Reason For your HiFi

Max_B posted:

I like straight questions, especially when answering is so easy – and the answer comes from years of personally led and paid for experiments.

1 - I can't leave without a stereo. Some can't do without cars, watches, whores, alcohol, cigarettes, porno and football: I can't leave without a stereo.

2 – Naim because I have tried all sort of alternatives, and they bore me or sound (or look) totally extraneous to my home.

3 – What am I going to get out of it? Interesting sound for the first week. The rest is perennial boredom, music is more or less the same, jazz is an overrated academic narcotic, pop is for children of all ages. Luckily, I have Mozart and a few others. Last night I was listening to – I don't even remember what, and I fall asleep. 

4 – But I don't want to live without a system. I think stereo systems have taken the place of women according to Socrates's famous quote: you can't live with them, you can't live without them. If it was Socrates – a famous football player, wasn't he?

Hey Max,

Amazing how we can think so differently despite the fact that both of us are coming from a six letters 'I' country, not to mention being born on the same day of the year..

I don't like questions with an obvious answer. Why bother asking them, as we have nothing else to do?

Naim because it rhymes better with my name than any other Hi Fi maker: haim-naim. I know that most of the forum members are convinced that they can enjoy the music only if it comes through multiple black or olive boxes with atomic resolution and pace, not to mention an atomic price tag. I personally believe that sound is way overrated. I can enjoy just as much the music in my car or at friends who are using a different gear.

My biggest ever satisfaction from listening to music occurred 45 years ago when a few of us were dropped on a desolated mountain top to establish an observation post for a week. The only thing that kept us sane was a miniature Sony transistor which was struggling to receive a distant military AM station playing every night the top 20 tunes from the UK and the US. Man, we were in hog heaven then. In comparison, sitting today in the sweet spot, all warm and comfty is just a blah..

Hard to live without music but if I had to choose between books or music I would definitely go with the pages. Music versus photography? probably a toss-up. So I am dealing here with three major Musketeers.

Mozart is nice but I find myself these days listening more and more to jazz, the old kind one with rhythm and warmth. Don't ask me why.

Regards,

Haim

I knew a good looking girl in high school and her Dad had a spectacular record player system.  They had plenty of money, a happy family, and he listened to vinyl every night.  My Dad was the opposite money wise, had a home made Heathkit hi fi, and a few records of show tunes and the original Bachelor Pad sound.    I got a beginner set up and some vinyl, and bought $3.50 LP records pretty regularly with my yard mowing money and no expenses.   It was a good way to meet girls but I was surprised when my wife had all the records I had 15 years later.  The set ups evolved but the records were a constant and I still have my favorites from 40-50 years ago.  I went to college in New Orleans where live music was on every other corner it seemed.    I heard some spectacular audio systems in those days from McIntosh, Accoustat, other boutique brands.  I had ambitious but unsatisfactory systems until I discovered the CDSII.    I got further into the Naim system from Nait 5i, to Nait XS to 300, to 500 to 500 DR.  I got a Rega3 in 1980.   I got my first CD Player in 1990.  I kept the Rega for 20 years  The CDSII was a constant for 15 years until I got the 555.  I got the Verdier in 2000 and the 552 a couple of years ago.  I think I am done with upgrades by now.  

I still play a lot of my old records.   I keep them out by the Fraim for when my friends come over.  Men will spend a lot of money keep that young feeling.

TOBYJUG posted:

Keeps us off the streets

Yes. Big old nasty world out there. Stay safe and stay tuned up. Don't forget the people doing a great job for us.

Simple:

The tubes keep me warm in the winter;
My wife spends a fortune on horses, why shouldn't I waste some money on me;
I love the bright bling in the living room.

.........just to be different

M

For me live music has always been a pinnacle for me. I love it 

my hifi brings me closer to that in effect albeit still sitting in my music room 

The reason for hifi in my case is very simple.

I find its the perfect way to de-stress, without the need for any excess....

To much alcohol gives me a headache, I don't gamble, I don't have a hectic social life, I do work to much ( my only vice) ...and I do often deal with various people in business that could really do with their egos repositioned and put where the sun does not shine... 

therefore, I do love, peace and quite.....and freshly made Coffee 

...and music of course.... ....

hence the extraordinarily good hi-fi we all own, is in my opinion, worth every penny....

MangoMonkey posted:

Not talking about any particular gear here.

HiFi. Naim. Why?

What is your reason for having a HiFi system?  What are you trying to get out of it? 

What characteristics are you looking for in a system?

And for what ever your answer is, second question. Why?

Anyone dare take this question?

 

1) Naim? Reputedly good sound, reliability and support. I tried one piece of Naim kit (ND5XS) - it was good, matched the CD player it replaced. Added XP5XS, rather disappointed - very minor improvement by nearly doubling the cost. Found Audirvana on Mac Mini through Gustard U12 into Hugo sounded better, and saved money. May try a NAP500 one day because I like the theory, and never heard, while lesser Naim power amps might not achieve what I want (when playing loud, my present amp can run into clipping with 500W available into the speaker's 4Ω)

2) To play music, and have it sound as close as possible to the real thing, while being able to play what I want whenever I want.

3) The highest fidelity to the recording. For that read accuracy, nothing emphasised, nothing added, nothing lost, nothing distorted.

4) Because the recording is all there is to use as a source.

5) Whyever not?

MangoMonkey posted:

Not talking about any particular gear here.

HiFi. Naim. Why?

What is your reason for having a HiFi system?  What are you trying to get out of it? 

What characteristics are you looking for in a system?

And for what ever your answer is, second question. Why?

Anyone dare take this question?

 

Trying desperately to reclaim my lost youth. 

I'm old and everything sucks now.

The only real benefit of having the HiFi is that I spend about 10 hours a week listening to music with my daughter. I am making sure she has a comprehensive understanding of  20th century music. I'll play a song and quiz her on 1. Artist 2. Genre 3. Decade 4. Instruments. She loves the game but whenever I play something she's never heard she always guesses "The Smiths". We play the game high stakes. Correct answer gives her +5 minutes added to bedtime. Incorrect answer = -10 minutes.

She has taken violin lessons since she was 6 and finally appreciates my hardline re practicing as she can now play Led Zeppelin songs by ear. (Of course I remind her that classical music and scales are imperative for the development of her technique.)

Anyhoo.... We bond over music which never would have happened if I stuck with headphones.

Why NAIM? Easy... 1. The streaming app was the best I  could find back in 2013. 2. I wanted a complete one brand system. 3. I didn't want to feel like 5,000$ speaker cables were necessary. 4. I like the look of the black cases and green lights. 

Evenings like last night - Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton in full glory

Kevin Richardson posted:

MangoMonkey posted:

Not talking about any particular gear here.

HiFi. Naim. Why?

What is your reason for having a HiFi system?  What are you trying to get out of it? 

What characteristics are you looking for in a system?

And for what ever your answer is, second question. Why?

Anyone dare take this question?

 

Trying desperately to reclaim my lost youth. 

I'm old and everything sucks now.

Everything? If that was a serious statement then it's very sad that you see things that way. We're all getting old (excluding me: I know I'm still 18 and it's the mirror and the calendar that are lying), and it is easy to either remember when things seemed better or find the negative in the modern world. Those are attitudes of mind - but if you can't change that, then one use of hifi must be to blot it out, because music has the ability to transport you to times and places where you have heard the music before, and free your mind up to re-live the good times when  not everything sucked.

My love of music started in the early 60's with the Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. I remember being allowed to sit up to see the Beatles in concert on the telly. My Dad, I have no idea why (he didn't have many records), decided to buy a 'stereo' (as it was called in those days) in around 1968. It was a Rogers Ravensbrook amp, Rogers speakers and a Pioneer P12D (I think) deck. I could afford to buy LP's from about 1970 via newspaper round cash, pocket money and later Saturday jobs. He allowed me to play them on the stereo as long as they did not generate too much bass - bad for the amp and speakers apparently! As you might imagine Deep Purple and Led Zep only got a single play.

From about 1971 myself and a group of friends used to meet at the house of one person who owned a stereo (Garrard Deck is my only equipment recollection) and some tame parents. We used to take our new purchases round for serious listening and - discussion!! - it was great until as we got older the drinking and girlfriend side of things got a bit out of hand (shall we say) and even the tame parents had to ban us - I cannot say I blame them, and it was great whilst it lasted. At the same time there used to be ferocious debates in the 6th Form Common Room about the relative ,merits of this or that band, this or that genre of music. I was also beginning to go to a lot of concerts.

So it was music first for me - totally part of my DNA when growing up and it is still there.

Got my first 'stereo' when I go married in 1980. Thorens TD160MkII, SME III simplified, Ortofon 20E Mk!!, Sansui 217 MkII and Mission 710 speakers. All purchased from Billy Bee in Lewisham. Been upgrading ever since - though I think I am now complete. Hi-Fi is also in my DNA. I just want to hear the music reproduced as well as it can be within what I can afford and I feel I owe it to the artist to hear them at their best. I am constantly amazed at the extra nuances an upgrade will reveal and am in awe that the artist thought to put it into the recording.

So 50/50 for me - but I would trade in my current set up for something cheap and nasty before selling my music collection. Some of my super pristine CD's and LP's do not sound as 'atmospheric' as the LP's I still have from the early days which are scratched, etc, from years at parties and listening sessions. They bring back happy memories. 

"Why?" asks mango.

cheeselet would say "to listen to music I like".

It's a bit depressing how few people actually listen to music and correspondingly how many people therefore have no desire to have a Hifi or even know what it's really for.

If that scenario could be reversed, we could all have high end Hifi at down to earth prices due to economies of scale. 

Never mind, Miles Davis' trumpet sounds more poignant than ever on my latest Naim kit!

cheeselet posted:

Never mind, Miles Davis' trumpet sounds more poignant than ever on my latest Naim kit!

 

I couldn't agree more.

cheeselet posted:

"Why?" asks mango.

cheeselet would say "to listen to music I like".

It's a bit depressing how few people actually listen to music and correspondingly how many people therefore have no desire to have a Hifi or even know what it's really for.

If that scenario could be reversed, we could all have high end Hifi at down to earth prices due to economies of scale. 

Never mind, Miles Davis' trumpet sounds more poignant than ever on my latest Naim kit!

 

My wife likes to watch house programs on TV like 'location location', so I see them sometimes. Never seen one with a hifi system in evidence!

Oh I forgot to mention my real #1 reason for buying a Naim system: I wanted to experience being in a cult.

Kevin Richardson posted:

Oh I forgot to mention my real #1 reason for buying a Naim system: I wanted to experience being in a cult.

Be sure to try the kool aid before you leave. 

Kevin Richardson posted:

Oh I forgot to mention my real #1 reason for buying a Naim system: I wanted to experience being in a cult.

I like that as well.

We all like to "belong"!

Kevin Richardson posted:

The only real benefit of having the HiFi is that I spend about 10 hours a week listening to music with my daughter. I am making sure she has a comprehensive understanding of  20th century music. I'll play a song and quiz her on 1. Artist 2. Genre 3. Decade 4. Instruments. She loves the game but whenever I play something she's never heard she always guesses "The Smiths". We play the game high stakes. Correct answer gives her +5 minutes added to bedtime. Incorrect answer = -10 minutes.

She has taken violin lessons since she was 6 and finally appreciates my hardline re practicing as she can now play Led Zeppelin songs by ear. (Of course I remind her that classical music and scales are imperative for the development of her technique.)

Anyhoo.... We bond over music which never would have happened if I stuck with headphones.

There was a discussion a few weeks ago on Naim Audio stuff being called an 'investment'. Like you and I do, when you are able to educate your kids in a proper way, Naim stuff is priceless. Its a true investment.

Innocent Bystander posted:

cheeselet posted:

"Why?" asks mango.

cheeselet would say "to listen to music I like".

It's a bit depressing how few people actually listen to music and correspondingly how many people therefore have no desire to have a Hifi or even know what it's really for.

If that scenario could be reversed, we could all have high end Hifi at down to earth prices due to economies of scale. 

Never mind, Miles Davis' trumpet sounds more poignant than ever on my latest Naim kit!

 

My wife likes to watch house programs on TV like 'location location', so I see them sometimes. Never seen one with a hifi system in evidence!

So true - mind you, I caught sight of my next speakers (ProAc K6s) on the BBC4 History of the LP programme last week!

Tim

wenger2015 posted:

The reason for hifi in my case is very simple.

I find its the perfect way to de-stress, without the need for any excess....

To much alcohol gives me a headache, I don't gamble, I don't have a hectic social life, I do work to much ( my only vice) ...and I do often deal with various people in business that could really do with their egos repositioned and put where the sun does not shine... 

therefore, I do love, peace and quite.....and freshly made Coffee 

...and music of course.... ....

hence the extraordinarily good hi-fi we all own, is in my opinion, worth every penny....

Wenger, you have managed to give my reasons too. Cheers.

Slim68 posted:

wenger2015 posted:

The reason for hifi in my case is very simple.

I find its the perfect way to de-stress, without the need for any excess....

To much alcohol gives me a headache, I don't gamble, I don't have a hectic social life, I do work to much ( my only vice) ...and I do often deal with various people in business that could really do with their egos repositioned and put where the sun does not shine... 

therefore, I do love, peace and quite.....and freshly made Coffee 

...and music of course.... ....

hence the extraordinarily good hi-fi we all own, is in my opinion, worth every penny....

Wenger, you have managed to give my reasons too. Cheers.

Great minds think alike...

wenger2015 posted:

Slim68 posted:

wenger2015 posted:

The reason for hifi in my case is very simple.

I find its the perfect way to de-stress, without the need for any excess....

To much alcohol gives me a headache, I don't gamble, I don't have a hectic social life, I do work to much ( my only vice) ...and I do often deal with various people in business that could really do with their egos repositioned and put where the sun does not shine... 

therefore, I do love, peace and quite.....and freshly made Coffee 

...and music of course.... ....

hence the extraordinarily good hi-fi we all own, is in my opinion, worth every penny....

Wenger, you have managed to give my reasons too. Cheers.

Great minds think alike...

Please, no.

The opposite is more true.

Great minds think different, therefore they are great minds.

A bit more a topic for fridayevening while drinking some Ardbeg10Y ...