[TSAVJason]

That's what meomap is doing, removing themselves from the temptation.

Makes no sense. I listen to a $500k set of speakers and love them but I don’t get the need or addiction to want them. Certainly I can realize my financial limitations and still enjoy the $500k speakers

 

[dontfeedphils]

Makes no sense. I listen to a $500k set of speakers and love them but I don’t get the need or addiction to want them. Certainly I can realize my financial limitations and still enjoy the $500k speakers

If it works for the guy then what's the difference.

 

[TSAVJason]

If it works for the guy then what's the difference.

It’s a silly argument. People can still enjoy what they can’t or don’t want to afford.

 

[DivaFonda]

Makes no sense. I listen to a $500k set of speakers and love them but I don’t get the need or addiction to want them. Certainly I can realize my financial limitations and still enjoy the $500k speakers

That depends on how much you get drawn in. $500K is certainly a stretch but let's say it was $10K or $20K. Say you're saving for a down payment on a car BUT....

That's one way people spend more than they were planning to. Or what they shouldn't. The temptation for the good stuff. You taste it, you want it. Then you may start asking how you can get it. I knew someone who bragged they had great credit and bought themselves a $35K boat. Credit, not cash. Unfortunately I'm guilty of this type of spending too sometimes. Not that high but still.

I'm not saying it's a good habit but that's what happens.

Meomap is smart. They're keeping it real and where they can afford it.

 

[TSAVJason]

That depends on how much you get drawn in. $500K is certainly a stretch but let's say it was $10K or $20K. Say you're saving for a down payment on a car BUT....

That's one way people spend more than they were planning to. Or what they shouldn't. The temptation for the good stuff. You taste it, you want it. Then you may start asking how you can get it. I knew someone who bragged they had great credit and bought themselves a $35K boat. Credit, not cash. Unfortunately I'm guilty of this type of spending too sometimes. Not that high but still.

I'm not saying it's a good habit but that's what happens.

Meomap is smart. They're keeping it real and where they can afford it.

Let’s not make this a personal attack. No one is questioning whether he is smart or not. Try to understand it this way. It’s a crying shame not to enjoy the creations and innovations of man simply because you can’t afford to own those same creations and innovations. I can’t afford a La Ferrari but I sure do thinks it’s a beautiful car.

 

[meomap]

Nope,
Smart people tends to go on shows, listen to expensive hp, amp , don't buy anything, go home and enjoying what they currently have.

I am not one of those smart people.
I need and want.
That is why I have Utopia, Studio Six, K03 as source, some other iems and cables.
Also 2 channel is a must too. Been looking for tube pre amp and sub woofers as well for my need. I can stop with what I have for 2 channel, but hp, hp amps, and iems pricing are beginning to get out of control like 2 channel items.

Just my 2 cent.
But then again a lot of people don't care about pricing .

 

[Whitigir]

Why care about pricing ? Just because it sound good man

 

[DivaFonda]

Let’s not make this a personal attack. No one is questioning whether he is smart or not. Try to understand it this way. It’s a crying shame not to enjoy the creations and innovations of man simply because you can’t afford to own those same creations and innovations. I can’t afford a La Ferrari but I sure do thinks it’s a beautiful car.

What personal attack? "You" was general, I didn't exactly mean you specifically. Plus it wasn't an attack.

 

[dontfeedphils]

What personal attack? "You" was general, I didn't exactly mean you specifically. Plus it wasn't an attack.

I also got no sense of a "personal attack", then again he says some things I consider a bit over the line, so maybe we have different expectations.

I'm guilty of the same thing. I get loose with the CC when I know there's something that I really want, and could technically "buy" but not actually "afford". Best way to avoid those situations? Avoid them.

Just because it doesn't make sense to one doesn't mean it's wrong.

 

[DivaFonda]

Nope,
Smart people tends to go on shows, listen to expensive hp, amp , don't buy anything, go home and enjoying what they currently have.

I am not one of those smart people.
I need and want.
That is why I have Utopia, Studio Six, K03 as source, some other iems and cables.
Also 2 channel is a must too. Been looking for tube pre amp and sub woofers as well for my need. I can stop with what I have for 2 channel, but hp, hp amps, and iems pricing are beginning to get out of control like 2 channel items.

Just my 2 cent.
But then again a lot of people don't care about pricing .

But see, you know there's a limit for you and you avoided the temptation to keep spending by not going to shows with very high priced equipment. I say that's smart.

 

[meomap]

Maybe, it's call Addiction for Great Sound.
I want to close my eyes and feel the singer was actually there in front of you about 3 feet and sing for you.
Gave me goosebumps but love it.
Scary good.

 

[Allanmarcus]

I consistently found that the Utopia was never the source of fatiguing sound.

Pairing with an amp is very important. From my own personal experience, a good tube amp is best. OBVIOUSLY YMWV

when you buy Utopia you aren’t buying a Volkswagen Passat, you are buying an Aston Martin or Lambo.

Er, based not he arguments here, when one buys a utopia, one is buying the tires for the Aston Martin. One still needs to buy the rest of the car

Quick question, did you remove the headphones from the dummy head when changing things, or did you leave them still?

HEY! I've met @cskippy , and while he's a pretty buff guy, I would call him a dummy!

You’re system is only as good as the weakest link. More often than not the source is the weekest link but it could be any number of things that cause less than perfect audio

Weakest link is commonly the listener, expectation bias, and then the amp, not the source. Most of us listen to CD quality or better with a decent DAC. Assuming CD quality source material and a decent DAC, the the only thing that affects the sound less are the cables.

In order of importance:

Level 1:
Headphones/speakers
Quality and noise free connections from computer to DAC (if digital)
Well mastered CD quality (or better) source material, or from quality analog source

Level 2:
Amp (assuming paired well)
Cartridge (for turntable)
DAC (probably should be in Level 3)

Level 3:
of relatively very low importance
Headphone Cable
Interconnect cable
Power Cable
vibration control (assuming it's basically under control)
power source (assuming it's not obviously noisy)
Tone Arm (for turntable)
Turn table platter and accessories

Practically, when I used the excellent Apex Teton (an OTL tube amp with high impedance) with the low-impedance Utopia, I got too much bloom in the bass and some degradation of the midrange. I have none of these problems with the HD800S, which has a very high impedance.

we got it.

I think it makes sense in a way. Say you live in New York and can only get Shake Shack. Shake Shack makes a fine burger but it's no In-N-Out Double-Double, which is clearly superior.

Funny, I grew up in LA with In and Out. I much prefer Shack Shack But I have not A/B tested.

 

[TSAVJason]

What personal attack? "You" was general, I didn't exactly mean you specifically. Plus it wasn't an attack.

No offense was meant or taken.

It’s print, the nuance isn’t there. I didn’t say it was nor am I accusing you, I’m saying let’s be sure we don’t. I like headfi when it’s fun and informative discussion. I’ve never been a fan of being mean or making someone else look or feel stupid, bad whaterever and I see people talk like that here sometimes.

So I’d like to express to all my feelings on this topic and I apologize in advance for taking this thread to say this.

Nothing I ever say should be taken as a hurtful thing. It will never be meant that way. This is my promise to you all as members of the same hobby, forum and community. I may try to provoke thought but never in a derogatory fashion. I’m not a good dancer, I speak directly because I’ve always spoken directly, I don’t know how to speak indirectly.

When we visit the in-laws in China, I often don’t speak more than ni hao or tell the server what I want to drink or eat. It’s because my direct nature is something they don’t get, it actually frightens them a bit. I also don’t get their dancing around topics and not speaking direct to the subject. I think my in-laws are cool. Our politics aren’t even that different. They love how I drive, I hate how they drive, it’s awesome! I think we live in times where a taste of kindness can go a long way to making someone’s day. If I say something that takes that away from you, tell me, we’ll both benefit from that kind of conversation.

 

[336881]

It’s a silly argument. People can still enjoy what they can’t or don’t want to afford.

I think people feel like it is a dead end hobby when you have to spend 5 figures to get into Summit-fi and as Justin Time has pointed out no one amp to rule them all. Not that Summit-fi was ever inexpensive imo. but it used to feel like you still had some skin in the game in the low 4 figures when I first joined around 6 years ago. I feel if it were not for some members really liking some expensive amps for the hd800 it would have been long gone from Summit-fi and the Lcd-2 is long gone.

It has happened before if I'm not mistaken. The R-10, Original Omega, and Original Orpheus were all released within a few years of each other. That was pretty darn pre internet though. If the internet was more prevalent like it is today I think you would have seen the same backlash. There actually are some posts on here from the beginning of head-fi with people complaining about the price. I'm quite sure Tyll kind of ripped Sony a new one on there expensive offerings. Spritzer was not fond of the He-90.

I honestly think the backlash is natural and has happened before.

 

[TSAVJason]

Pairing with an amp is very important. From my own personal experience, a good tube amp is best. OBVIOUSLY YMWV



Er, based not he arguments here, when one buys a utopia, one is buying the tires for the Aston Martin. One still needs to buy the rest of the car


Hahahaha ....well a bit more than just the tires but that was funny


HEY! I've met @cskippy , and while he's a pretty buff guy, I would call him a dummy!





Weakest link is commonly the listener, expectation bias, and then the amp, not the source. Most of us listen to CD quality or better with a decent DAC. Assuming CD quality source material and a decent DAC, the the only thing that affects the sound less are the cables.

The human aspect can’t be quantified only averaged.

In order of importance:

Level 1:
Headphones/speakers
Quality and noise free connections from computer to DAC (if digital)
Well mastered CD quality (or better) source material, or from quality analog source

Level 2:
Amp (assuming paired well)
Cartridge (for turntable)
DAC (probably should be in Level 3)

Level 3:
of relatively very low importance
Headphone Cable
Interconnect cable
Power Cable
vibration control (assuming it's basically under control)
power source (assuming it's not obviously noisy)
Tone Arm (for turntable)
Turn table platter and accessories




we got it.



Funny, I grew up in LA with In and Out. I much prefer Shack Shack But I have not A/B tested.

In&out, 5guys, The Shack, Shack Shack it’s all the same to me. But I have not tasted a Shack Shack, it could be a game changer