Unexpected Results

Posted by: Bodger on 06 November 2015

This year I have been able to complete my system and reach the CDS3/552/500 system  (plus a vinyl source chain) which was an informal goal when I began 10 years ago. I was not sure I would take it that far but circumstance and that upgrade itch made sure we are where we are. I’d like to try to describe the mixed feelings I get from reaching this point. Don’t get me wrong, I’m very happy to be here but I thought I would discuss some softer issues that came with the purchases and which were not entirely expected.

 

It surely takes time to climb the ladder to this point. So it should given the cost involved, the internal decision making process and the foreplay of research and reading about the next upgrade. That or you are fortunate enough to be able to jump straight in where the top of the tree used to be before the Statement. The first odd side effect was that, the hunt is over and the itch has been scratched. There is nothing else to occupy that obsessive collector inside your head; no more next step, no more anticipation of purchase. It’s almost like finishing a large project at work. You kind of miss it when it is over. This, despite the hassles along the way.

 

Again, unless you are minted quickly in life, the chances are you are no spring chick when you get to 500-land. For me, this means a couple of things. Firstly, that your hearing ain’t what it was – am I really hearing this right? A nagging doubt at the back of your mind. Second, I certainly felt closer and more emotionally involved with music when I was a student for example. Your girlfriend leaves you and every song on the radio is written about your situation.  I just don’t have the same connection with the music as I had and consequently fewer “hairs on the back of the neck” moments to savour. You can enjoy the irony of playing the Clash on a 60k system, but music should do more than raise an eye brow.

 

The kit is tremendous, but very sensitive. Lousy recordings sound, well, lousy. Although I have had gaps in buying music (and kit) over the years, kids, other stuff took time, most of us agree that modern mastering habits are more tailored to the iPod market than the bigger kit. It can be tougher to find the right music of the right quality. I am now guilty of wading through the forum checking out what folks consider to be the best recordings for the year, despite not knowing the artist in most cases. Am I now guilty of buying music for my system rather than me? Or worse still, just listening to the system not the music.

 

These I consider to be the side effects of arriving in 500-land. Most members here will know the sonic benefits and enjoyment which I have not tried to describe. Perhaps this is just then a warning. Everything has its price. To end on a brighter note, I do spend more time listening and more time buying music than I have for years. Not half bad then, but you have been warned.

 

Dave

Posted on: 09 November 2015 by Steve J

It was a very thought provoking post. I read it after listening to my second system, CDI/72/180/Linn Index speakers, whist decorating in the next room this afternoon and thinking how great it sounded. If I didn't have the behemoth downstairs I could easily live with the sound of that system.

Posted on: 10 November 2015 by Bodger

It now looks like this post has run out of steam, and not before time. It’s been a fun ride for me to watch a very interesting discussion unfold. We have covered a lot of ground from lost youth to wilfully poor recording to a mystery post that only some managed to read. Let’s not forget the tips on cross-dressing that arrived early in the piece. I cannot confirm or deny these have been tried.

 

I can only imagine that my original post sparked more feedback as it deliberately concentrated upon the negatives, relative though these are. Had I eulogized over the qualities of 500 series electronics, well, we have all heard this before.

 

Thanks then to all for the contributions. I will leave it with one final question. One suggestion was to give classical music a try. I have never done this and find the whole canon of work quite daunting. So, where would you start as a way in to this vast genre?

 

Dave

 

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by Innocent Bystander

That's a very difficult question to answer - consider the other way round: Jazz, blues, folk, country, metal, prog rock, pop, and then different styles within those, some of which any one individual will love, and others simply not get at all or simply loathe.

 
In classical there are many styles as well. I'll make a few suggestions, all quite different, and all only from my personal likes, and I know are generally popular - there will be many others that I haven't thought of, or wouldn't like myself, so you may need to listen to quite a range if you want to seriously give a chance. And with each of these there are many different recordings, by different orchestras and conductors, which can sound different, sometimes subtly but sometimes dramatically, just as with covers of 'pop' music. One performer who popularised some classical works is Nigel Kennedy -try his version of Vivaldi's '4 Seasons', compared to some others.
 
One suggestion is to try listening to Classical FM radio station, which plays shorter pieces or parts of them, with a focus on popularity. But bear in mind you there might be several things you don't like much before something you do, and there is a lot more 
 
Here's a dozen suggestions, all quite different, and simply the first that come to mind:
 
Beethoven's Pastoral symphony (symphony no. 6)
Beethoven's 'moonlight' piano sonata
Bruch's violin concerto
Holst's 'planets'
Mendelssohn's violin concerto
Mozart - any string quartet
Schubert's 'unfinished' symphony
Schubert's 'trout' quintet
Ravel's Bolero
Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture
Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker' suite
Vivaldi's '4 Seasons' concerto
 
 

 

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by Innocent Bystander

Bodger, maybe it's worth starting  this as a new thread in the music room, to better catch others' attention.

 

 

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by Harry
Originally Posted by Bodger:

One suggestion was to give classical music a try. I have never done this and find the whole canon of work quite daunting. So, where would you start as a way in to this vast genre?

 

Dave

 

Again highly subjective. For me it's just the stuff I like. Going through life one is constantly exposed to music and classical music is used all over the place to foreground, background, link and soundtrack stuff like TV programs, adverts, films etc. Researching is much easier nowadays with facilities like Google Youtube and Shazam. All I'll say without going down a personal preference path which is meaningless to anyone except me, is that particularly in latter years with a better system, the appreciation of the profound power of an ensemble yet it's spell binding sublimity and interplay/timing has given classical music a whole new lease of life in my ears. When the HiFi disappears and only he music remains it can be spell binding.  Although this is true of all genres. It just so happens that classical music has particularly benefited from it in my little universe because it has led to more discoveries as opposed to more revisits.

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by JoexNaim

Great stuff Bodger. And congatulations on your system. I put my upgrade aspirations on hold when I realised two things:

 

1 My hearing is degrading naturally with age.

 

2 Vinyl, is for me, the ultimate sound reproduction quality.

 

Once I sorted my turntable, it hit me that the warmth and timbre of the sound vinyl offered was what was eluding me after years of tinkering with CD. The expense as I went from CD player to CD player, differing dacs, power supplies etc....was mind boggling!

Obviously, my internal sound reference clock was set to 'vinyl-default' during my teen years of the 70's!

 

Although I have an LP12 system into a 282 and it is a lovely system, the sound of my sons nad turntable into his yamaha amp through ancient Tannoy R1's still bests the sound of my very expensive CD fronted system of a few years back! A humbling eye-opener that changed my hifi hierarchy perspective.

 

As for my hearing deteriorating, I'm ultimately grateful as it will save me a shed-load of cash upgrading pres and power amps. I don't see the point. The aural deterioration will lead to a day when I settle on an integrated with tone controls and a nice reliable direct drive turntable.

 

I will have a huge smile on my face as the music remains.

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by Bodger
Originally Posted by JoexNaim:

Great stuff Bodger. And congatulations on your system. I put my upgrade aspirations on hold when I realised two things:

 

1 My hearing is degrading naturally with age.

 

2 Vinyl, is for me, the ultimate sound reproduction quality.

 

Once I sorted my turntable, it hit me that the warmth and timbre of the sound vinyl offered was what was eluding me after years of tinkering with CD. The expense as I went from CD player to CD player, differing dacs, power supplies etc....was mind boggling!

Obviously, my internal sound reference clock was set to 'vinyl-default' during my teen years of the 70's!

 

Although I have an LP12 system into a 282 and it is a lovely system, the sound of my sons nad turntable into his yamaha amp through ancient Tannoy R1's still bests the sound of my very expensive CD fronted system of a few years back! A humbling eye-opener that changed my hifi hierarchy perspective.

 

As for my hearing deteriorating, I'm ultimately grateful as it will save me a shed-load of cash upgrading pres and power amps. I don't see the point. The aural deterioration will lead to a day when I settle on an integrated with tone controls and a nice reliable direct drive turntable.

 

I will have a huge smile on my face as the music remains.

Joex,

 

I'm not sure my hearing is on the way out just yet, I'm quite a critical listener still. You just know it will not improve with time!

 

I know your vinyl leanings. I had a Rega P5 which "beat" my old CDX2. It was not until I got the CDS3/555PS that CD leapt ahead again and it still is ahead of my now, RP8.

 

I now really enjoy both and by poor planning, have quite a few albums on both formats.

 

Dave

 

Posted on: 11 November 2015 by Bodger
Originally Posted by Innocent Bystander:

Bodger, maybe it's worth starting  this as a new thread in the music room, to better catch others' attention.

 

 

Have now done just that.

 

Dave

 

Posted on: 12 November 2015 by JoexNaim

Bodger, that's interesting as my final CD front end was a CDX2. I will keep an eye out for cds3 based on your reccomendation.

The Rega RP8 you are comparing it with is no slouch at all, so a very interesting conundrum you have thrown up. Thanks

Posted on: 15 November 2015 by Bodger
Originally Posted by JoexNaim:

Bodger, that's interesting as my final CD front end was a CDX2. I will keep an eye out for cds3 based on your reccomendation.

The Rega RP8 you are comparing it with is no slouch at all, so a very interesting conundrum you have thrown up. Thanks

Joe,

my CDX2 was an older model and had an Xps2 supply. The P5 went through a stage line- Hicap. The P5 was "better" then. The CDS3 is very different and I prefer it, others here not so. The RP8 goes through a Superline with Supercap. I have to say there is nothing between them really. Try the CDS3 if you get a chance. Not made any longer but I did get mine repaired a while ago so still viable. I did hear the more recent CDX's are improved over the older ones like mine. I bought the RP8 just befor the 10 came out. I didn't know it was coming!

 

Dave