Hey Perfectimage. I boosted you up. I think some people might have interpreted your post a slap-down, but you obviously didn't intend it that way. There may be some people here who just vote negative on everything.
Anyway, A little over a year ago, I finally decided to buy a NEW high end system to replace my 10 year old stereo. I went to a couple of high end stores and auditioned equipment. I found that I could not really determine if I liked something or not with a two minute demonstration - even with my own music. After a bad experience with a mean retailer, I changed tack and decided to buy used equipment & see what I like.
Most of the high end gear I've owned had something special that no other piece could do. I hear these things after a couple days of listening. Things like the Audio Physic Virgo's refinement & low level detail, or the vt100's 'just right' tube glow. I rate a piece of equipment by how often I want to listen to music. If I happen to have a bad match or something that is screwing up the system, I find that I just don't listen as much. Usually it's something I can eventually qualify. For example the metallic quality of a cd player, the dead sound of some solid state amp/speaker combos, dull cables, or the overly veiled quality of some tube amps. My ears are getting tuned up now, and I can make judgements faster + estimate some system interaction. Generally I will keep two of a given component type for a while, switch them back and fourth every few days, and see what is better. It's kind of neat that I can now 'sort of' match components based on 'described characteristics' and have them beneficially affect the system.
It is very true about a person's taste being a factor. One person might like the MG 1.6's bass speed and coherence breathtaking but dislike the Vandersteen 3aSig's slowness and lack of detail. The next might be thrilled with the bass weight and natural instrument timbres of the 3a, but dislike the lightweight presentation and off-axis thin sound of the 1.6. Both great speakers. I apologize in advance.
Anyway, A little over a year ago, I finally decided to buy a NEW high end system to replace my 10 year old stereo. I went to a couple of high end stores and auditioned equipment. I found that I could not really determine if I liked something or not with a two minute demonstration - even with my own music. After a bad experience with a mean retailer, I changed tack and decided to buy used equipment & see what I like.
Most of the high end gear I've owned had something special that no other piece could do. I hear these things after a couple days of listening. Things like the Audio Physic Virgo's refinement & low level detail, or the vt100's 'just right' tube glow. I rate a piece of equipment by how often I want to listen to music. If I happen to have a bad match or something that is screwing up the system, I find that I just don't listen as much. Usually it's something I can eventually qualify. For example the metallic quality of a cd player, the dead sound of some solid state amp/speaker combos, dull cables, or the overly veiled quality of some tube amps. My ears are getting tuned up now, and I can make judgements faster + estimate some system interaction. Generally I will keep two of a given component type for a while, switch them back and fourth every few days, and see what is better. It's kind of neat that I can now 'sort of' match components based on 'described characteristics' and have them beneficially affect the system.
It is very true about a person's taste being a factor. One person might like the MG 1.6's bass speed and coherence breathtaking but dislike the Vandersteen 3aSig's slowness and lack of detail. The next might be thrilled with the bass weight and natural instrument timbres of the 3a, but dislike the lightweight presentation and off-axis thin sound of the 1.6. Both great speakers. I apologize in advance.