My comfortable consumerist world has fallen apart: headphones, speakers and music...

[vladvlaz]

Hi guys, my first post here.. This is more of a long-winded ramble rather than question thread, please forgive me, and also do not judge too harshly if this is off-topic. I've been reading these forums for the past couple of months and the reason I started was because I changed jobs and moved to another city, leaving my audio system behind.

As a newbie to hifi a year ago I spent about $1300 on 2 floorstanders, a DVD player and receiver. Now many of you wouldn't consider this to be hifi but I needed a DVD player and had the option of upgrading later (dedicated CD/amp etc) - this was the optimal price/quality ratio (as in I had no more money

).

My point is that I wasn't too upset about leaving the things behind as I was looking forward to getting "good" headphones instead. I have since tried out the HD650 + musical fidelity x-CANv3 and some Stax system which cost 4x more. I can see the benefits of the Stax of course but as a general first headphone the HD650 suits me more.

And this brings me to my agony. I knew that there are audio systems which sound better than what I had, but I was happy with mine for a year. As it was my first it even had the wow factor, esp after the speakers got burned in (or my ears got burned in whichever way you look at it). I was also happy with the thought of getting the HD650s until I walked into a hi-end store and asked them if they could offer me anything small as an alternative to headphones.. The cheapest system they could put together cost $13k.

I had a listen. They didn't have everything in the demo room, so the setup I heard cost 23k (10k CD player), but the speakers were westlake bookshelves which I was recommended. Is this a well-known brand btw? I'm currently in Moscow and the dealer told me these US speakers are supposed to be pretty good.

The first thing that struck me was that the sound was not that special. Several CDs seemed to sound boring, but the more I listened to it the more I liked the feeling of presence in the room. It seemed I could not only hear the sound but feel or taste it (yes this is difficult to describe

) It somehow seemed warm and it seemed I could hear/feel the musicians' touch on the strings before the note actually sounded. Unfortunately after speaking to the dealer I was demonstrated Westlake's floorstanders, retailing at 60k I was told and weighing 250kilos each (dunno what the pound equivalent is).

I could never ever begin to imagine that something like that was possible. It was not loud. It was powerful. I don't know what the other components were but clarity and detail were also there. It seemed strange to get that kind of dynamics from speakers which look so big and clumsy.

Anyway now I am depressed because I know that until I walked into that shop I had never actually "heard" and that no headphone will replicate that experience for me

because with the HD650 obviously there will be no comparable depth in the sound. I thought that my K26P sounded OK and I decided to get an iPod to listen to while commuting but I just cannot appreciate the sound any more, I get the impression that what I hear is the little piece of plastic producing (not too well) sound waves...

I guess the solution is to get the sennheisers and enjoy them after memory of the Westlakes fades, investing in a better source a bit later. But does anyone here wonder how much better sound could be if we lived say 100 or 200 years into the future... I'm just grateful I was not born 150 years ago...

 

[kramer5150]

A $25,000 2CH stereo setup with a $10k source in a dedicated listening room quite frankly SHOULD blow away a $800 headphone setup. Or at least sound night and day different, how much better it sounds is a matter of individual preference.

I love going to meets and listening to these really high end K1000, HE90 and stax setups, and come away almost feeling bummed out. Then reality sets in and I realize how much enjoyment I get from my simple setup, costing relatively little $$.

 

[tek]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 /img/forum/go_quote.gif A $25,000 2CH stereo setup with a $10k source in a dedicated listening room quite frankly SHOULD blow away a $800 headphone setup. Or at least sound night and day different, how much better it sounds is a matter of individual preference. I love going to meets and listening to these really high end K1000, HE90 and stax setups, and come away almost feeling bummed out. Then reality sets in and I realize how much enjoyment I get from my simple setup, costing relatively little $$.

very well said Kramer

 

[F107plus5]

I never test drive a Ferrari if all I can afford is a Ford.

 

[Aevum]

the thing is that alot changed with the introduction of the standart manufactured integrated semiconductor, some companies use to have people just sitting there all day testing the vacume tubes and transistors recived from factory to make that the transistors and tubes fitted in to an amp were leveled and equilibrated, now a days standart manufactures semiconductors allow the same quality at a much lower price,

the differance today is seen in the actual design, a multi layer PCB with aduquete separation, electromagnetic separation between layers, the use of digital VRM´s or solid capacitors to allow a longer life and better quality, the actuall way the paths are drown on the pcb, some companies work towards efficiency, and some towards quality, and when you see a PCB is clottered with paths which have been layed designed to save money and space and not to really produce the best signal, you kind of know what you´re dealing with,

i think truly, whoever wants to design and make quality equipment can do it, but at the cost of known that he cant take shortcuts or save money on some issues,

 

[Happy Camper]

Quote:

Originally Posted by F107plus5 /img/forum/go_quote.gif I never test drive a Ferrari if all I can afford is a Ford.

This is a guide to follow.