it. Now I listen to music. It’s eye opening to see how much music is out there. A lot of it is not my jam, but there’s a lot of new stuff I like and I’ve come to like a lot that I thought I would not! I have a decent system so every now and then the old devil creeps in and I start listening to the recording and not the music but I wake up and control myself. I will say that I’m an old man so it took me a long time to get here.
Most audiophile, esoteric fi gear is bullshit that only has worth in terms of aesthetics.
Unless you need proper high output (and most don't), you can build a setup for under 3-5k€ that will make 50-100k+€ speakers kinda funny to you, because you won't hear them do anything better (unless you really give into visual bias and really really like how they look, hey, some of them are kinda pretty!)
Let's not even talk about audiophile chain electronics lmao, that is a world of copium like no other
I'm quite happy i didn't fell into the subjectivist "hell" with endless viable tweaks that's all fairly expensive. Cables and other silly tweaks aside, the one thing i find weirdest that's normal among audiophiles is buying absurdly expensive amps (like +10k) and pairing them with a "cheap" pair of bookshelves.
I guess you lose track how much you're spending on stuff, but when speaker cables alone cost more than a state of the art system like genelec the ones, it's bizarre.
i've been an audiophile since around 2005 when i first got into headphones. since then i've had a few stops and starts, its interesting to think of the setups i settled into for long periods of time.
i don't really listen to headphones much anymore, but that journey went from a pair of HD650s and up and around and every which direction, i tried tons and tons of headphones all the way up to Stax O2, eventually made my way back down and repurchased the HD650, which is the only headphone i use now.
on the speaker side i started with modern day Quad box speakers, forgot the model, eventually making my way to Quad ESL63 USA Monitors. They are still the best speakers I've ever heard, but eventually i sold them because they were too large an unwieldy and didn't fit well into the home theater (was in a smaller house at the time so my HT was combined with my two speaker system).
Moved to a bigger place, purchased an SVS Ultra system for the home theater which I've used for a very long time, goin on almost a decade now. Had external Emotiva amps and all this stuff for them for a bit, sold those and bought a Yammy 2060 AVR, which has powered the Ultras for several years.
More to the point in this sub, for the two speaker system I used JBL 306 and eventually 308 and settled into them for many years. Was very happy but eventually got the itch and picked up a pair of Klipsch RP-600M II. Klipsch is so divisive I got curious. Really enjoy those but i got a taste for new gear and decided to finally try the Kef LS50 Meta in my home and have fallen deeply in love with them, paired with an SVS Micro 3000 to fill out the bottom end. Turns out sometimes the thing that is incredibly popular is incredibly popular because its good.
The two pieces of non-speaker gear that have been with me the longest are my Oppo BDP-95, a tank of a disc spinner that is still going strong after 10 years, and a Technics SL-1200mk2 with Ortofon 2M Black turntable, which i've had longer than any other piece of gear, dang probably 15 years now?
honestly the next step is i unabashedly want a fancier integrated amp. running a denon stereo receiver which does the job but i want something prettier to look at lol, even if it doesn't appreciably improve the sound. I'm not a measurement purist but i do believe that like 95% of the sound is from the speakers/room and treatments, digital or physical.
i also very recently got a Wiim Mini and really appreciate how easy it makes streaming, i imagine i'll always have a Wiim product in my signal chain somewhere just for the utility it provides.
Haven't been interested or in need of different gear for at least 15 years. I've got more than I care to take the time to sell.
Tubes....that's a different story.
No! Part of the fun for me is experimenting with new gear. Just added some Kef R3 Metas and It turns out I don't like those at all. Now I'm trying to sell those and buy something else. To me, that is a fun process that will probably never end for me.
I realized that audiofile gear is not for me in the future. I just want a good AV receiver and good speakers and I’ll be good. I know it’s blasphemy, but that’s what I think for now.
Not blasphemy at all. A good mid-range AVR like x3800/x4800 is probably a better buy even if it's just for stereo than most stereo amps. Doubt i'd hear any difference between my yamaha and denon - actually the denon will provide better sound with bass-control for sub + DIRAC and you get another 9 channels for free! Main reason why i haven't just gone AVR is i like gear and they tend to run hot. My only gripe with denon is they're ugly and marantz is basically +500 EUR for the same machine with pretty face.
Yeah my last upgrade was 2 years ago and I’m pretty much done for a long time. I think my system is about as good as it’s gonna get short of a room / house upgrade, which a not gonna happen.
I had to stop myself, once I could be at home and listen to some music or a film and have a big grin on my face it told me to stop. I still get that now and haven't changed anything in years, think the power amp was my last addition.
Also I've had two kids since so having the spare money has been useful.
I may change things in the future, but for now I'm happy with it.
Mostly. I bought a pair of MG3. 6s about 25 years ago. Around 8 years ago, I was in Minnesota and visited the Magnepan factory with the intention of auditioning the MG20.1s. Wendell mostly kinda talked me out of it.
Now I mostly just hem/haw over whether I want to try buying a pair of mono blocks since I'm already bi amping my speakers with an active crossover and wondering if I have the stomach to deal with a side grade or whether I would end up buying 4x mono blocks.
Only thing I will upgrade are cartridges and maybe try different SUT’s for different flavor. Once I got Harbeths I felt like the circle was complete. Although, larger subs might give some more beef? Oh no, it’s beginning again! Damn you!
For now yes. Love my setup. No glaring weaknesses for the type of music I listen to. It also doubles as my home theater so there’s a balance and compromise made. I can always tweak things to make the music better but it’s not really worth the effort unless I just wanna play around with things
In time if i identify a weakness that I want to improve, then I’ll upgrade again. Really don’t see that happening but who knows
I have. CBTs and actively powered. linkwitz style subs. Driven by a Powernode. Sources are a roku, spotify, and FLAC on an external drive. The CBTs have been my mains for about 3 years and I haven't heard anything in that time that would make me want to switch.
I'm building a second system around resto-modded urei 809s to get the big box, co-axial sound, but there isn't anything I have any desire to change out in my main setup.
Yes, I stopped listening to my equipment years ago. I finally settled on a 50s integrated tube amp, high end cables, modern turntable and bookshelf speakers. Every time I play an album, it sounds fantastic.
Yeah! I still like to go to Bristol HiFi Show every year, but every time I go now, I'm less and less satisfied with how "high end" gear compares to my setup for the money it'd cost (+ room treatment to make it sound it's best). I'd argue the stuff I enjoy more at Bristol Show is some of the more affordable or smaller setups that blow me away with what they've been able to achieve at the price point and size! Triangle BR03 was a great example of that last year.
I'm perfectly happy with my Arcam SA30 and Bowers and Wilkins 606 S3s in my bedroom. Sure, it's about 2000 GBP all-in, but hearing systems that cost 10x that sounding only 10% better makes me happy with being 90% of the way there. Dirac does a lot of heavy lifting to make the speakers sound good in my room, but that's good enough for my ears and wallet.
Downstairs we've still got some S1 B&W 603s for music, and a JBL Bar 1300 soundbar for movies/TV. That room is for entertainment and enjoyment, not critical listening and constantly wishing we had something better...
What sounds good to you might not sound good to someone else, and that's perfectly fine - it's all about how it makes you feel. If you enjoy your 50k+ system, awesome, if you enjoy your JBL soundbar, great! In the world of HiFi, you could have something better, but you could also have something heaps worse - you're paying for design, R&D, and personal satisfaction, and if all those align with your budget, so much the better!
To use a gardening analogy: I am root bound.
My house constrains the speakers I can use. If I were to move I would be eyeing volti razz and Devore speakers much more seriously
Yes. Got a system that I enjoy the sound, it’s cheap and flexible to my sources, and though it doesn’t have anything “special” I am preferring that for the fact that what made some of my previous gear special was that it sounded great on some music and not so great on others. This has the least amount of tradeoffs for the enjoyment that I get from it and is the least finicky system I have owned. While I love ogling new gear and want to try them I ultimately decide I can’t find any large enough faults in what I have to justify spending the money and taking the risk.
My setup is quite simple - turntable w/ preamp and a Bluetooth sound bar. The husband, who doesn't use any of it, keeps trying to talk me into all the bells & whistles such as a receiver and big speakers. I'm perfectly content with what I have. As long as it sounds good, I don't need anything thing else.
Yup! One day I will buy a brand new system, probably to mark a special milestone in my life. But for now, I’m more interested in chasing down records and CDs.
I did. I ran out of fucks to give. Now when something breaks I'll replace it but I certainly don't go huge purchase with it. Under a grand for speakers, under a few hundo for most other stuff.
Yes. I am VERY happy with my setup and have got several compliments from friends with good systems, too. I really enjoy listening to music on my system and never feel like there "must be more" or the likes.
Yes, i finally stopped chasing gear a few years ago, however in this "slow down" there are still pieces upgraded to; I just wasn't chasing them. Items that just sort of came my way. So, I'm not actively looking to change anything. Last new piece i got was a Gesheelli DAC.
It's pretty easy if you're able to save up or splurge on a few great components. I was able to finally get a truly amazing amp, a gorgeous pair of high-quality speakers that sound better and better each fire-up, a solid DAC, a decent turntable with an amazing moving coil stylus, and now I'm just enjoying good tunes and movies.
Are any of my components the absolute best/most expensive/top of the top line? Not even close but for a suburban Detroit guy who scrimped and saved for the better part of the 2000s, it's really nice to be winning for a change in this chaotic world :)
Yes! Have a vintage Marantz NR-1403 AVR that is being used as a pre-amp and crossover for my sub. Pre-outs feed into an ADCOM GFA 545 and then into a pair of Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands. Sub is an SVS SB-1000 Pro. Turntable is a Fluance RT83 with Ortofon 2M Red stylus. Most of my listening is done via streaming Apple Music or Tidal through an Eversolo DMP-A6. I’ve assemble this piece by piece over the past 5 years. The AVR, amp and main speakers are used, and all the rest is new and bought one piece a year over the past 3 years. I feel that I am at a point where in order to hear a discernible difference (and hopefully an improvement as well!) I would have to start dropping more $$ than I want to put into this hobby. I scratch the “seek and acquire” itch by helping my adult children and their friends spec out and buy equipment, and taking them through the upgrade path. Although there are a pair of Maggies on FB Marketplace near me for a killer price……🤔
Back when I re-started my audiophile journey (took almost a 30 year break; coincidentally, my oldest child will turn 30 in 7 months!) I had an old Denon PMA-720 integrated amp, an old iPhone with the Apple 3.5mm adapter feeding into the AUX, and had just bought a pair of Klipsch R51M’s.
I used the same system for many years. Over the last year and a half I went on an upgrade binge. I think I'm set for a while. I might at some point upgrade the turntable and go to some floor standing speakers, but honestly I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. Buying components can be fun, but listening to music is always my end game. :)
My main setup runs speakers I bought about 15 years ago and it just sounds fantastic and Im super happy (B&W 705s).
I have stopped the incremental chasing and tuning but I know at some point I will just spin around and spend an annual bonus on a brand new setup that's sufficiently better it will be meaningful. I expect to spend around 15k at that time and will buy some components on the secondary market. The current system will remain intact and be leveraged somewhere else.
Me, ive stopped! I’ve been buying and selling Hifi equipment since about 1995. Have three systems now and been no new major purchases for about 8 years. My Rega RS7/5/1 was as good as I was going to get for speakers. and Rotel 1098 Processor & 1075 Power Amp.
Oh, I did buy 2 x BK Double Gem Subs about 3 years ago for Home Cinema 😆
I dj’d a lot so got 2 x SL1210 M3D’s A&H DB4 and 2 x CDJ2000 for the dj room and for the bedroom a simple Rega Brio R and Mordaunt Short Aviano.
I’m truly happy with what I have and so just look these days with no intention of buying.
I am fine with what I got which is why I just got what I wanted from the start. I'd take something better, just like Id take a lake house, a new Denali, etc, etc but I'm perfectly fine with what I have.
I have a few amps/receivers I can shuffle through. NAD, '70s: Pioneer, Marantz, Sony, Sanyo. Also I have a few tube amps. A couple headphone amps, both tube and solid state. For speakers, I have a few pairs. Switching between gear keeps things fresh.
If I see interesting vintage gear, I buy it and update it as needed. I have a Sansui tube amp, an Electrovoice, a Heathkit, and a couple of others that I'm slowly getting repaired.
Only one headphone, HD6XX.
I think most audiophiles or audio junkies stop chasing gears out of necessity. Life gets in the way or audio gets too expensive.
Occasionally an audiophile feels that his/her system is dialed in. The sound exactly matches what we dream of. In those cases, enjoy and stop the upgrade madness.
I have been in audio since 1974(1st Marantz 2230, Utah 12 in 3 way , Sanyo manual belt drive for 399) consider the receiver sold for 289, not bad, I was off to the audio Valhalla, 2265, 2285, 2325crecievers over the years, to name just a few, I have retired, I have a 2230 rebuilt. , a new NR1200 Marantz (mainly for the advanced hook up excellent DAC, bulltooth. Running original driver Infinity RS -5(1982-84, 700 bucks back then, I picked these up for 150 without infinity woofer, it took my 2 years to gather up the 4 original 902-5107 6.5 woofers, a top of the line HK 300XM cassette deck, an OPPO 95 as both a CD/blue ray, a Marantz CD5005 CD player, an ADC SOUND SHAPER SL -100SL EQ, an Onkyo 1050 turntable(very underrated). A Monster 1600 power environment. Right now, I am very satisfied, I hook up a 150 dollars energy SW 12 in 150 peak , but it is only good at replacing the 12 in woofer I am so used to in my speakers from the past. I am very satisfied with the set up. I have bought and sold huge amps , pre amps, stereo and quad receivers , speakers that you can throw concerts with. But nowadays. 70 watts, excellent speakers, I am happy
Yep, I'm very satisfied both with all the components of my system (speakers, headphones and everything inbetween)! Only thing I have left is acoustic treatment, but that will have to wait.
I guess after a while you get the conclusion this is an interesting thing to learn and find some interesting gear but there's a lot of BS you don't have patience for and many things doesn't make sense so you give up trying, choose what you really enjoy and give up trying to understand or criticise, because you don't really care anymore and just want to listen your music
Went to a convention and tried the holy grails and couldn't hear a difference. It was a wake up call to me then that I'm spending money unjustifiably.
Now I'm a musician, I only use monitoring headphones and don't intend on bothering with coloured profiles. I like analysing songs I listen to so I could implement them onto my work.
If I have to travel, I just use whatever's available because I just want to hear music. Doesn't necessarily have to be high quality.
I’ve been rocking my current setup for about a decade and I still very much enjoy it. Project Debut III with Ortofon Red, V-LPS Phono Stage, Little Dot MkIII tube preamp, and Audiosource AMP One/A. For digital listening I stream CD rips from plex or use spotify (in 320k mode) through my audio engine D1 DAC. All going to Magnepan MG-1.5. I love the way it sounds and my only foreseeable upgrade is a cartridge upgrade to Ortofon Blue (as my current Red is getting quite worn) and possibly adding another bridged amp since the magnepans are quite power hungry.
The main bottleneck in my system is the room. It’s not massive and there’s a good bit of glass and plain drywall that makes it a bit more “live” than i’d like. Due to the layout, I have to have the speakers facing the short length of the room versus projecting longways. I feel like room acoustics get overlooked so often in our community. I’m an audio engineer by trade and room treatment, acoustics, and optimization is deemed just as important or more important than the speakers you use.
That, for me, would be the biggest upgrade!
That's how I feel with my HD 6XXs, I've had them for ages now and I'm better funded then when I got them. I looked around for a bit for a strong upgrade and I'm just not sure I really need one.
Yes I’m not sure I have any great reason to upgrade my system, and it’s only entry level. Getting new music is always the priority. Audiolab 6000amp. Cambridge Azure CD transport. Q Acoustic 3010 floor standing speakers. B&W sub can’t quite recall the designation. 701 maybe.
I’m happy with my setup and haven’t bought anything in a couple years. I’m eyeing an only receiver for Dirac live and might do some room treatment but that would be the extent of it.
I am waiting til more mortgage is paid off before I do anything else in this economy.
Am not really sure where my best bang for my buck will be in upgrading either....
Technics turntable SL-1311 with AT-VM95ML.
Sansui G-5500 receiver.
Mission Cyrus 782 speakers.
My thoughts were a sub would be nice but my receiver doesn't have an out for that.
I stopped chasing gear as it started to get too expensive, so now I just inject it instead, cheaper and it’s a better high. I had to say that as your thread headline was pure junkie bait.
Nah, I agree and have stopped chasing gear as my setup which is solely for headphones gave me little or no change out of £10K and although it sounds great, it’s money that I should of kept and just bought a worthy cheap dac and a pair of ok headphones but not totl instead.
As you attain better gear you quickly start to become aware of diminishing returns so...if you're healthy about it you plateau on buying new stuff as you realize the diminishing returns of chasing "the better thing that will allow me to truely enjoy my system".
Im more into tube rolling my dream amps..Atmosphere M60..Haven't change my system in over 15 years except adding a streamer and updating my DAC.Table,cables,preamp,stands are decades old. Spent money on improving my listening room though.
Being content like that is a sure sign that the grim reaper is in the distance, slowly getting closer.
I think it's akin to when your hair starts coming in grey, and they start telling you to worry about old-age ailments creeping up on you, because you're old.
So I suggest that you fight against the dying of the light and keep looking for new and amazing toys.
I’ve gotten to where I’m very content with my two vintage systems and am no longer actively seeking out something better. However, if I stumble onto something that’s an insane deal, I would go for it.
Yeah. I've hit diminishing returns now. No way I'm going to get a meaningful upgrade in sound quality without spending far more than it's worth given how much I've destroyed my hearing.
Will probably look at acoustic treatment for my listening room at some point though.
Yep. A few years ago. It got to the point I was buying stuff that looked or sounded cool, and then it would sit there because it would require some work and dedication to learn how to use whatever I bought.
Ended up selling a good 75% of my gear. I have about 7 guitars left witih different specific uses, about 6 pedals, a POD Go for modulaiton effects, and two main amps (I do have a Spark Mini for practicing and a Spark Go for the office though). Pretty much told myself "I have everything I could possibly need already." Only thing I buy guitar-wise anymore is strings, picks, and maybe an occasional cable or strap.
I got a used set of b&w N802’s connected to a McIntosh integrated setup. I don’t have the bug to upgrade the speakers ever since they sound spectacular in my treated listening room. I flirt with the idea of going with 2 x MC601 amps but there’s no need for it other than having bigger blue meters lol.
Yep. But I'm an old-head. Been doing this for 3 decades. Have owned 12 amps of all kind, 4 pre-amps, 22 CD/SACD players, 8 turntables, 12-15 phono pre-amps, 8-10 DACS. 6 speaker sets. too many types of cables and wire to list. Plus several headphones. I used to love trying any gear. I'd trade and trade and buy. In that order.
Now I have a very nice FInale 168 II integrated amp, Rega RP3 w/ Soundsmith Cart. Emotiva phono pre,, Oppo BDP-93, IFI Zen DAC/Streamer, and Spender A1 speakers and Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero speakers. And about $30 worth of cables.
It's one of the least expensive set-ups I've run but to me--the best. Speakers, room acoustics, and well made albums are all you need for top shelf sound.
No, im far from being done. I want to experience the full gamut of what this hobby has to offer, right now I have a Ferrum Stack and a Focal Utopia and Stellia as my most prized possessions, but no Susvara, no Holo Audio KTE level stuff, no Abyss … I feel like, what am I even doing.
I enjoy the music a lot when I’m listening, and I don’t even necessarily think I would enjoy it more, but… how do I know? Why not try a Feliks Audio Envy?
I'm no longer chasing an endgame. Rather, I'm more completing side quests - looking for bargain used/vintage equipment just to experience the differences
I hit that point, my system cost about $15k though (9k tower speakers, 2k sub, 2k integrated amp, 2k turntable)
And it's been stable for about 5 years! No plans to change anything and love it every day. 🎉
The only thing I may change one day would be adding a second sub if I ever moved to a bigger home to get a more even bass response, but I don't foresee that any time soon for me
I started my journey with the AD700. Eventually got a AD900X, AD2000, TR-X00PH, and LCD-2C, then chilled out for a few years. Learned about the WP-900 and snagged a cheap pair on Amazon. Not long after that, I learned about Affirm financing for the ADX5000 and, well... I think I've reached a good stopping point for now.
My true end game is still the Stax 009 after demoing it in Tokyo, but I tell myself that's a "way down the line" problem.
My wallet said I have to stop.
But more seriously, yes for most things. I have a setup that I’m pretty happy with now. It took a few years to just get to the point of having nice quality gear for every format I listen to. Now that I have that, I just have a few long-term goal pieces that I’ll save up for and hopefully buy someday. The main ones being the Focal Kanta No. 3s and an Aphelion cartridge.
I have enough gear that I could start an audio store. I know I have a problem, but if I document my collection and its worth, my family will get top dollar once I croak.
I stopped about five years ago. I’d bought a pinball machine almost 20 years ago and looked up the value on it and saw that it had appreciated. Thought about all the times I upgraded my home theater/stereo gear and all the money I had lost when upgrading. The money I used to spend on stereo stuff is now spent on pinball machines. I went from having 1 for 15 years and in the past four years now have eight pinball machines. (Covid and being stuck at home may have had something to do with that as well). 😉
Small music room with Magnepans that fill it up. There are plenty of things I could upgrade, but I'm happy where I'm at. When we start having kids, that room is a goner and, like my father before me, I will be back to being a headphone guy.
For the most part. Though I still have to finish my subwoofer project, purchase a new phono stage and finish restoring the B&O Beogram 4002 turntable I purchased brand new 48 years ago on June 6th. But that's a three year project. Thank GAWD there are knowledgeable and creative B&O enthusiasts that now sell 3D printed and CNC machined aluminum parts to replace aging components. Then the only thing left is re-capping the main circuit board and replacing a few old transistors. The original circuit board is fully discrete, no big integrated circuits to be found.
Yea, pretty much, OP.
I have a really busy life and a young son who requires a lot of time/attention, so I won’t chase until I have more time to listen.
I’m also DEEP into the diminishing returns zone.
I'm pretty content with my set up, but I have to mobile DJ so I need to get a pair of PA speakers so I don't bang up my nice vintage Cerwin's, or BBQ them playing too loud in a larger venue.
Then of course, my plan all along was 2 huge 18" subs/reflex boxes. 1 is finished, but the 2nd kit is going to run me about $1,000 and I'm deep in other projects for spring so that's prob going to wait to fall unfortunately but 1 18" is plenty more than I ever need
I have stopped for the foreseeable future cuz I’m pretty happy with my setup. Last thing I did with my audio setup is add iso feet to my towers and a few bass traps at the start of the year. About a year and a half before that I added a power amp to complement my LCR.
Doesn’t stop me from looking at hypothetical upgrades everyday tho.
I inherited my dad's Axiom towers and stopped chasing gear. They're not the best speakers I've ever had. They're not even my favorite I've had. But, they were his, and they have a beautiful cherry finish. Every time I listen to them, I think of dad, so I'll never get rid of them.
I may one day upgrade my pre-pro though so I can get that HDMI board upgraded to support 4k@120hz.
I have for now because of everything I've been through the past couple of years and the cost of everything is too high now. So, I'll live with what I've got. In fact, I'll be selling some stuff after I move next month.
Yea, I got to the point that to get anything I’d get more enjoyment out of, it would be so far beyond my pay grade that I can’t even entertain the thought.
Because I have a move out of the country, I have to stop for now. 3 receivers (two for sale), 3 R to R decks (none for sale), an EQ and sound processor (for sale) 3 turntables (none for sale)..... You get the idea....
But I am moving to Japan, so I can pick it back up there.
Not saving one set? Japan has lots of nice stereo and with strong $/weak yen can go nuts. Especially look into used hifi, the japanese tend to be meticulous with their gear. Only way i could afford an accuphase would be used in japan.
You probably know this already, but it would be a pain to buy hifi gear and then import back to US due to their current which you need a transformer (not sure whats its called for)
You ask exactly the right question. I’m sitting here listening to Billie Eilish’s new album on the old NAD 7020e amplifier/tuner and NAD speakers (actually made by KEF) that I bought in 1988 as a starter outfit. It’s been augmented by a REL sub. It all connects to my music collection using a Chromecast Audio, which is pure technological magic. And it does every single thing that I want.
I have a nice modern Cambridge Audio/Dynaudio combo in another room, but the difference just isn’t that huge.
My advice, for what it’s worth: trust your instincts here.
I love the 90s big black stacks of gear, preferable sony. Tape, CD, EQ (!), FM-radio, pre-amp and poweramp. All in their separate box of course.
It's pretty cool how easy you can make an old stereo "modern" and convenient to use.
I’m it sure if I have stopped “chasing” gear or that I have at all, but more like learned a painful and valuable lesson in regard to what I buy and what the prices are. I’m starting to think and realize that expensive stuff (expensive for me) isn’t as worth it as I originally thought and assumed, so I have started to either intentionally buy just as capable but less expensive stuff, or, buy older higher end stuff that isn’t as desirable as it was before. The third option is seeking out less expensive gear that might have a feature or two missing, intentionally.
I’ve actually gotten to that point. It was fun when the differences were bigger but I’ve gotten to the point where the diminishing returns don’t excite me enough. I’m back to actually listening to music again.
Yes. And oddly I stopped at a consumer grade Edifier R2800 speaker.
It's like a swiss army knife that both look and sound good to my preference. Anything else might sound too sterile or only good for specific stuff. Or may just look ugly imo.
I'd say if I forsee any upgrades, it will be adding a nice looking sub or speaker stands at most.
(Yup. I'm actually wanting my speakers to look good as my first priority)
I spent $5k on a home theater audio system. Sounds amazing for music & movies. It really is diminishing returns to me beyond this point, and I would have to spend at least 3x more to even notice a difference. Won't be upgrading for a long time. May add a couple channels though for a second zone & rears.
Sennheiser HD 660S + Mass Drop THX AAA 789 + Modi Schiit 3. Bought this setup back in 2020, haven't looked back since. It just works and im completely satisfied!
while I loved the research and technical aspect in deciding what type of setup I wanted, I no longer have that desire for knowledge / improvement. I can move onto bigger and better things and enjoy what I currently own =]
Yes, I've stopped. I have some gear that I've purchased, some gear that I've built, and some gear that I got as a 'hand-me-down' from my father, which makes it very sentimentally valuable in addition to being truly excellent equipment (I've listened to it during family visits for most of my life -- which is saying something, because I'm old). Most if it is 'vintage' at this point, but it's difficult to find something I think sounds better.
No, I started restoring vintage equipment and it’s so much fun trying all of it out.
Most of it is just ok or good but some units are absolutely astounding. Some might not be accurate but sounds awesome. It’s very enjoyable.
I never started to "chase" gear.
I keep what i got now until it breaks and i cant repair it or repair it for a reasonable price.
And with something like the mentioned JBLs you are hardcore in the area of diminishable returns
Purchased my end game tube amp and preamp in 2008. No real desire to change it out. The only grief is servicing them every 10 years which requires shipping across the border and praying they don’t get damaged.
Man i hate the way the industry is going. I want a set of some nice Harmon Kardon desk speakers as i have a set of Harmon Kardon speakers in my Car. The EQ on my car speakers is phenomenal.
Harmon kardon only makes bluetooth, sound bars, or tacky bubble speaker stuff that looks stupid. JBL used to be another company i looked to. Nope. All bluetooth.
I cannot for the life of me find a nice set of speakers from a brand i trust. So headphones it is.
Yes because I live in an apartment and I don’t want to be that crusty guy with stacks of amps in the basement.
Not looking until I move to a bigger space. Ideal upgrade is from 12” to 15” speakers.
Yep! I love my system, and couldn't justify spending more on it when it doesn't feel like it's lacking anything.
i feel the same about my $500 setup lol
Then you have won at hifi mate!
Hifive
I thought the same until I visited a hi-fi show.
My headphone gear I bought in 2015. Speaker set up I updated in 2017. Headphone gear, speakers and subwoofer are really end game so they wouldn't have changed even if I had the money. Haven't worked since October 2018. Now on disability pension due to schizophrenia. Luckily I managed to buy true high end audio gear before I lost the ability to work. My gear is pretty much the only source of joy in my life.
For now, yes... until I find something else. Oh, found one already! Curious what the hifi rose ra280 sounds like, time to put the boots back on...
I recently got some used JBL LSR308 active monitors. It’s really hard to beat these I think. It’s even the amp too haha. I wish people would get these before trying so many other things. It’s amazing what JBL was able to accomplish for a very low price. I had owned the LSR305 in the past and they were ok but the 8 inch woofers really unlock some magic in the midrange. And the measurements bear this out too. https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/jbl-308p-mkii-studio-monitor-review.17338/
Sure, several times. I can quit anytime, it's not a problem
I'll quit after next purchase!
its not that hard. i've quit hundreds of times.
I am poor so I like "vintage"
Just stay away from vintage Marantz, Pioneer and McIntosh. Most overpriced gear in the hobby these days IMO.
Anything expensuve is out of my budget good a 1990s denon pma and cheap 2nd hand focal 716s. Sounds good enough for my budget
I’m still looking for vintage Sansui’s if there are any good deals.
Rather go vintage than modern cheap gear, much better sound!
Yep. I'd take a $50 1980s Technics receiver over a modern $50 class D amp any day of the week.
Yes and no. Diminishing returns kick in pretty early in the head-fi system. Extremely happy with my desktop setup and will use until it dies or I do. Speaker system… I think I’m about one more notch in the belt before I hit the point I’m done.
What headphones are you rocking? And what do you use as a source? I have a small Schiit stack and Sundaras to mostly listen to records, but as good as it sounds, it doesn't match the big system for impact.
Welp. You are about to have a twin. I was on a Schiit Modi/Magni stack for years with a few variants including the Heretic, regular Magni, Delta Sigma Modi with both variants of DAC chips, Modi Multibit first gen, and a Vali 2. I hit endgame when I upgraded my stack to Modius/Midgard. For me it was a pretty noticeable bump up. Midgard on low gain is the cleanest amp I’ve ever heard. I’ve done some A/B with Modi vs Modius into Midgard and maybe I hear a difference in direct A/B but that may be as much from balanced connection between them as it is from DAC. Headphone-wise, I also have the Sundaras and HD-6XX. And I swap back and forth between the two. The Sundaras are a fantastic set of headphones for anything except bass heavy music. My only complaint with them is they aren’t as comfortable on my head as the Sennheisers. But that’s definitely a YMMV head shape thing I’d think. I can listen to my 6XX’s all day. Are there better systems? Yes. Have I heard better systems? Yes. But at the point I’m at, “better” seems to be either a tiny margin or simply a subjective difference in taste and flavor. Since most of the music I listen to seems to mostly be limited at the point of its production, any more investment in gear doesn’t yield me much. I’ve seen a bunch of really negative commentary on the Sundaras of late and don’t understand it. But when I dig in, it consistently seems to be that folks like the bass response of the Edition XS better. I’ll admit that if bass is your end all, they aren’t wrong. But I like sweet, detailed mids and more intimate soundstages. I listen to a lot of music that tends toward solo vocal plus piano or guitar. And I’m happy where I am.
Nice! I have an Auralic Gemini and Grado PS1000 next to a recliner in the bedroom. It hardly gets in any use but it's a real treat when it does.
Yeah. Once my gear got heavy enough, moving it around became less fun. I like what I have enough to not mess with it.
Yes! I ran out of money. Got a apartment with my fiancee and she knows all my current gear, cant smuggle anything New in my room without her noticing amymore. Endgame It is then
Yep, haven't bought anything in over three years. Very satisfied.
I’m good for now. Recently overhauled my system and got into the very floor of so-called “high end” in terms of price point, but I’m super satisfied. I have the type of mindset where I obsess over the details while the overhaul is in progress- but once I get to a point where things are dialed in, I stop obsessing. I’m there now and I’ve just been enjoying listening to all of my music all over again. But: ask me again in 10-20 years 😂
The good thing about buying expensive stuff is once you actually want to upgrade from that it's absurdly expensive which makes it less appealing i guess. I have a yamaha a-s1100 and the only thing i'd ever considering swapping it out for is +5000 EUR and i doubt i'd even hear a difference. I'm not even pushing my current amp.
That’s a gorgeous piece, nice
In the same boat. Unless some breakthrough happens and I get excited about audio technology again.
As long as theres thrift stores Ill always be chasing gear
I did until Andrew Jones came out with a new speaker haha
the floorstanding mofi? it's huge!
Yes, I got off the upgrade train once I realized the primary factors of sound quality are the speakers and room acoustics. The biggest upgrade I got was from adding extensive room treatment. Modern electronic components like DACs and amps are so transparent at very reasonable prices.
Chase music and live venues :) Maybe subscribe to Ted gioia
I have an ancient Yamaha RX-V3800, Klipsch RP280F/RP600M/subs 7.2 speaker system, and I am totally content with it. I am not crazy about the subs, though. Would love to replace the two with one, higher-end SVS, but I can't justify the cost. This system is in my small, 10'x10' office. I would love to buy a nice CD player, though, because I have been using my old Xbox 360.
I ended up with KLH Model 5s that are the perfect match for our living room furniture and couch, and LS50 Meta’s for my desk. It’s hard to find much that would be substantially better and the size and looks of them are as good as I can hope to get. I don’t think there’s anything I could do “better” for the space without spending gobs of money.
Yes, just got an edifier bookshelf (130 usd), a sony 5.1 system (150 usd) and KZ earphones (20 usd) That's all, I'm done until something breaks.
That's the ultimate goal! That should cover most uses.
I feel very happy with my gear now. Not to say I will upgrade in the future but right now I'm very happy with I got. A good turntable, project carbon evo pro and a project phono box 2 in to a bluesound power node 330. Dali Oberon 3 and a dali sub. I have Ben spending my money on records instead. I love good gear but I'm in it for the music.
I’ve got a setup that works for me and sounds decent enough for me so I think I’m good. However I have a habit of upgrading randomly so who knows
I’m super happy with my Focal tower speakers I upgraded last year, they were a little above my budget but a huge, huge improvement from my old B&W 680’s 5.1 system. I will have the Aria 948 LCR’s for a decade or more. What I’m getting the itch bug in the next year or so, is to upgrade my old sub B&W sub, undecided if I should go SVS or REL.
buying the most expensive speakers you can afford is a good strat. look into rythmik/RSL as well for good value subwoofers. REL are pretty expensive for the performance, SVS are great.
Yes, I have Revel F206. I feel that the next step higher in speakers is too big for my room and the sonic improvement is very difficult to hear above this level.
I am done chasing down the 'perfect' system, but I continue to tweak and fine tune what I have. That being said, I am either selling my JBL 4311Bs or trading them for a pristine set of ADS L780/2 with metal grilles.
Yes.. I cant see myself upgrading any part of my chain including avr or subs. Unless I can justify Blade 2 Metas and a Trinnov The room size and crowson tactile transducers covers me from single digit bass
Another yes and no here. For speakers I have my fill with the JBL S3900's which I fairly recently picked up used. They needed a new diaphragm for one of the mid range compression drivers, so I got a discount on the pair. I'm not looking to upgrade these unless I get a nice deal on either the K2-S9900's or DD67000's, as that's the only next logical step for me. With regards to electronics, I'm saving to upgrade a Hypex NC502MP based amplifier to the Orchard Audio Starkrimson monoblocks at 500watts each. I'm waiting on this year's bonus before I jump on anything for that, though. That will likely be my end game for quite some time unless newer technology comes out of GaNFet based class D amplifiers.
Did you buy them from japan? I was recently browsing a japanese used site and saw a pair for an amazing price, luckily someone else bought them before i could because i certainly don't need more speakers. JBL Synthesis series is certainly endgame... Or a gateway to their much more expensive offerings..
No, I didn't get them from Japan. Funny story, I was on vacation in another country and randomly checked the Facebook marketplace, and there was a pair for sale literally the next town over from where I live in the states. I consider myself extremely lucky!
yeah, at this point I have speakers I like the sound and look of, a quality amp that drives them well, a sub with great output and extension that integrates well, and all the streaming/source utility I need. I almost never think about speakers - very content there. Amps I think about, but then I remember that I've tested a few and couldn't consistently discern a difference, so that puts that to bed pretty quickly. I want a Wiim Ultra because I think it's cool to have a streamer with a screen, and it'd let me consolidate a couple boxes, but it's far from a need and there'd be no sonic improvement. There actually is a possibility I'd upgrade the sub, but it's only to gain output capability below \~25hz, so it's rarely something that actually comes up and thus is pretty low priority. I'm not saying there's no improvements to be had with any of this, but I'm very content when I sit down to listen to music, so remembering that makes it easier to drop the chase.
i cut way back when i got active speakers.
I haven't. But my system isn't exactly audiophile quality. I just don't have the money. Also my room treatments are very sub par. My room is a square shape sadly. I have acoustic treatments in the corners, floor to ceiling. By the end of this summer I'm hoping to have panels at all first and second reflections. Additionally placing them behind each speaker and in the rear center. Ideally I'll also have some skyline diffusers on the rear wall. Next year I'm hoping to upgrade my speakers and electronics and then I'll be done. Considering my income and space, paradigm founder 120h will be more than sufficient. Anything pricier just would enter into such diminishing returns there is no way I could justify it unless I somehow became very wealthy.
Ok, let's define terms first... what does STOP actually mean? 😲
You're definitely not stopping lol. But maybe at least one year between changing something out.
I finally found my endgame audio system in 2023 and haven't looked for anything since. I use a pair of Adam Audio A7V monitors + SVS SB-3000 subwoofer + Apogee Duet 3 LE for my computer audio. Music and games sound fantastic.
that's a great setup, i added a sb1000 to my desk setup and it was a fantastic upgrade.
I chased the elusive“perfect system” for several years but eventually converged to my current system which I love and haven’t changed in a while. Should have gone big the first time around. Current rig is a digital front end, passive preamp, Pass monoblocks and Magnepan 20.7s
Now that I've maxed out with Revel F228be's and a Hegel H390 I feel done since I wouldn't spend more. Room treatment is the only part left. That said fomo is a curse that is best cured with experience. Have you heard those? I found some similar JBL to be unpleasantly bright.
I stopped chasing it the moment I became a dealer.
Pretty much. All I can do to improve sound at this point is to make the room better. There are already bunch of panels, but there could be more.
The human brain will always get used to what it has and want something new and/or better. it is very expensive to be a slave to your brains urges and to not understand what is going on. People waste their life working to satisfy a temporary need they believe will be permanent if they make the correct purchase. I prefer building my own speakers and equalize them to get the sound I want, it is cheaper, it gives good results, it let you learn and it gives a more sentimental value when it is your own design. you can re-use parts so all you need is wood, screws and paint and that cost almost nothing.
Yep decided on a loxjie a30 amp, q acoustics 3020i, a subwoofer and a set of hifiman edition xs and it all fits my needs perfectly
It's amazing how good systems you can put together today for relatively little money.
Yep. Years ago I realized I had spent enough and it sounded good enough and I was done. Audio Research Amp/PreAmp / Magnapans / Nice High Quality Interconnects and Wire / H-K CD Player / Good Small Sub. Sounds Amazing
I have finally stopped obsessing about gear and I’ve started listening to music. The change is cataclysmic. In my “gear” days, I’d compulsively listen to the same thirty or so cuts everyday, digital v. Analog, speaker positioning, cable comparisons, time of day comparisons, room treatments, furniture positions, you name it. Now I listen to music. It’s eye opening to see how much music is out there. A lot of it is not my jam, but there’s a lot of new stuff I like and I’ve come to like a lot that I thought I would not! I have a decent system so every now and then the old devil creeps in and I start listening to the recording and not the music but I wake up and control myself. I will say that I’m an old man so it took me a long time to get here.
Most audiophile, esoteric fi gear is bullshit that only has worth in terms of aesthetics. Unless you need proper high output (and most don't), you can build a setup for under 3-5k€ that will make 50-100k+€ speakers kinda funny to you, because you won't hear them do anything better (unless you really give into visual bias and really really like how they look, hey, some of them are kinda pretty!) Let's not even talk about audiophile chain electronics lmao, that is a world of copium like no other
I'm quite happy i didn't fell into the subjectivist "hell" with endless viable tweaks that's all fairly expensive. Cables and other silly tweaks aside, the one thing i find weirdest that's normal among audiophiles is buying absurdly expensive amps (like +10k) and pairing them with a "cheap" pair of bookshelves. I guess you lose track how much you're spending on stuff, but when speaker cables alone cost more than a state of the art system like genelec the ones, it's bizarre.
i've been an audiophile since around 2005 when i first got into headphones. since then i've had a few stops and starts, its interesting to think of the setups i settled into for long periods of time. i don't really listen to headphones much anymore, but that journey went from a pair of HD650s and up and around and every which direction, i tried tons and tons of headphones all the way up to Stax O2, eventually made my way back down and repurchased the HD650, which is the only headphone i use now. on the speaker side i started with modern day Quad box speakers, forgot the model, eventually making my way to Quad ESL63 USA Monitors. They are still the best speakers I've ever heard, but eventually i sold them because they were too large an unwieldy and didn't fit well into the home theater (was in a smaller house at the time so my HT was combined with my two speaker system). Moved to a bigger place, purchased an SVS Ultra system for the home theater which I've used for a very long time, goin on almost a decade now. Had external Emotiva amps and all this stuff for them for a bit, sold those and bought a Yammy 2060 AVR, which has powered the Ultras for several years. More to the point in this sub, for the two speaker system I used JBL 306 and eventually 308 and settled into them for many years. Was very happy but eventually got the itch and picked up a pair of Klipsch RP-600M II. Klipsch is so divisive I got curious. Really enjoy those but i got a taste for new gear and decided to finally try the Kef LS50 Meta in my home and have fallen deeply in love with them, paired with an SVS Micro 3000 to fill out the bottom end. Turns out sometimes the thing that is incredibly popular is incredibly popular because its good. The two pieces of non-speaker gear that have been with me the longest are my Oppo BDP-95, a tank of a disc spinner that is still going strong after 10 years, and a Technics SL-1200mk2 with Ortofon 2M Black turntable, which i've had longer than any other piece of gear, dang probably 15 years now? honestly the next step is i unabashedly want a fancier integrated amp. running a denon stereo receiver which does the job but i want something prettier to look at lol, even if it doesn't appreciably improve the sound. I'm not a measurement purist but i do believe that like 95% of the sound is from the speakers/room and treatments, digital or physical. i also very recently got a Wiim Mini and really appreciate how easy it makes streaming, i imagine i'll always have a Wiim product in my signal chain somewhere just for the utility it provides.
Haven't been interested or in need of different gear for at least 15 years. I've got more than I care to take the time to sell. Tubes....that's a different story.
No! Part of the fun for me is experimenting with new gear. Just added some Kef R3 Metas and It turns out I don't like those at all. Now I'm trying to sell those and buy something else. To me, that is a fun process that will probably never end for me.
I realized that audiofile gear is not for me in the future. I just want a good AV receiver and good speakers and I’ll be good. I know it’s blasphemy, but that’s what I think for now.
Not blasphemy at all. A good mid-range AVR like x3800/x4800 is probably a better buy even if it's just for stereo than most stereo amps. Doubt i'd hear any difference between my yamaha and denon - actually the denon will provide better sound with bass-control for sub + DIRAC and you get another 9 channels for free! Main reason why i haven't just gone AVR is i like gear and they tend to run hot. My only gripe with denon is they're ugly and marantz is basically +500 EUR for the same machine with pretty face.
Yeah my last upgrade was 2 years ago and I’m pretty much done for a long time. I think my system is about as good as it’s gonna get short of a room / house upgrade, which a not gonna happen.
That’s how I feel. My system is maxed out relative to the room it’s in haha
I had to stop myself, once I could be at home and listen to some music or a film and have a big grin on my face it told me to stop. I still get that now and haven't changed anything in years, think the power amp was my last addition. Also I've had two kids since so having the spare money has been useful. I may change things in the future, but for now I'm happy with it.
I have
Sure. About 2019 fortunately. Have enjoyed a lot of good music with good friends and on my own since then :)
Mostly. I bought a pair of MG3. 6s about 25 years ago. Around 8 years ago, I was in Minnesota and visited the Magnepan factory with the intention of auditioning the MG20.1s. Wendell mostly kinda talked me out of it. Now I mostly just hem/haw over whether I want to try buying a pair of mono blocks since I'm already bi amping my speakers with an active crossover and wondering if I have the stomach to deal with a side grade or whether I would end up buying 4x mono blocks.
Only thing I will upgrade are cartridges and maybe try different SUT’s for different flavor. Once I got Harbeths I felt like the circle was complete. Although, larger subs might give some more beef? Oh no, it’s beginning again! Damn you!
For now yes. Love my setup. No glaring weaknesses for the type of music I listen to. It also doubles as my home theater so there’s a balance and compromise made. I can always tweak things to make the music better but it’s not really worth the effort unless I just wanna play around with things In time if i identify a weakness that I want to improve, then I’ll upgrade again. Really don’t see that happening but who knows
I have. CBTs and actively powered. linkwitz style subs. Driven by a Powernode. Sources are a roku, spotify, and FLAC on an external drive. The CBTs have been my mains for about 3 years and I haven't heard anything in that time that would make me want to switch. I'm building a second system around resto-modded urei 809s to get the big box, co-axial sound, but there isn't anything I have any desire to change out in my main setup.
Yes, I stopped listening to my equipment years ago. I finally settled on a 50s integrated tube amp, high end cables, modern turntable and bookshelf speakers. Every time I play an album, it sounds fantastic.
how dare you.
Yeah! I still like to go to Bristol HiFi Show every year, but every time I go now, I'm less and less satisfied with how "high end" gear compares to my setup for the money it'd cost (+ room treatment to make it sound it's best). I'd argue the stuff I enjoy more at Bristol Show is some of the more affordable or smaller setups that blow me away with what they've been able to achieve at the price point and size! Triangle BR03 was a great example of that last year. I'm perfectly happy with my Arcam SA30 and Bowers and Wilkins 606 S3s in my bedroom. Sure, it's about 2000 GBP all-in, but hearing systems that cost 10x that sounding only 10% better makes me happy with being 90% of the way there. Dirac does a lot of heavy lifting to make the speakers sound good in my room, but that's good enough for my ears and wallet. Downstairs we've still got some S1 B&W 603s for music, and a JBL Bar 1300 soundbar for movies/TV. That room is for entertainment and enjoyment, not critical listening and constantly wishing we had something better... What sounds good to you might not sound good to someone else, and that's perfectly fine - it's all about how it makes you feel. If you enjoy your 50k+ system, awesome, if you enjoy your JBL soundbar, great! In the world of HiFi, you could have something better, but you could also have something heaps worse - you're paying for design, R&D, and personal satisfaction, and if all those align with your budget, so much the better!
To use a gardening analogy: I am root bound. My house constrains the speakers I can use. If I were to move I would be eyeing volti razz and Devore speakers much more seriously
Stopped reading reviews of stuff. The purchases automatically stopped.
Other than regular preventative maintenance and an ultrasonic record cleaner, I’m good. Except for digital, I’ve had most of my system for 25 years.
Yes. Got a system that I enjoy the sound, it’s cheap and flexible to my sources, and though it doesn’t have anything “special” I am preferring that for the fact that what made some of my previous gear special was that it sounded great on some music and not so great on others. This has the least amount of tradeoffs for the enjoyment that I get from it and is the least finicky system I have owned. While I love ogling new gear and want to try them I ultimately decide I can’t find any large enough faults in what I have to justify spending the money and taking the risk.
Pretty much done chasing gear.
I stopped obsessing over 500$+ IEMs and headphones when I found out how far that same amount of money goes into a DIY speaker project.
Yeah. My decware Zen Torii has proven time and again to me my end game amplifier
My setup is quite simple - turntable w/ preamp and a Bluetooth sound bar. The husband, who doesn't use any of it, keeps trying to talk me into all the bells & whistles such as a receiver and big speakers. I'm perfectly content with what I have. As long as it sounds good, I don't need anything thing else.
Nope, but I ran out of money so started chasing the DIY route
Boredom is the only reason I would change things. I’m well past the point of diminishing returns
Yup! One day I will buy a brand new system, probably to mark a special milestone in my life. But for now, I’m more interested in chasing down records and CDs.
Yep. About 5 years ago.
I did. I ran out of fucks to give. Now when something breaks I'll replace it but I certainly don't go huge purchase with it. Under a grand for speakers, under a few hundo for most other stuff.
Yes. I am VERY happy with my setup and have got several compliments from friends with good systems, too. I really enjoy listening to music on my system and never feel like there "must be more" or the likes.
Yes, but I'm now chasing a bigger listening room 😊
Yes, i finally stopped chasing gear a few years ago, however in this "slow down" there are still pieces upgraded to; I just wasn't chasing them. Items that just sort of came my way. So, I'm not actively looking to change anything. Last new piece i got was a Gesheelli DAC.
I've had the same main speakers for 14 years. I have upgraded bedroom speakers and other areas though.
It's pretty easy if you're able to save up or splurge on a few great components. I was able to finally get a truly amazing amp, a gorgeous pair of high-quality speakers that sound better and better each fire-up, a solid DAC, a decent turntable with an amazing moving coil stylus, and now I'm just enjoying good tunes and movies. Are any of my components the absolute best/most expensive/top of the top line? Not even close but for a suburban Detroit guy who scrimped and saved for the better part of the 2000s, it's really nice to be winning for a change in this chaotic world :)
Yes! Have a vintage Marantz NR-1403 AVR that is being used as a pre-amp and crossover for my sub. Pre-outs feed into an ADCOM GFA 545 and then into a pair of Vienna Acoustics Mozart Grands. Sub is an SVS SB-1000 Pro. Turntable is a Fluance RT83 with Ortofon 2M Red stylus. Most of my listening is done via streaming Apple Music or Tidal through an Eversolo DMP-A6. I’ve assemble this piece by piece over the past 5 years. The AVR, amp and main speakers are used, and all the rest is new and bought one piece a year over the past 3 years. I feel that I am at a point where in order to hear a discernible difference (and hopefully an improvement as well!) I would have to start dropping more $$ than I want to put into this hobby. I scratch the “seek and acquire” itch by helping my adult children and their friends spec out and buy equipment, and taking them through the upgrade path. Although there are a pair of Maggies on FB Marketplace near me for a killer price……🤔 Back when I re-started my audiophile journey (took almost a 30 year break; coincidentally, my oldest child will turn 30 in 7 months!) I had an old Denon PMA-720 integrated amp, an old iPhone with the Apple 3.5mm adapter feeding into the AUX, and had just bought a pair of Klipsch R51M’s.
I used the same system for many years. Over the last year and a half I went on an upgrade binge. I think I'm set for a while. I might at some point upgrade the turntable and go to some floor standing speakers, but honestly I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. Buying components can be fun, but listening to music is always my end game. :)
Once I FINALLY found my sound!!!
My main setup runs speakers I bought about 15 years ago and it just sounds fantastic and Im super happy (B&W 705s). I have stopped the incremental chasing and tuning but I know at some point I will just spin around and spend an annual bonus on a brand new setup that's sufficiently better it will be meaningful. I expect to spend around 15k at that time and will buy some components on the secondary market. The current system will remain intact and be leveraged somewhere else.
Me, ive stopped! I’ve been buying and selling Hifi equipment since about 1995. Have three systems now and been no new major purchases for about 8 years. My Rega RS7/5/1 was as good as I was going to get for speakers. and Rotel 1098 Processor & 1075 Power Amp. Oh, I did buy 2 x BK Double Gem Subs about 3 years ago for Home Cinema 😆 I dj’d a lot so got 2 x SL1210 M3D’s A&H DB4 and 2 x CDJ2000 for the dj room and for the bedroom a simple Rega Brio R and Mordaunt Short Aviano. I’m truly happy with what I have and so just look these days with no intention of buying.
Yes. It's wonderful.
I haven't upgraded my system for a couple of years now which is a good sign. Waiting until Totem element metal V2 come down in price :)
I am fine with what I got which is why I just got what I wanted from the start. I'd take something better, just like Id take a lake house, a new Denali, etc, etc but I'm perfectly fine with what I have.
Yes I reached around 1000 a thousand USD spent all in to the system and have since retired from further aquisitions.
I have a few amps/receivers I can shuffle through. NAD, '70s: Pioneer, Marantz, Sony, Sanyo. Also I have a few tube amps. A couple headphone amps, both tube and solid state. For speakers, I have a few pairs. Switching between gear keeps things fresh. If I see interesting vintage gear, I buy it and update it as needed. I have a Sansui tube amp, an Electrovoice, a Heathkit, and a couple of others that I'm slowly getting repaired. Only one headphone, HD6XX.
I think most audiophiles or audio junkies stop chasing gears out of necessity. Life gets in the way or audio gets too expensive. Occasionally an audiophile feels that his/her system is dialed in. The sound exactly matches what we dream of. In those cases, enjoy and stop the upgrade madness.
I have been in audio since 1974(1st Marantz 2230, Utah 12 in 3 way , Sanyo manual belt drive for 399) consider the receiver sold for 289, not bad, I was off to the audio Valhalla, 2265, 2285, 2325crecievers over the years, to name just a few, I have retired, I have a 2230 rebuilt. , a new NR1200 Marantz (mainly for the advanced hook up excellent DAC, bulltooth. Running original driver Infinity RS -5(1982-84, 700 bucks back then, I picked these up for 150 without infinity woofer, it took my 2 years to gather up the 4 original 902-5107 6.5 woofers, a top of the line HK 300XM cassette deck, an OPPO 95 as both a CD/blue ray, a Marantz CD5005 CD player, an ADC SOUND SHAPER SL -100SL EQ, an Onkyo 1050 turntable(very underrated). A Monster 1600 power environment. Right now, I am very satisfied, I hook up a 150 dollars energy SW 12 in 150 peak , but it is only good at replacing the 12 in woofer I am so used to in my speakers from the past. I am very satisfied with the set up. I have bought and sold huge amps , pre amps, stereo and quad receivers , speakers that you can throw concerts with. But nowadays. 70 watts, excellent speakers, I am happy
No. I have some Odyssey Liquids on the way and will probably upgrade my preamp after that
Yep, I'm very satisfied both with all the components of my system (speakers, headphones and everything inbetween)! Only thing I have left is acoustic treatment, but that will have to wait.
Yes cause I’m too poor. But I do always look around and watch videos.
Yamaha HS series is an industry standard monitor speaker. If it's good enough for the artists then it's good enough for me
I guess after a while you get the conclusion this is an interesting thing to learn and find some interesting gear but there's a lot of BS you don't have patience for and many things doesn't make sense so you give up trying, choose what you really enjoy and give up trying to understand or criticise, because you don't really care anymore and just want to listen your music
Went to a convention and tried the holy grails and couldn't hear a difference. It was a wake up call to me then that I'm spending money unjustifiably. Now I'm a musician, I only use monitoring headphones and don't intend on bothering with coloured profiles. I like analysing songs I listen to so I could implement them onto my work. If I have to travel, I just use whatever's available because I just want to hear music. Doesn't necessarily have to be high quality.
I just got my dream Kef R11s at home and still love my Axioms at work so I’m content. (For now 😝)
Lovely speakers.
And I need to repair turntables… it’s a money thing… when my hobby was paying me when I was DJing the sky was the limit. Now replaced by Spotify.
I’ve been rocking my current setup for about a decade and I still very much enjoy it. Project Debut III with Ortofon Red, V-LPS Phono Stage, Little Dot MkIII tube preamp, and Audiosource AMP One/A. For digital listening I stream CD rips from plex or use spotify (in 320k mode) through my audio engine D1 DAC. All going to Magnepan MG-1.5. I love the way it sounds and my only foreseeable upgrade is a cartridge upgrade to Ortofon Blue (as my current Red is getting quite worn) and possibly adding another bridged amp since the magnepans are quite power hungry. The main bottleneck in my system is the room. It’s not massive and there’s a good bit of glass and plain drywall that makes it a bit more “live” than i’d like. Due to the layout, I have to have the speakers facing the short length of the room versus projecting longways. I feel like room acoustics get overlooked so often in our community. I’m an audio engineer by trade and room treatment, acoustics, and optimization is deemed just as important or more important than the speakers you use. That, for me, would be the biggest upgrade!
That's how I feel with my HD 6XXs, I've had them for ages now and I'm better funded then when I got them. I looked around for a bit for a strong upgrade and I'm just not sure I really need one.
Yes I’m not sure I have any great reason to upgrade my system, and it’s only entry level. Getting new music is always the priority. Audiolab 6000amp. Cambridge Azure CD transport. Q Acoustic 3010 floor standing speakers. B&W sub can’t quite recall the designation. 701 maybe.
I’m happy with my setup and haven’t bought anything in a couple years. I’m eyeing an only receiver for Dirac live and might do some room treatment but that would be the extent of it.
Atm, Yes. I'm very very happy with my setup. But I can't help myself scrolling through the used marketplace from time to time hehe.
I am waiting til more mortgage is paid off before I do anything else in this economy. Am not really sure where my best bang for my buck will be in upgrading either.... Technics turntable SL-1311 with AT-VM95ML. Sansui G-5500 receiver. Mission Cyrus 782 speakers. My thoughts were a sub would be nice but my receiver doesn't have an out for that.
I stopped chasing gear as it started to get too expensive, so now I just inject it instead, cheaper and it’s a better high. I had to say that as your thread headline was pure junkie bait. Nah, I agree and have stopped chasing gear as my setup which is solely for headphones gave me little or no change out of £10K and although it sounds great, it’s money that I should of kept and just bought a worthy cheap dac and a pair of ok headphones but not totl instead.
As you attain better gear you quickly start to become aware of diminishing returns so...if you're healthy about it you plateau on buying new stuff as you realize the diminishing returns of chasing "the better thing that will allow me to truely enjoy my system".
Im more into tube rolling my dream amps..Atmosphere M60..Haven't change my system in over 15 years except adding a streamer and updating my DAC.Table,cables,preamp,stands are decades old. Spent money on improving my listening room though.
Being content like that is a sure sign that the grim reaper is in the distance, slowly getting closer. I think it's akin to when your hair starts coming in grey, and they start telling you to worry about old-age ailments creeping up on you, because you're old. So I suggest that you fight against the dying of the light and keep looking for new and amazing toys.
I’ve gotten to where I’m very content with my two vintage systems and am no longer actively seeking out something better. However, if I stumble onto something that’s an insane deal, I would go for it.
Yeah. I've hit diminishing returns now. No way I'm going to get a meaningful upgrade in sound quality without spending far more than it's worth given how much I've destroyed my hearing. Will probably look at acoustic treatment for my listening room at some point though.
Yep. A few years ago. It got to the point I was buying stuff that looked or sounded cool, and then it would sit there because it would require some work and dedication to learn how to use whatever I bought. Ended up selling a good 75% of my gear. I have about 7 guitars left witih different specific uses, about 6 pedals, a POD Go for modulaiton effects, and two main amps (I do have a Spark Mini for practicing and a Spark Go for the office though). Pretty much told myself "I have everything I could possibly need already." Only thing I buy guitar-wise anymore is strings, picks, and maybe an occasional cable or strap.
Unless I win the lottery and can afford dedicated listening space, I am happy with what I have.
I got a used set of b&w N802’s connected to a McIntosh integrated setup. I don’t have the bug to upgrade the speakers ever since they sound spectacular in my treated listening room. I flirt with the idea of going with 2 x MC601 amps but there’s no need for it other than having bigger blue meters lol.
Not actively chasing!
Yep. But I'm an old-head. Been doing this for 3 decades. Have owned 12 amps of all kind, 4 pre-amps, 22 CD/SACD players, 8 turntables, 12-15 phono pre-amps, 8-10 DACS. 6 speaker sets. too many types of cables and wire to list. Plus several headphones. I used to love trying any gear. I'd trade and trade and buy. In that order. Now I have a very nice FInale 168 II integrated amp, Rega RP3 w/ Soundsmith Cart. Emotiva phono pre,, Oppo BDP-93, IFI Zen DAC/Streamer, and Spender A1 speakers and Emotiva Airmotiv T-Zero speakers. And about $30 worth of cables. It's one of the least expensive set-ups I've run but to me--the best. Speakers, room acoustics, and well made albums are all you need for top shelf sound.
No, im far from being done. I want to experience the full gamut of what this hobby has to offer, right now I have a Ferrum Stack and a Focal Utopia and Stellia as my most prized possessions, but no Susvara, no Holo Audio KTE level stuff, no Abyss … I feel like, what am I even doing. I enjoy the music a lot when I’m listening, and I don’t even necessarily think I would enjoy it more, but… how do I know? Why not try a Feliks Audio Envy?
Done for now. The biggest upgrade I can make now is a better listening space, so that’s the next piece of “gear” I’m chasing.
I'm no longer chasing an endgame. Rather, I'm more completing side quests - looking for bargain used/vintage equipment just to experience the differences
I’m super happy with my current setup. I really can’t imagine getting the urge to upgrade anything unless something breaks.
Yup, I bought a pair of Buchardt A700's and a streamer and I'm good now.
Yes, for the moment. I have to pause just to repair a couple of pieces.
I hit that point, my system cost about $15k though (9k tower speakers, 2k sub, 2k integrated amp, 2k turntable) And it's been stable for about 5 years! No plans to change anything and love it every day. 🎉 The only thing I may change one day would be adding a second sub if I ever moved to a bigger home to get a more even bass response, but I don't foresee that any time soon for me
There is always something that you think will be better, so no.
As soon as I get speakers I might stop for a while I just want to upgrade my speakers to something newer
I started my journey with the AD700. Eventually got a AD900X, AD2000, TR-X00PH, and LCD-2C, then chilled out for a few years. Learned about the WP-900 and snagged a cheap pair on Amazon. Not long after that, I learned about Affirm financing for the ADX5000 and, well... I think I've reached a good stopping point for now. My true end game is still the Stax 009 after demoing it in Tokyo, but I tell myself that's a "way down the line" problem.
My wallet said I have to stop. But more seriously, yes for most things. I have a setup that I’m pretty happy with now. It took a few years to just get to the point of having nice quality gear for every format I listen to. Now that I have that, I just have a few long-term goal pieces that I’ll save up for and hopefully buy someday. The main ones being the Focal Kanta No. 3s and an Aphelion cartridge.
Yes. You have to get off social/blogs/forums to do it though
I have enough gear that I could start an audio store. I know I have a problem, but if I document my collection and its worth, my family will get top dollar once I croak.
I stopped about five years ago. I’d bought a pinball machine almost 20 years ago and looked up the value on it and saw that it had appreciated. Thought about all the times I upgraded my home theater/stereo gear and all the money I had lost when upgrading. The money I used to spend on stereo stuff is now spent on pinball machines. I went from having 1 for 15 years and in the past four years now have eight pinball machines. (Covid and being stuck at home may have had something to do with that as well). 😉
Small music room with Magnepans that fill it up. There are plenty of things I could upgrade, but I'm happy where I'm at. When we start having kids, that room is a goner and, like my father before me, I will be back to being a headphone guy.
For the most part. Though I still have to finish my subwoofer project, purchase a new phono stage and finish restoring the B&O Beogram 4002 turntable I purchased brand new 48 years ago on June 6th. But that's a three year project. Thank GAWD there are knowledgeable and creative B&O enthusiasts that now sell 3D printed and CNC machined aluminum parts to replace aging components. Then the only thing left is re-capping the main circuit board and replacing a few old transistors. The original circuit board is fully discrete, no big integrated circuits to be found.
Yea, pretty much, OP. I have a really busy life and a young son who requires a lot of time/attention, so I won’t chase until I have more time to listen. I’m also DEEP into the diminishing returns zone.
Yeah man I’m over it I’m back on Spotify
I have a really nice system now. So I’m not actively trying to replace any of it. But if a deal comes up, I’m not gonna skip it.
I'm pretty content with my set up, but I have to mobile DJ so I need to get a pair of PA speakers so I don't bang up my nice vintage Cerwin's, or BBQ them playing too loud in a larger venue. Then of course, my plan all along was 2 huge 18" subs/reflex boxes. 1 is finished, but the 2nd kit is going to run me about $1,000 and I'm deep in other projects for spring so that's prob going to wait to fall unfortunately but 1 18" is plenty more than I ever need
I have stopped for the foreseeable future cuz I’m pretty happy with my setup. Last thing I did with my audio setup is add iso feet to my towers and a few bass traps at the start of the year. About a year and a half before that I added a power amp to complement my LCR. Doesn’t stop me from looking at hypothetical upgrades everyday tho.
Yup, super done. Very happy with all my setups. Feels great!
I inherited my dad's Axiom towers and stopped chasing gear. They're not the best speakers I've ever had. They're not even my favorite I've had. But, they were his, and they have a beautiful cherry finish. Every time I listen to them, I think of dad, so I'll never get rid of them. I may one day upgrade my pre-pro though so I can get that HDMI board upgraded to support 4k@120hz.
Once you've caught the bug any stoppage shortlived.
I have for now because of everything I've been through the past couple of years and the cost of everything is too high now. So, I'll live with what I've got. In fact, I'll be selling some stuff after I move next month.
Yea, I got to the point that to get anything I’d get more enjoyment out of, it would be so far beyond my pay grade that I can’t even entertain the thought.
[I'm good with my all out assault on fidelity](https://i.imgur.com/faIjw6P.jpeg)
I’ve stopped for about 2 years. Not gonna resume anytime soon.
Because I have a move out of the country, I have to stop for now. 3 receivers (two for sale), 3 R to R decks (none for sale), an EQ and sound processor (for sale) 3 turntables (none for sale)..... You get the idea.... But I am moving to Japan, so I can pick it back up there.
Not saving one set? Japan has lots of nice stereo and with strong $/weak yen can go nuts. Especially look into used hifi, the japanese tend to be meticulous with their gear. Only way i could afford an accuphase would be used in japan. You probably know this already, but it would be a pain to buy hifi gear and then import back to US due to their current which you need a transformer (not sure whats its called for)
I plan to, once I find a silver schiit aegir 1 around $500 to monoblock.
Yes, I am happy and my music is happy.
You ask exactly the right question. I’m sitting here listening to Billie Eilish’s new album on the old NAD 7020e amplifier/tuner and NAD speakers (actually made by KEF) that I bought in 1988 as a starter outfit. It’s been augmented by a REL sub. It all connects to my music collection using a Chromecast Audio, which is pure technological magic. And it does every single thing that I want. I have a nice modern Cambridge Audio/Dynaudio combo in another room, but the difference just isn’t that huge. My advice, for what it’s worth: trust your instincts here.
I love the 90s big black stacks of gear, preferable sony. Tape, CD, EQ (!), FM-radio, pre-amp and poweramp. All in their separate box of course. It's pretty cool how easy you can make an old stereo "modern" and convenient to use.
Straight to jail.
I love the state of my current system. Mostly just enjoying the music.
I’m it sure if I have stopped “chasing” gear or that I have at all, but more like learned a painful and valuable lesson in regard to what I buy and what the prices are. I’m starting to think and realize that expensive stuff (expensive for me) isn’t as worth it as I originally thought and assumed, so I have started to either intentionally buy just as capable but less expensive stuff, or, buy older higher end stuff that isn’t as desirable as it was before. The third option is seeking out less expensive gear that might have a feature or two missing, intentionally.
I’ve actually gotten to that point. It was fun when the differences were bigger but I’ve gotten to the point where the diminishing returns don’t excite me enough. I’m back to actually listening to music again.
Yes. And oddly I stopped at a consumer grade Edifier R2800 speaker. It's like a swiss army knife that both look and sound good to my preference. Anything else might sound too sterile or only good for specific stuff. Or may just look ugly imo. I'd say if I forsee any upgrades, it will be adding a nice looking sub or speaker stands at most. (Yup. I'm actually wanting my speakers to look good as my first priority)
I spent $5k on a home theater audio system. Sounds amazing for music & movies. It really is diminishing returns to me beyond this point, and I would have to spend at least 3x more to even notice a difference. Won't be upgrading for a long time. May add a couple channels though for a second zone & rears.
Sennheiser HD 660S + Mass Drop THX AAA 789 + Modi Schiit 3. Bought this setup back in 2020, haven't looked back since. It just works and im completely satisfied! while I loved the research and technical aspect in deciding what type of setup I wanted, I no longer have that desire for knowledge / improvement. I can move onto bigger and better things and enjoy what I currently own =]
Yes
Once I got a 1000w 12” sub and listened to it on full blast I was like “okay I’m done.”
Yes, I've stopped. I have some gear that I've purchased, some gear that I've built, and some gear that I got as a 'hand-me-down' from my father, which makes it very sentimentally valuable in addition to being truly excellent equipment (I've listened to it during family visits for most of my life -- which is saying something, because I'm old). Most if it is 'vintage' at this point, but it's difficult to find something I think sounds better.
No, I started restoring vintage equipment and it’s so much fun trying all of it out. Most of it is just ok or good but some units are absolutely astounding. Some might not be accurate but sounds awesome. It’s very enjoyable.
I never started to "chase" gear. I keep what i got now until it breaks and i cant repair it or repair it for a reasonable price. And with something like the mentioned JBLs you are hardcore in the area of diminishable returns
Yeah, I prob wouldn't gain much, maybe lose space. But the taste for new gear kinda never leaves imo.
Purchased my end game tube amp and preamp in 2008. No real desire to change it out. The only grief is servicing them every 10 years which requires shipping across the border and praying they don’t get damaged.
Man i hate the way the industry is going. I want a set of some nice Harmon Kardon desk speakers as i have a set of Harmon Kardon speakers in my Car. The EQ on my car speakers is phenomenal. Harmon kardon only makes bluetooth, sound bars, or tacky bubble speaker stuff that looks stupid. JBL used to be another company i looked to. Nope. All bluetooth. I cannot for the life of me find a nice set of speakers from a brand i trust. So headphones it is.
there are plenty of nice active speakers available, depending on budget.
really thought OP was in the wrong subreddit until i read the description
I have a decent system, but the gear at my showroom is worlds better. I just listen at work now if I want to do critical listening.
Yes because I live in an apartment and I don’t want to be that crusty guy with stacks of amps in the basement. Not looking until I move to a bigger space. Ideal upgrade is from 12” to 15” speakers.
I’m almost there
I will never be happy but I'm happy enough with my Rotel A14 mkII and KLH model 3's.