My Audio Journey
All audiophiles have a history to share. This is mine. Long and boring.
It all started when I was stationed by the Army at Camp Sukiran, Okinawa in 1972. I came home with a Kenwood KR-6160 receiver, a JVC turntable, and a pair of AR-6 speakers. I later replaced the AR's with larger Audioanalyst speakers, and got a Pickering stylus. The Akai reel to reel came next, as did a Pioneer front loading cassette deck. An Akai 8 track player/recorder came along too, but it was left at a pawn shop. The reel to reel was sold.
From 1976-1982 I was stationed in Germany. I purchased a Kenwood intergrated amp and AR-2xa speakers. I added a JVC 7 band equalizer a little later. The Dual CS-604 turntable came next, using a Shure M-97HE stylus. The Kenwood amp quit on me, so I got another, more powerful Kenwood model. I returned to Germany in 1983. I soon purchased an Aiwa 3 head cassette deck with Dolby C, and upgraded to the AR-93 speakers. The Technics 12 band equalizer arrived next. Next to come was a Technics intergrated amp with 140W a channel. This amp spounded very good. A DBX 3BX rounded out the equipment. The 3BX did wonders for LP's. After retiring from the Army in 1993, I moved to Nebraska.
For some strange reason I lost interest in my audio hobby, and concentrated on Amateur Radio. I got a Kenwood Pro-Logic receiver and Bose Acoutimass 3 speakers. The turntable, DBX, and equalizer were gone. The worst system I ever owned. I did toss the Bose for some Paradigm bookshelf speakers. Much better. Around 1997 a friend loaned me an old HH Scott tube receiver. WOW! Hobby reborn. A used Antique Sound Lab tube amp (EL-34) and refurbished Dynaco tube preamp were next. PSB Image B-25 speakers soon followed. I was very pleased with the mid-range of these speakers. I was using Monster cable for interconnects and speakers. Audioquest cables would replaced them.
I changed the PSB's to the NHT Classic 3's. Very good speakers. The Monitor Audio Silver 8's were next. Starting to build my home theater system, I bought the Klipsch RP-600M. I loved how dynamic they were. I decided to get their bigger brother, the RP-6000F for the audio system. When the Prima Luna Prologue 5 went on sale, I got it. The Klipsch will play louder than the Monitor Audio Silver 8's for the same amount of power. Good for the lower power tube amp. The 8's are better at being more neutral, but the Klipch are more fun, and clearly more dynamic.
During this time I upgraded to AQ Columbia interconnects, which I still use. I was using the AQ Dimondback and then the King Cobra. The Cobras were better on percussion impacts. I was startled the first time, and switched the two cables back and forth to confirm it. To those that say cables don't matter, I know what I heard. I wasn't expecting it, but it happened. The Cobra did have a sort of "in your face" presentation. The AQ Columbia replaced the Cobra. Much better by a decent margin. I got them rather cheaply after they were discontinued by AQ. I started to pay more attention to other cables, especially speaker cables. I went through Kimber 8VS & 8TC, and AQ X2 & Gibraltar. After seeing an excellent review on the very inexpensive Micca speaker cables, I ordered them. Good grief! They sound better than the much more expensive cables I have. I put them on the home theater L/R also.
I did use a Behringer equalizer for a while, but the XLR only in/out were a pain. I used a device that matched the pro audio and home audio levels, and converted XLR to RCA. Too many darn cables. There was added noise too.
Iv'e had a few subwoofers since the 1990's. A Radio Shack model was first, folowed by a Pardigm 12 inch. I splurged( for me) and got the SVS SB-2000 (18Hz) five or so years ago. It now shares duty with a Klipsch R-112 (24Hz),that was originally for HT. Together they give me the best bass I've ever had. The subwoofers compensate for the RP-6000F 6.5 inch bass drivers (effective only to 42Hz). I never come close to pushing the subwoofers as they have more power than I need for my listening room.
As can be seen, I've never had top end expensive equipment. No $15,000 speakers for me. But my lower end system sounds very good to me, and provides much enjoyment. I have heard a $100,000 plus system. That was astounding to hear. If that system is a 10, then mine is a 6 or 7. It provides me with a diminished replica of the expensive system. I am convinced that one doesn't need to lose an arm and a leg to have a very good sounding system. However, if I could afford it, I would own it.
Other Equipment I've used:
SAE 5000 impulse noise reduction, DBX 1BX & 4BX & 224 noise reduction, Carver Sonic Hologram, Technics SH-9010 power meter unit, MXR noise reduction, Shure stylus gage, Sansui, Pioneer, and Koss headphones, Discwasher record cleaning kit and anti-static gun, Soundguard kit with mat, AR-58 speakers, Akai 2 head cassette deck, AQ Dragonfly Black & Red, Harmon Kardon Tuner, massive muddy sounding Kenwood speakers, and AQ Red River RCA's I've never used. There is more I'm sure, but I can't remember.
I do remember being a Corporal/Sergeant on very little pay in the 1970's, and yearning for better equipment, like this:
Bose 901 or AR-3a speakers (Thank goodness I didn't get the Bose)
Pioneer Quadraphonic Receiver QX-949 ( A friend had the QX-747)
Shure V-15 stylus
Technics Turntable SL-1200
Nakamichi Dragon Cassette Deck
Teac A-6300 Reel to Reel
But alas, I couldn't afford them.
I received Stereo Review magazine every month back then, and Julian Hirsch was my guru.There was no Internet and audio equipment reviews were very few. Mr. Hirsch was instrumental in my early audiophile education. He also held an Amateur Radio license.
I am blessed that my hearing is still fairly good. However, above 13k I'm deaf as a doorknob.
Some thoughts on this hobby:
Certain cables seem to matter, others not so much. I have an AQ carbon HDMI. I recently replaced it with an AQ Forest because it was so stiff it would disconnect with slight movement. I could detect no difference between the two cables except the price.
Some equipment seems very overpriced for the small benefit it provides. The debate on power cables is interesting. I use AQ entry level cables. I can't make a definitive statement that they are better than the stock cables, but there seemed to be improvement in two cases for me. My little Kilipsch R-100SW was using the stock cable. I spent some time getting it adjusted right for my room and ears. After switching to the AQ NRG-Z2, I noticed the bass was stronger, having more "punch" to it. The same was true when I started using an AQ NRG-4 with my old Antique Sound Lab AQ-1003 amp. Once again the bass was more solid than before. Other than those two personal examples, I really don't know.
The system equipment should probably be similar in performance capability . The speakers may be the exception. A $5000 CD player into a $600 solid state receiver probably won't sound much better than a $400 CD player because of the limits of the receiver. My Prima Luna amp is more resolving than my Yamaha receiver. The difference between sources can be heard better. Top end amps probably do it even better. I will have to take this on faith since I've never owned one.
Tube vs Solid State-- Go with what you like best. I like tubes these days, but I've had some very good sound from solid state. My old Technics SU-V9 sounded excellent to me. The sound from the Freya + tube mode and the Prima Luna P5 is the best I've ever had. But, the solid state mode of the Freya + or a solid state amp will appeal more to other audiophiles.
Complaints:
Some audiophiles are critical of equipment they have never listened to. Some yahoo states his opinion, and others latch on to it as the gospel. Our hobby has much subjectivity in it. What one likes, another doesn't. There is plenty of room for both.
Doing a review by playing music on YouTube is ridiculous. Just follow the audio chain. Their system, their room, their microphone, their ADC, YouTube via the Internet, your streamer, your DAC, your receiver/ Pre & amp, your speakers, and your room. How on earth is this not evident to those that do it? No one can hear exactly how my/your system sounds unless they are in my/your listening room.
Measurements: Measurements are important. However, they don't tell the whole story. Relying solely on how a component measures, or letting measurements bias what one hears, may rob them of the chance to own some excellent sounding equipment. My Yamaha AV receiver has better measurements than my Prima Luna amp, and almost triple the power. The Yamaha sounds good, but the Prima Luna is at another level musically. The Yamaha can't match the Prima Luna. Of course, the Prima Luna MSRP is 3X the Yamaha.
I have been enoying this hobby for about 50 years. It's been a lot of fun, and still is. While I have learned a lot about it, there is still so much I don't know. My electronics education has come in handy. But, there is always new technology and more to learn. One must be willing to keep an open mind and not cling to old assumptions (like me and AR speakers). To obtain a system that provides enjoyment is the goal. Just because it isn't the perceived Holy Grail, doesn't make it bad. Audiophile opinions are just opinions, and everyone has got one. Trust your own ears. Do it the way you like it. Julian Hirsch once said that once you get equipment you really like, keep it. Don't keep constantly chasing after greener grass. You may find a bare patch or two over the hill.
Young audiophile's most common question. "What's the best?"
Old Audiophile's answer. "What are you willing to pay? Answer that, and I can tell you some options."
A lot of snake oil exist in audio land. I should know. I own some.
There is plenty of preconcived bias that one must work through. I have been guilty of this bias, especially when I was younger.
Some of the reviewers I like, and some equipment I purchased based on their reviews:
The Audiophillac: Klipsch RP-600M, Schiit Freya Plus, Schiit Loki Plus.
Steve Huff: Micca speaker cables, Schiit Freya Plus.
Those at Stereophile Magazine: Monitor Audio Silver 8, Klipsch RP-600M, Kimber 8TC. Many of their reviews are on equipment I'll never be able to afford.
Those at Absolute Sound Magazine: NHT Classic 3, Schiit Modius.
Cheap Audio Man: Wiim Mini Streamer. A reviewer that does reviews on equipment that I can afford.
Zero Fidelity: Klipsch RP-600M
Andrew Robinson: Denon X-3700H. I appreciate his common sense approach of not one size fits all.
I try to get reviews from as many reviewers as I can before making a decision. There was a time when we could audition some equipment at a local audio dealer. Now, for many of us, we rely on the internet for purchasing. There are retailers that will let us try out items for a short time , but for me this doesn't work too well. My health isn't the best, and I have difficulty walking. The return shipping routine would not be pleasant.
One other thing I took from Mr. Hirsch. He always did his listening tests before any measurements, so as not to bias the listening tests. Good advice I think. Stereophile's reviews are done this way. The subjective reviewer and objective reviewer are not the same person. One thing he belived that I disagree on, was that amps that measure the same, sound the same. He also was accused of never meeting a speaker he didn't like.
If you are an audiophile around my age (69) or older, you may reconize the pics on this page.
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