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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater. |
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In Reply to: Re: What do you mean by... posted by JLM on May 28, 2003 at 15:39:06:
From what I see some people spending on gear, I thought I was a "budget" guy. I actually shop carefully, buying mainly demo or used gear or closeouts, taking my time, and usually buying though local dealers when they have a deal available, so I can hear the gear first. As a result, I rarely lose much when I sell to trade up. In fact, I created a spreadsheet earlier this year showing what I had spent, and what I had sold gear for when I traded up, over the last 5-6 years. When I looked at the total difference, it was substantially less, divided into a monthly basis, than the $50 + I pay per month for cable. Yet, I get a lot more enjoyment out of my audio system than 250 channels of mainly junk on cable. I call that a deal!I think some people have confused my request. I'm not saying that I think my current system is bad or not enjoyable. In fact, in every way I can think of it is better than anything I've owned before. I've heard a lot of other speakers locally, both in dealers and in private homes, and while some of them in the same price range (Reynaud, Audio Physic, Harbeth, Thiel, Maggys, JM Lab) do some things that the Spendors and Ref 3As don't do quite as well, and all are excellent speakers, I'm not sure that I believe any of them are a clear step up overall over the de Capos or my main alternative in that price, the Spendor 1/2s. I do like the $7000 Living Voice Avatar OBX speakers that my local dealer has, but there is no way I will ever spend that much on speakers, unless I win the lottery (which I don't play). I was mainly soliciting thoughts of ways to upgrade/tweak my system w/out spending a fortune. Also, there was a pair of Ref 3A Integreles (?) on Audiogon for $1995 (maybe still there). I was thinking of selling my de Capos to purchase them, as it would not cost a great deal to make that upgrade, if I could get a fair price for my de Capos.
In retrospect, I think two reasons I'm a little unsatisified right now that I did not fully disclose: (1) I've sold off my analog system, and need to get back into analog, since that has always been my primary source; I was happier w/ my system last winter when I had a Michell Gyro/SME 309 w/ VDH & Clearaudio carts. I sold the Gyro because it was a little frustrating to try to set up properly; every time I thought it was close to just right, I would try to tweak it more, and would throw the set-up off. But when it was right, the combo of the Gyro/Avatar/de Capos was one of the best systems I've heard at any price. I wanted an Orbe, but could not justify to myself spending that much $$$. (2) I've been playing w/ tube rolling in the Avatar, w/ mixed results. As w/ the Gryo, every time I think I'm about "there", I make some more changes and find I am a little disappointed w/ the result. Perhaps these questions are better addressed to the Vinyl and Tube asylums, respectively, where I mainly hang out. Thanks for all your suggestions, particularily the ones about room setup/treatments.
Terry
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