What was your first audio "realization?"

[andrzejpw]

What was your first audio "realization?" I'm talking about that "wow" moment where you realize that there really is something to this whole hi-fi thing. Personally, mine is quite modest, but I suspect a few of yours are as well. Sure, the orpheus wowed me. Sure the blockhead/hd600s were amazing. But that first moment occured with my lowly mx500s.

I had been wearing my mx500s for about a week. I guess they sounded ok, but they weren't anything spectacular. I guess this audio thing just wasn't for me. Just for kicks, I decided to try out my sister's sony streetstyles. That's when it hit me: these sound like crap. It may seem odd, but this was the first time I was glad that something sounded bad. The bass just sounded so bloated!

From then on, my pockets started getting thinner and thinner.

 

[spaceman]

The first time I put these

on. Seriously, this was my first true experience regarding musical detail and clarity. No going back now

 

[averydonovan]

Mine was when I first heard music over a set of Sony MDR-7506's a few years ago on a really nice computer system that was used for video editing. I couldn't believe how clear they sounded and especially how much impact the bass had. I never forgot those things and I finally got my own pair of those headphones, actually the MDR-V6, a few years later. At the same time I came to Head-Fi and a few months later I started opening my wallet a little wider...

 

[jaskin]

It was when I was at my friends place with his Arcam setup and B&W Speakers. I know then I had to have a good hi-fi.

 

[djgustashaw]

two or so years ago i blindly bought a pair of KSC50's, long before i ever found head-fi. i got em because i liked the clip on design and they were cheaper than the sony w.ears. but when i listened, i was really impressed with the clarity, and especially that headphones CAN have bass

 

[JMedeiros]

I will always remember the day in 1978 when a customer at a restaurant I worked at brought in the first Sony Walkman. He let me try those little headphones and I could not believe the music coming out of that little blue box.

It was all over after that.

 

[dudlew]

Mine was a bit different. I was lying in bed one day with an ancient philips portable(tape and radio only) and was right between the speakers. I was listening to classical. I had never liked classical but just decided to listen to one of my brother's classical cassettes.

Because I was dead center of the speakers, I was enveloped in sound. the midrange was clear and there was image.

From then I got hooked and loved music. I started using the equaliser less and listening to the music the way it was recorded. I was about 13-14 then. I am 26 now

D

 

[Rizumu]

When I first listened to my precious Portapros of course. I had that "wow I didn't know music could sound this good" reaction when I first put them on...

The only thing that even comes close to that increase in fidelity and initial shock is hearing the RS-1's now. Damn do they sound good.

 

[tom hankins]

Many years ago, listening to a reel to reel with McIntosh electronics and A.R. speakers.

 

[MusicLover]

My first audio realization was when I first listened to my HD600's on my crappy computer headphone jack. I just didn't think headphones were capable of such good sound. The soundstage mainly surprised me (compared to in-your-brain crapphones). Before those headphones, I had... well, maybe I shouldn't say it.

 

[Jeff]

A Technics CDP-1200 cd player and cheap Grundig heaphones listening to a Simon & Garfunkle cd. The sound was so warm and hearing ONLY the music, it just became a dream to listen to. Since then I've upgraded to various amps and heaphones, yet still can't recreate that night. I'm guessing more money will do it

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

That was probably the easiest question I have ever answered.

http://www.stereophile.com/printarchives.cgi?506

 

[Vincent]

Portapros, I had to relisten to all my music! I got to bed pretty late that night...

 

[stereth]

The night I got my Portapros. I ran over to our little shelf system, plugged them in, and put in the Good Charlotte CD I got a few weeks earlier. Track 1 is this music box intro, then after about 30 seconds there's a bassy sweep across the channels, followed by some strings and thrashy guitars. I nearly fell over. Bass! From headphones! It was amazing. Of course, later I was also impressed by the clarity and detail, but the bass got my attention.

 

[lan]

I think when I got my first Japanese walkman (the tiny ones) that I started digging audio. Just choosing which tapes I would record onto was so thrilling. But it wasn't until I got my MiniDisc recorder and Sony MDR-V6 that the soundquality took another jump.