Words From the Wise

I've been doing this for twenty-five years. Here's what I've determined:

1. Speakers are most important.

2. Then comes source.

3. Amps are amps, they effect sound but NOWHERE near the level of #1 or #2. If a new amp changes sound dramatically, something is wrong with one of the amps.

4. If you're serious about sound, spend most of your money only on speakers, source and then amp [in that order].

5. Line conditioners are snake oil. Power cords are as well. Speaker cables give little bang for the buck, stick with Radio Shack wire.

BONUS ADVICE: Anyone who has spent money on line conditioners, power cords and expensive speaker cables will defend it to the death. Don't waste time talking sense or science to them. Let them be delusional and happy.

EXTRA BONUS ADVICE: If it's a cool gadget, I mean a really cool gadget and you gotta have it forget #4 and have fun.

Virgil,

I'm mostly in agreement w/ you esp. w.r.t to your "BONUS ADVICE"!!

However, I feel that you missed 1 very imp. "component" - the listening room! So, to add to your list:-

0. the listening room is even more important. Good & correct treatment of it will allow you to maximize what you presently have.

Bombaywalla- I think you are right on target; poor accoustics [listening room] can break an otherwise excellent speaker. Match the speaker to the venue for best results.

1. RUN FAR AND FAST AWAY FROM HERE BEFORE YOU GO CRAZY AND BROKE. (probably to late)

2. Set a realistic budget.

3. Learn to listen, and listen to as many system's as possible.

4. Re-adjust your budget.

5. Forgive yourself the endulgance, it's too late, so enjoy the sweet music!

6. (bonus) Beat the kids BEFORE they touch the system.

Clarification:

1. It was to late for me the day I was born. I used to sleep with the radio under my pillow. There is magic in them there notes, and the people playing them, and the spirits that guide them, and in me when I am open - which I can not seem to control at will; magic.

2. I set a realistic budget so that I had a place to start and to enable the breaking of inertia. I found out later that I had no clue about what was available, at what cost, nor how to judge value; of the components in contrast to each other and of the minute differences that can be the difference between nice and oh my God!

3. Listening over and over, reading, listening to dealers and audiophiles and re-listening, getting frustrated and re-excited. Discovered incredible tone, then discovered decay, space, dynamics. The first was tone. The second was soundstage. The third was quality bass, then extreme low frequency in musical context. Initial impressions soon went completely out the window and I had no idea what was real or what I liked. I finally heard a planner set up done correctly and "oh my god" now I get the planner thing (but still could not live without off-axis response.) I finally heard a tube set-up that blew my mind with richness and clarity, again "oh my god" (but I knew I still could not live without the frequency extremes and dynamic speed.) on and on and on.

4. Reset budget to be in line with what was required, for me.

5. I often feel guilty, but I soon realized guilt is better than regret and bitterness; after all I did (and still) work for it. Music was my first love and has been my constant through good and bad - sorry honey??? I love you too though. :)

6. This was simply meant to be funny. Said "Kid" has never messed with the system, but she taunts me and I see her eye it when she gets jealous and mad, like we kids do. I need to remember, she is she and not me, who was not so understanding of value and had limited control and did stupid things that defied all logic for no apparent reason. Fire is hot, hmmmm.... ouch!!! Duh.