THIS is why I SOLD my END GAME Speakers & Amplifier. Regrets? Are they still my Faves?
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- Опубликовано: 31 авг 2023
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Today I talk about WHY I sold my audio and HiFi gear that were my End Game of all time! Why would I sell my favorite pieces? I get asked that often and this video explains WHY.
I have been in this HiFi hobby for 35 years and have had starter systems, mid fi systems, exotic and high dollar systems. At the end of the day all that matters for me is if the system can emotionally connect with me when I listen. It's the music and while I love trying new audio tech and HiFi gear, I love the music more. As I get older I learn more and have become wiser and way more chill. I realized it is not about the design, looks or outrageous build quality for me, rather it's just about the delivery of the signal.
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I spent a little over two years building my system. All separates. Made some mistakes…learned what I like and man do I love what I have. I ripped apart the tube section of my pre-amp and replaced all the caps and resistors and that made my connection real personal with the gear and the sound. I have about $25K into it and have been just lovin' it and searching for music. No plans to buy anything…lovin' life. 😀
I would also say part of the reason why you're not leaning towards gear is because you've experienced it. So you already have that info within. The rabbit holes can be part of the game, until you're not into rabbits anymore...
My quest for the best has ended. My direction now is simple and minimalist. The new system costs 20% of the old system and I am actually happier and more engaged with the music.
I had less drama raising my 2 daughters.
Wel, when I used to be a semi-professional Photographer the gear started to fill many bags en emptied my accounts. Especially lenses…walking the cities with 20 kg on my back, one day I decided to get out the 35mm and the 50 mm and started to get back to basics. And I loved taking pictures again and I liked my photographes a lot more. I really understand and support, what you are telling. Dieter Burmester always said, most audiophiles are listening to their gear. Not the music.
This hobby is all about experiencing as much gear and music one can in a lifetime.
One would hope, that after sooooo many years of listening to so many different pieces of hifi gear, you should be able to figure out what sonic presentation speaks to you.
At last, common sense has kicked in. My amp, speakers and DAC cost about £1000, my speaker wires with banana plugs, less than £10 and when I play 'Keith don't go' 'Cortez the killer' 'Comfortably numb' they all sound amazing. I'd go as far to say that my HIFI is the best sounding setup in the world, my world.
The majority of the equipment in my music system is over 20 years old and my SOTA Sapphire TT is around 40 years old. I just purchased three pieces of Pass gear about 6-7 years ago and what I do now is upgrade cables, SR fuses and AC plug-ins from Shunyata and Nordost Q System. I have to tell you that the music just flows into my being depending on the quality of the recordings now. When I calculate the original prices that I paid for each and every piece of gear in my system it comes to around $75,000 after the trade ups that I made so the system cost is more than what is stated above over the course of years that I have been and audio enthusiast.
My newest system in exactly this! I love how it sounds, it’s not super expensive and I can totally see it being my forever (or as long as it lasts) system! Cambridge Audio CXA81, 1978 Klipsch Heresy’s with crites upgrades, audio technical TT, Cambridge Audio Solo phono preamp, WiiM Pro and an SVS micro 3000. I’m all in for a little over $3k and it’s all I need. Now I just need to tell myself I dont need the latest thing. Hehe
I’ve done something similar - I think it’s useful to reach the pinnacle though, because then you have a mental reference for what you like and can work back from there
That's the irony of being an "audiophile," so many are gear chasers. They are into sound, not music.
It’s supposed to be about the music. But for a lot of us, we can get caught up in it. A 500 dollar system can move you just as much as a 50,000 dollar system. I’m getting ready to buy new speakers in the 3 grand range to replace my 12 year old klipsch-rf82 towers. I am currently using them with a parasound halo amp and a Cambridge audio CXN-V2 streamer. People lose sight of what audio is supposed to be about and that’s the music. I’f it touches your soul and heart then the system has done its job.
When you've listened to a song or album you love, hundreds of times, on a quality system you can't go back to a £500 system and be happy. It's too distracting noticing all the shortcomings. If I'd never heard better I'd have been fine.
I have no idea how you pay your bills, photography, youtube, something entirely different...I do believe you're doing your best to help us decide what make on our next purchase.
That came out consumerist but that's us
“Bass was a little lacking” in the Deville, but i thought they were “seismic”?
I am in somewhat similar boat. All my gear is packed up into storage and i listen to music on my JBL pulse 4 and i enjoy every song
Its all in the mindset
That is such a waste
I can not agree more with you, I am 71 and as you have many hifi items, preamps, amps, speakers but last two years decide to stop buying and focus as you say in find the combination with all this equipment that make enjoy music the most I i have been very surprise to find with what I already have alot of joy and so happen with my photo gear.
Rgds Alfredo
Mexico
I hope that you are very happy now.
Just listen on now and may you have great joy and peace.
Love the music!
Thats natural with tech, its the same with Pcs HiFi Tv...the earlier u realize and stop that the better
thank you for this surprisingly personal sharing
it definitely gives different perspective to things and values
So agree! I'm 60 and am on my second system. I bought the first one in the mid 80s. I now have a Node 2i streamer, my 20yo Benchmark DAC1, Redgum RG120i integrated amp, and Dynaudio Contour S1.4s with quality interconnects and speaker cable. The streamer is about 3 yrs old but I've had the rest of the system since 2003-2007 range. Keep it simple. And be selective about any upgrade; I'm currently contemplating amps. The search is fun and I'm enjoying it, but it's not essential and there's plenty of time - current front runner is the Heaven 11 Billie Mk2. We'll see what happens.
Just started watching, thanks for taking time to create and share!!!
I trying to listen you talk, make my English better. Thank you 😊 I listening music in my car and small speaker on my computer when I work on photoshop.
Music is KING. I can and have happily listened to a beloved song on a table top radio. Music I don't like does not sound better on an expensive set-up.
Sounds very introspective and sincere…just like listening to an addict at the weekly meetings…..It will be interesting to see if you really continue on the path to cheaper sonic Nirvana or fall back into the techno trap.
I wish we were neighbors. I'd bring a nice cabernet, listen to the Daniel Hertz system. Excellent viewpoint on your journey.
Listening to Questyle M15 and Arya Organic headphones. Sounds so enjoyable.
What about my/our Dynaudio Heritage Specials?
direct sound i only have it on a early 60´s, 70 watts tube amplifier, from my grandfather hooked on some looking like a closet tall and large pair of speakers (worked wood with a cloth behind, front covers , i think they are kenwood and the amp. a dynaco , it gives a very clean and loud sound and maybe because of the two speakers it gives the feeling of the sound coming from nowhere ,even looking at the speakers one feels like the sound is in the air, the turntable is a pioneer from late 60´s ,already stereo but converted to mono, from my grandmother i receive a late 60´s complete dual system ,with nice sounding 4 ohms speakers and a shure cartridge to substitute the ceramic one that came with it but when reading a old dual catalog it explained how to change to it ,still with the old shure symbol on the cartridge
Great overall presentation
I think it could be about gear collecting and the experience of living with that gear. That could be total bliss!
"not much at all" ............................was there ever a more relative statement than that? lived with a $100,000 system for 15 months........."i don't make much at all"
Would love to see you review odyssey audio equipment. Klaus does complete systems fore a really reasonable price.
After a year, you will also be done with those Evas, as soul touching and musical it may be. Some other system will be touching your soul and make you cry in a few months time. Its never ending, you are still in the rabbit hole even if you are 'music' orientated now.
No doubt the law of diminishing returns applies in audio. It’s very possible to assemble a musical system that will sound great without spending a fortune. When you discover how close in musicality you can come to the high end gear and you can avoid the gear thinking you will be a lot happier.
Curiosity is a wonderful propulsion ❤️
I've been thinking a lot about this lately and I seem to want to think that Naim is the amplifier- and front end company for people who want to stop gear-chasing. It's surely a controversial thing to say, but ask yourself when the last time was that someone said that a piece of Naim kit had made a bad pairing with a particular pair of speakers. Not everyone thinks they're the very best choice with each individual speaker -- Hegel seems to do better with some speakers in some applications -- but you'll never hear anyone say that the pairing just flat-out didn't work.
WTF are you talking about? Lol. Naim is probably one of the worst choices you can make if you want to keep things reasonable price-wise. Way, way overpriced imho.
@@mpi5850 I don't agree (The Nait 5si is price-competitive with the Hegel H95 and several other amps of similar pedigree) but much more to the point, who said anything about price? My comment was about chasing music instead of gear, and my argument was that if you bought Naim equipment you'd probably continue to be happy with it because its performance is robust to change-outs at other points in the chain. Never said a peep about it being bargain-priced, tough guy.
I agree that the price tag is not always proportional to the quality of sound. They’re a lot of giant killers out there.
yes mention of the Focals?
The closest an audiophile can get to the perfect system, is the perfect group of systems.
Do you keept the Buchardt A10?
Anything in audio requires compromise. Everything is lacking something.
A speaker's worst enemy, is all the rooms its been forced into.
Well done very nice to hear. It is all about the music
Thanks
Great for you congratulations on your journey
is that room seperate from the main house if I may ask? Seems more a sanctuary, well, for music. Nice
Thank you!!!🥰
Why use the Node X over other less expensive streamer transports?
Glad I am in the position of not having to settle on my passion for my hobby. I wish t you the best .
Could you let us know, about music that you hear?
This would be more interesting if he actually had a point- and got to it quickly.
Besides photography and hifi, i notice tht u r also into crystal n meditation as i notice that u wearing a nice modalvite and also turquoise
Who's buying used 5-figure hifi gear for only a few hundred dollars less than new?
demand and availability, production runs
You d be happy to recoup 40-50% of the MSRP
Right?
I agree with you because, at the end, music can live without the gear, but not the opposite
Music can live, but can not be fully enjoyed without the gear.
@@andru2625 What he ment was that gear needs music input, whereas if you erased all the gear on the planet, you could still enjoy a performer playing on a guitar, completely without any audio gear. Instruments is all you need, and someone who can play.
What does you complete system look like now? Turntable, phono amp, cables, etc.
what about your Dynaudio Heritage Special?
At 60, I have calculated the percentage of outliving any new gear and they are low. Hence, I will stick with what I have.
Without the music… there’s no gear.
The music itself is not produced on all these nonsense snakeoil products.
You're just in that phase because you're starting to realize the impermanence of life, you'll get over that phase.
Did you ever hook up a sub or two to go with the DeVilles?
This tshirt is priceless
You liked the pink-prose offical web page marketing blurbs and you bought them? Should you perhaps pick another subject for your videos?
If this is more clearly, I fear asking how muddy it used to be.
Do you still have the inspire 300b
@2:25 looks like birdhouses, probably sounds like it too
Still got the JBL L82’s in the other room?
Music to my ears….
Hope you can someday review an LFD integrated amp.
I m still using an LFD LE 3 since 2008 & still going strong. Inherently musical without the usual bells & whistles.
@@ganck1147 I have a 1998 Int Zero LE here.. still a quality piece, an heirloom item, all these years later.
@@Wharariki wow. They have this unique illuminated from within sound that is unheard of from modern solid state amps.
@ganck1147 I once heard an LFD paired with Harbeth p3s and a mid-leavel Naim CD player. I haven't heard anything quite like it since.
Listening to..man with the red face through ATC 40 passive, using name electronics 🙂 wonderful sound 👍🏼. My question is, I don't think you have reviewed anything from Naim?..
Can you please review the all new Qualio IQ ULTRA Speakers ? Thanks
I believe I will be :)
Whenever people say “the best I’ve ever heard” my first question is: what have they heard 🤷🏽♂️
Awesome! I have done the same.
I WAS thinking about buying a completely new set:
- Heaven11 Billie (or a decent Vincent hybrid amp)
- Wharfedale Elysian 2 speakers
- 2X SVS SB1000 Pro subs
- Denafrips Pontus or Audio Note 0.1x DAC
Buuuuuuuut I think I will just go for some Buchardt A10's instead.
Your t-shirt is epic. 🤣👍
So now it's time for either:
1) Holo Red + Holo May/MM Tambaqui + Holo Bliss + ZMF Caldera
2) Holo Red + Holo May/MM Tambaqui + Feliks Envy + Focal Utopia
You lost a few hundred dollars?!!!, c'mon man...😂
That's what he must've told his wife! From what I know of the used market (been around the block a few times) a 75k system have a resale value of 45k at best. Now maybe he bought a few demo and used pieces at a discount, but those 20k Fleetwood that he bought new? No way in hell that he didn't lose 5k on them, at the very least...
Never underestimate the power of denial. It must be a couple of thousand. More is not always better until you come to meet the very very rare occasion of equipment that is about more reality.
I assume that he will have received particularly favourable purchasing conditions.
Hundreds per month.
Here in Ireland.. expect to lose more then half of not more ..
At 59 I know what you mean
Truth
Redondant philosopher 💥
All journeys into addictive behaviour especially hifi I’ve been there. We start off curiously then it leads to compulsion then addiction I’m glad I gave it up. Peace out on your pursuit of finding the perfect system. I’m 53 and had over 300 systems now I have none. It’s all about the music. Fundamentally.
None... Now that's extreme.
None? Sincere question. Why do you watch this?
@@particularlynothingI had the same question 😂
@@particularlynothing why not. Maybe just needs some confirmation for his decision
I know what you are talking about when you are young it is all about chase of the girl when you are old it is all about the time with the girl and time has more meaning than it use too back in the 70s all my stereo equipment would have taken a small uhaul to move now it is a whole lot simpler
The system is also a phallic symbol of power. I think i read that somewhere. Men and audio systems. Women are just not built that way but will indulge their partner's pent up repression. Ha ha
I’d just assumed you were rich. Interesting journey.
I’m a midrange guy. Says. EVERY audiophile.
We are in the end of days so there’s that:)
I think he is strongly belief nuclear war is coming soon..so he is recouping his savings as much as possible and asap
how can i give you 2x👍🏼?
Hedonic adaptation.
ghostboxes work but a lot better when your psychic.
It is called downsize.
I want to upgrade to some fancy stuff, but I hear my type of music sounds like crap on the audiophile gear. What to do?
Listen to it in the shop.
Make a note of that.
Same boat, different captain.
danish when it's best
Are you keeping the buchardt's?
Only if he's allowed to keep them by Buchardt.
The problem you have is that you are too convincing. People take your comments to heart. I believe true music lovers always are always on the hunt for new great music and not hung up on chasing the next best piece.
Most of us envy you. I'm certain I couldn't do your enterprise anywhere near as well as you.
This was priceless 😂
Like the mclovin tee shirt!
Who is that and why is he wearing a t-shirt of him?
Tim! You need to educate yourself on a touchtone of American cinema greatness: "Superbad"!! It's super great :)@@timhollis3390
because the hype train is paramount
So no more reviews now,, You're happy with what you've got, And aren't chasing better equipment
You didn't pay attention
@@bill72pa Yes I did i'm just wondering what he's going to do now
Called it. Months ago. 😂
I understand almost all of it except one MAJOR thing.. NO REMOTE!!! how can you live without a remote??? Design some servo belt device that wraps around the volume knob.
No dac just the X ?
His amp has a dac, maybe try to listen…