We are buying and reviewing gear all wrong


So let's assume that cables, power conditioners and electronics all contribute noticeably to the sounds we hear.

In that case, maybe the idea of buying individual gear, reviewing individual gear, etc. is all messed up.
We should review entire systems, and buy entire systems.

This idea that we constantly shuffle interconnects, speaker and power cords for all our lives is messed up.

We shouldn't be looking at audio stores or reviewers as recommending gear, but themes. Styles. Entire collections all at once.
erik_squires
"@dave_b, The whole audiophile thing really is insane...like disturbingly nuts!! It misses the whole point of the music and having fun. I remember selling HiFi gear back in the early 80โ€™s when you could get a whole system that sounded very engaging for $2-$3 grand. Spent the rest of my life chasing shadows and wondering why I enjoyed music more back then compared to anytime since. Why didnโ€™t the audiophile approved gear simply communicate the emotion and fun of the music more readily? Maybe that much maligned mid bass hump was actually a good thing...at least it sounded more like a real band playing. Too much over dampening and flat frequency response angst ruined audio for me. Live music is crazy dynamic and loud with energy you can feel...it is not flat or damped!"


Thereโ€™s more than a few of us asking similar questions.

Who exactly are all these people relentlessly whispering (sometimes shouting) empty promises that lead nowhere in our ears?

Why do they do it?

What do they hope to gain?




I hate to judge before all the facts are in but that all seems like the perfect example of following the wrong sheep. No one ever said it was a tip toe through the tulips. ๐ŸŒท ย ๐ŸŒท ย ๐ŸŒทย 

๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿ‘ ๐Ÿšถโ€โ™‚๏ธ
@cd318 I take your point about Rega speakers, I bought an all Rega system (P3, Elex-R, DAC-R) so needed a speaker tuned to BBC monitor profile to work with them (Harbeth, Spendor, ATC) and opted for the Spendor A4 because it is a small-ish room.

This review (yes I know What HiFi is viewed with distaste by many A'goners) makes clear the benefit of staying with matched components: the Rega Isis and Osiris both have weaknesses but they cancel each other out and sound good together:
https://www.whathifi.com/rega/isis/review