For Newbies: how to listen:swaps/changes

I received a lot of negative votes for my above post and I just dont understand why. What better advice to give a newbie then trust your own ears. This is a high pressure over opinionated hobby where every product is reviewed to the equvalent of the second coming of Christ and backed by technical specifications that have nothing to do with sound quality. I was not refering to the other excellent posts on this thread and didnt get into what to listen for because it was already covered so well above. When choosing equipment the best piece for you is the one that sounds best to you. Not what a reviewer or salesmen likes.

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.

I didn't vote Perfect, but I did think you may have missed the point a bit. Your advice is right on, but only after you answer the first part. "What to listen for" I think she wanted what you listen for so that she can take your advice and trust her ears. That's just a guess, but I felt you may have missed her question too. Again, I don't vote without also writing feedback, I still believe the only worth while feedback is a written one, and I think your question, like mine on other threads proves the point. If you just vote negative without feedback the vote isn't worth the time. Sorry to digress, hope this helped perfect. Please don't quite posting, your one of the best! IMO, J.D.