Second system: what for?

I have 5 rooms myself but still one pair of ears.
:-)

Some of us old gits like to have a second system, purely for vinyl, or to run something a bit different like my Quad ESL 57's.

AND; my (cheap) computer room system, gets as much use (and gives as much pleasure) as the main system.

I was wondering the same thing for a long time, Christian.

When I hear that some people spent a small fortune on a serious HiFi system for the kitchen, or bedroom, that needs careful setup, I sometimes also wonder if people have too much money or don't know what to do with it...

They must either have a large kitchen or bedroom or spent much time in it, just listening to music.

There is one reason why I could think of getting a second system though.
I once visited a guy who had a decent small second system in the living room. His really serious system (Burmester, Apogee) was setup in a medium sized, speare bedroom. the reasons:
This way people outside, who walked alongside the house wouldn't notice the expensive stuff in the living room, and also because this way he could fully enjoy His kind of music in His own, dedicated listening room.

Greetings,
Alco

For Friday nights when the best bitter, the hottest curry and the closest of friends start to cloud your judgement. Do you trust to fate and use system 1 with the ARO and expensive cart, or do you go for system 2 and hurry back to the curry and fiends?

I don't see why it's so hard to see the point of two systems.

my first system is in my study, where I spend many hours a day working. It happens to be pretty much detached from the rest of the house and that's why it's also the place where I can listen to music anytime at any given volume.

And then there's the living / dining room with the second system. It's where we have dinner, obviously, and it's where we relax, alone or together. It doesn't hurt to have some nice music there either, don't you think so?

The only problem is, one system is inevitably inferior to the other, and so one gravitates naturally to the better system.

And by the way, I don't listen to music all the time. Two hours a day max.

Herman

Sometimes its just old bits and bobs lying about that aren't worth the trouble to sell or that may have sentimental value.

Would you rather part with the Nait 2 when you upgrade or set it up in the downstairs (or upstairs) room?

- GregB
Who's First System Strives to Be Like Some's Second Systems

Hi Christian,

my first system is located in a 40qm-cellar-room, where i can hear music at high level without disturbing the family. My second system is in my smaller private room with daylight and fine view of a beautiful garden plus writing desk and computer.Of course, two rooms and systems are not necessary but I enjoy it and I can compare the two systems!
Regards
Manfred Müllers

OK OK I get the drift.

If you love music and the hifi equipment that reproduces the music and therefor have more than one system then you must be mad.

I have 5 systems up and running in my home.

When i upgrade, the old equipment goes in to a lesser system, so that over the years you accumulate a lot of gear and so build another system and put it in another room.

Easy really.

Second hand esoteric stuff can fetch pitiful money so i keep it, and continue to enjoy it.

if you sell a piece of equipment you may at a later date regret it.

I still miss my old QUAD electrostatics, which when faced with an opportunity to change my employment they had to go to pay the rent.
This i still regret as they were one owner peior to me and i original packagin with all manuals and guarantee paperwork c'est la vie.

regards David

quote:

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don't see why it's so hard to see the point of two systems.
My first system is in my study, where I spend many hours a day working

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Hi Herm,

well, to me these two quote's of you don't seem to go hand in hand.
You say your first system is in your studyroom, where you spend many hours a day working. So, when you're working, do you really need a serious HiFi system playing only some background music ?

quote:

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Would you rather part with the Nait 2 when you upgrade or set it up in the downstairs (or upstairs) room?

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Hi Greg,
Well, Yes, I think I would rather part with the Nait-2 when I upgrade!
That way I wouldn't have to pay as much for the new amp, and I wouldnt be left with an amp that probably would be collecting dust in some closet.
I mean, In my bedroom I'd only like to sleep (ehh, as long as I'm single, that is ), and in my small spare bedroom, where I am righ now, I only work/surf behind my computer.

If I would want some music while cooking in the kitchen, I'd probably buy some Tivoli Model One radio, or someting. That'll do...

Greetings,
Alco

I am currently building a second system - I decided that it should be completely different from my main system so that I will be able to observe and appreciate the difference each offers. This is instead of the second system being a downgraded instantiation of the main system. My second system will be a tube/valve-based SET system (e.g., 2A3 triodes [3.5 watts] driving some very efficient single driver speakers [no crossover, etc.]). Additionally, I will be purchasing it in kit form (Bottlehead gear) and doing all the soldering/assembly myself. I expect that this endeavor will be quite fun and interesting.

Erik

Good morning!

I really liked that point with the pure vinyl system.
Having a system for almost every room isn't my point of view. Comparing different systems home neither.
Well, when working with the PC there is a CD-ROM and DVD, that I use sometimes when divided attention is allowed and I might not get distracted from work.

And Herm,
you asked why I was wondering and then said that you listen 2 hours per day max.
THAT really doesn't match very well to me.

Later
Christian

Xtian,

I guess I said that about 2 hrs Max, because I have a friend who has a house with speakers in virtually every room (and there's lo-o-ots of rooms) and there's always some big symphony burring through those speakers, all day long. That's not my idea. Actually I think (and I'm only speaking for myself) it's better to listen not too much, because in that case music does become background music - to answer Alco's question.

There's times when I'm working I can listen to a good piece of music. Occasionally I even need the music to get myself in the right mood for work. And on the other hand, with the second system: often we have dinner while there's a concert on the radio. It's something my parents used to do, and it'ssomething I like to do. I guess we've all got different habits, and that's why some have two systems and some don't.

Herman

quote:

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Having just one pair of ears and talking about quite expensive kit I was wondering why so many members own a second system. What reasons do they have?

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I have two systems. The one in the living room (LP12 / RCD965/ Nait 2 / Kan IIs) is for normal music listening duties and also does the TV sound. The second system (Planar 3 / FM3 / Nait 1/ HB2s) is in the “studio” and also has a mixer plugged into it with my computer / guitar & basses (via an amp simulator) / synths etc plugged into it. CD sound comes via a Sony Discman (plugged into the mixer so I can jam along to it).

The main reason I have two systems is because I don’t want to clutter up the living room with the instruments / computer etc. The second system was bought for peanuts – about 275 quid the lot, so it doesn’t owe me much, though I actually use it a hell of a lot, possibly more than the main one - I like to have a record on whilst I’m using the computer.

Tony.

My two systems are completely different from one another. Reason is that I can appreciate both round and flat 'earths' and believe that different types of music are brought to life by different sorts of equipment.

My main system in centred around the yummy Magnepan 3.6 speakers, Quicksilver valve amplification fronted by a CDS1. It is located in a dedicated listening room in the basement where I can lock myself away from the (flat) world! The scale and tranparency of the Maggies are impossible to replicate, and playing more 'chilled out' type music is ideal for them.

The 2nd system is in my bedroom and consists of LP12/32.5/135s/SBLs. Most of my 'heavier' stuff and rock is kept in my bedroom and is predominantly played on my Naim system as it was meant to be.

There are things that the Maggies can do that the SBLs can't and vice versa.

I enjoy both systems and thoroughly appreciate the contrast between the two. It's like having the best of both worlds!

Afzal.

I'm starting to build a second system with stuff which I bought originally for my first system. At present its only a 140 but it will grow from here.

The main reason is that I like to listen to music and I like to cook. Therefore when I move house I want a kitchen / dining room.

The main system will live in the living room.

I can't justify the cost of having a full system in each room but I can justify using the bits out of my 'old' system for a second system.

I'm starting to build a second system with stuff which I bought originally for my first system. At present its only a 140 but it will grow from here.

The main reason is that I like to listen to music and I like to cook. Therefore when I move house I want a kitchen / dining room.

The main system will live in the living room.

I can't justify the cost of having a full system in each room but I can justify using the bits out of my 'old' system for a second system.

I don't blame anyone for owning more than one system. I was just wondering. There's no need to justify.
Some new points are clearly now i.e. using one system for making music ore listening while cooking.
So enjoy your favourite music!

Christian
(that's the way you should call me Herm!)

Dr. Exotica: I also think about building my second system by myself. Some questions:

What single driver speakers do you recommend? Is there any possibility to drive an electrostatic speaker directly by the high voltage output of a tube amp?

Small tube amp with small speakers and a small CDP with tubes stages would be nice though!

What do you think about Manger one-way speakers? Or those little horn speakers from Italy (forgot the name)...?

And which amp are you going to assemble by yourself?

- Jun

Erik,
I wasnt aware of any of this SET stuff until reading Listener - I imagine their focus has motivated you to look into this? Have you demoed any SET systems? That Foreplay 'pre' seems like a bargain at $150. When you get things together, I'd really like to hear your impressions on the new set-up.
cheers
Dan.