Audio Nirvana (revisited)
Posted by: Nic Peeling on 23 April 2003
On September 26th last year I posted the following post:
"Since I obtained some great small loudspeakers for my kitchen system (Dali Royal Meneut) I have been totally happy with it. It is ridiculously overspecified (CDS1 and 72/140), but I got the kit at great second hand prices. I am totally happy with it - audio nirvana. I never think about the system I just listen to the music and am constantly thinking "this is great".
The main lounge system is what used (pre the arrival of the 552 and NAP 500 era) to be considered high-end. A good US CD transport and DAC, 52 and 250 playing into a whole sequence of speakers. I have been permanently irritated with the system - I kept listening to it as Hi-Fi instead of enjoying the music. I felt that there were a number of reasons for this. Firstly, that I listen in a more concentrated way in the lounge than in the kitchen. Secondly, that expensive systems tend to have very good speakers that reveal flaws ruthlessly. Lastly, that having spent serious money on the system I had very high expectations.
I embarked on another attempt to find audio nirvana by trying to find some loudspeakers Sue and I really liked. We heard the Wilson Benesch Arcs at the Bristol Hi-Fi show and really liked them. Maurice and Norman at Audio Excellence in Worcester offered us a weeks loan of a fully run in pair, which we gratefully accepted (great service in my opinion). We were very pleased and exchanged our speakers for the Arcs. 100 hours of running in later we were happy bunnies. It was not audio nirvana - there were too many obvious faults (such as ploddy bass) - but we found the Arcs very enjoyable. Then Norman suggested we try bi-amping the Arcs with another 250. I knew Naim did not really recommend bi-amping, and a colleague at work who used to design amps explained how bi-amping bought you very little compared to a proper active system (mainly a reduction in current intermodulation between bass and tweeter). The result though was audio nirvana. I cannot really describe the improvements because I now listen to the music not the system, but for me this was the upgrade that finished the upgrade cycle. Maybe its time think about an AV system."
Two replies (from David Booth and Justin) warned me that my state of nirvana might only be temporary before the dreaded upgraditis returned. I have had a very busy six months with most of my time spent getting a book published (it finally went on sale about a month ago) with only a little time to spare to read the postings on this forum. I thought I would report that as a hi-fi addict I have now been clean for six months. I still love my lounge system and have no desire to blow my first royalty check on more hi-fi.
Nic P
"Since I obtained some great small loudspeakers for my kitchen system (Dali Royal Meneut) I have been totally happy with it. It is ridiculously overspecified (CDS1 and 72/140), but I got the kit at great second hand prices. I am totally happy with it - audio nirvana. I never think about the system I just listen to the music and am constantly thinking "this is great".
The main lounge system is what used (pre the arrival of the 552 and NAP 500 era) to be considered high-end. A good US CD transport and DAC, 52 and 250 playing into a whole sequence of speakers. I have been permanently irritated with the system - I kept listening to it as Hi-Fi instead of enjoying the music. I felt that there were a number of reasons for this. Firstly, that I listen in a more concentrated way in the lounge than in the kitchen. Secondly, that expensive systems tend to have very good speakers that reveal flaws ruthlessly. Lastly, that having spent serious money on the system I had very high expectations.
I embarked on another attempt to find audio nirvana by trying to find some loudspeakers Sue and I really liked. We heard the Wilson Benesch Arcs at the Bristol Hi-Fi show and really liked them. Maurice and Norman at Audio Excellence in Worcester offered us a weeks loan of a fully run in pair, which we gratefully accepted (great service in my opinion). We were very pleased and exchanged our speakers for the Arcs. 100 hours of running in later we were happy bunnies. It was not audio nirvana - there were too many obvious faults (such as ploddy bass) - but we found the Arcs very enjoyable. Then Norman suggested we try bi-amping the Arcs with another 250. I knew Naim did not really recommend bi-amping, and a colleague at work who used to design amps explained how bi-amping bought you very little compared to a proper active system (mainly a reduction in current intermodulation between bass and tweeter). The result though was audio nirvana. I cannot really describe the improvements because I now listen to the music not the system, but for me this was the upgrade that finished the upgrade cycle. Maybe its time think about an AV system."
Two replies (from David Booth and Justin) warned me that my state of nirvana might only be temporary before the dreaded upgraditis returned. I have had a very busy six months with most of my time spent getting a book published (it finally went on sale about a month ago) with only a little time to spare to read the postings on this forum. I thought I would report that as a hi-fi addict I have now been clean for six months. I still love my lounge system and have no desire to blow my first royalty check on more hi-fi.
Nic P