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Can HI FI components really make music?

Hello everyone. I am posting this question possibly a bit early but I am getting frustrated and am about to throw in the towel, sell everything and buy a Bose wave radio and call it good. My question is does a good HI FI system ever really sound like live music? At this point I think not. I have been in this hobby for about 7 years and just can't seem to get there. Even the system at the local "hi end" dealer does not come close to live music. My system has evolved over the years to the following:

Wadia 861 CD
VTL MB 125 mono blocks
Supratek Chennin Pre
(2) Vandy 2WQ subs
Vandy 3A Sig
Cardas Golden Cross inter con
Kimber Bifocal XL spk cable
Vandy model 5 Xover

All this gear is in a 13x35x8 room. Although the sound is quite good. Better than most any other system Ive heard it still has a long way to go. In all fairness the 3As are not completely broken in but I dont think they will improve to the extent I want them to over the course of the next 30 hrs. My dealers solution is that I should get rid of the Supratek and replace with a VTL 5.5. I dont think so. Been there done that. Although the VTL is decent it cant compete with the Supra.

At this point I think maybe the VTL 125s are just not sophisticated or powerful enough to give me the sound Im looking for. I think they are the weak link along with cabling. I stated earlyer that the dealers system doesnt do it for me either and I think that may be due to the fact that their biggest amp is 185 wpc. Im thinking maybe a sophisticated amp with say 400 wpc might get me there with the 3As. I dont know... but I am not willing to spend 100K to what I want nor could I afford to.

For those of you that are still with me any and all input welcome. I am not one of those thin skinned audiophiles that cries like a baby when someone has the audacity to insult their precious gear. So fire away.

Thanks
braro
herman
1,974 posts
 
Check out Jeffrey Jackson's web site for a fine example of this approach. Not exactly cheap, but the good stuff rarely is
unsound
6,115 posts
 
No, not yet. Most of us do get to enjoy a fairly satisfactory facsimile. You might not ever be completely satisfied though. With most live music events depending on similar and in many case worse quality components, whats one to do? That is a mighty large room your filling there with just 125 watts per channel. IMHO with the possible exception of the VTL's (ironic?) while all quality pieces, they all tend to lean on the soft side of neutrality. Just what is it that you specifically find lacking/distracting in your system compared to the live event?
9rw's avatar
9rw
278 posts
 
For openers, you should consider having your Wadia 861 upgraded to the Reference or Statement level provided by Steve Huntley of Great Northern Sound. I was skeptical but finally sent my 861 to Steve for the Reference mod. It was worth every penny. It's a lot of money, but the mods made an already fine CD player more involving and just better.

And I'm with Herman on the Vandersteens. I like and respect the man, and I've owned several pairs of his speakers, including the 3A Signature, but they just seem to lack the clarity and resolution of other speakers in the same price range. I went with the Von Schweikert VR-4Jr. nearly a year ago and would never consider going back.

There are lots of other good speaker choices, including some used Dunlavys. Don't give up just yet. Finally, let's not kid ourselves. Nothing approaches a good live concert -- assuming the sound crew knows what it's doing and the acoustics are decent.
beavis
272 posts
 
Think your expectations of reproduced music in the real world is out of whack. Nothing wrong with high expectations.

Agree with "Newbee" that you should be "getting some fairly fine sound with your present stuff." If unhappy with your music now, you'll REALLY be disappointed with Bose.

If I were to suggest anything, it would be a few acoustical
treatments.

BTW, I have same questions as you but I'm not considering Bose.
clio09
2,978 posts
 
Get the Bose, and with the money you save you can attend a lot of live performances.

On a more serious note, I like the way music sounds live myself. I'm always seeking that type of ambience in the sound of my system. I have several DAT recordings I have made of live events that my system does a fair job of duplicating, but certainly not equal to the event itself. However, I've learned to live with it and would not consider selling off my entire system for something along the lines of the Bose. In fact if anything, I'll upgrade since I enjoy music in general and it's a fun hobby.

BTW - you have a great system. If you do decide to sell it off I'd be interested in the Supratek.
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