Upgraditis - Can It Be Cured

[Tony M]

I guess I should be happy.

Just spent several hours ignoring the world and listening to sweet music and thinking "It just can't get any better than this".

When I try to think of potential upgrades I remember that I was blown away by the Verity Audio Sarastros ($60,000) in a $300,000.00 system at the 2005 HES. Of course, that system would sound better than what I have at home, but, even if I could afford it, I really can't be certain that I'd enjoy it that much more, but I'd be willing to take that chance. I just wish I could find something affordable that impressed me enough to upgrade.

I guess the point is that once you find a certain "sweet spot", upgrading becomes more difficult. I thought of this when I read of Spearmint and Al going home to "the sound they were used to". Maybe it's more like the sound they have carefully tailored to their tastes.

Anyway, this post is partly to explain why I'm doing so much listening and so little buying lately. My increased enjoyment of audio makes me want to maximise the experience, but I don't want to take a step sideways or backwards.

Sorry if this post makes less sense than it should. I just feel like sharing some candid thoughts with people who I trust to tell me if they know what I'm on about or if I've had too many reds :biggrin:

I'll keep looking and listening, cos my next upgrade is going to be something really special or it won't happen.

Cheers

Tony

[norpus]

Upgraditis - Can It Be Cured?

NO - it is incurable

IB IB IB

[Tony M]

Upgraditis - Can It Be Cured?

NO - it is incurable

IB IB IB

[/b]

Yep, you're right. I was just kidding myself......good while it lasted :biggrin:

[Drizt]

Upgraditis - Can It Be Cured?

NO - it is incurable

IB IB IB [/b]

Well after today its official, IB is a must have for my first house - Upgrade #1

In answer to your question - NO!

If you do not attend any get togethers, or listen to any other systems (anywhere) then its entirely possible that you could cure yourself of upgradeitis

[Tony M]

If you do not attend any get togethers, or listen to any other systems (anywhere) then its entirely possible that you could cure yourself of upgradeitis

[/b]

That cure would be worse than the disease, Drist, as you well know :wink:

[Keith_W]

Well after today its official, IB is a must have for my first house - Upgrade #1 [/b]

You bought a new house! Congrats! So when is the next GTG

And shouldn't you be busy unpacking boxes! Something tells me that the first thing you did was set up your PC ...

[Drizt]

You bought a new house! Congrats! So when is the next GTG

And shouldn't you be busy unpacking boxes! Something tells me that the first thing you did was set up your PC ... [/b]

The move is tomorrow morning - and theres boxes to be loaded into the truck and then unloaded.... sigh, depressing just thinking about it.

And no, I havent bought a house yet..... was talking about the future :wink:

[Spearmint]

~SNIP~

I just wish I could find something affordable that impressed me enough to upgrade.

~SNIP~

Anyway, this post is partly to explain why I'm doing so much listening and so little buying lately. My increased enjoyment of audio makes me want to maximise the experience, but I don't want to take a step sideways or backwards.

~SNIP~

Cheers

Tony

[/b]

I’m in a similar situation, I guess I’ve gotten so used to the sound of my equipment I’m looking for the same faults that I have in my current speakers in the new speakers so they’ll be pleasing to me. My other concern is if I buy speaker ‘X’ is it then going to require me to upgrade other items in my stable to get the best out of brand ‘X’ speakers.

Then there is the problem of outlaying ‘Y’ dollars on speakers that may only give me a few % improvements, and feeling I need to double this money to get me something I believe I’ll be happy with. The GTG yesterday at Norpus’s definitely made it clear to me I’m not interested in bookshelf speakers as mains.

I feel for you Tony.

[Guest alebonau]

~

I guess the point is that once you find a certain "sweet spot", upgrading becomes more difficult. I thought of this when I read of Spearmint and Al going home to "the sound they were used to". Maybe it's more like the sound they have carefully tailored to their tastes.

Anyway, this post is partly to explain why I'm doing so much listening and so little buying lately. My increased enjoyment of audio makes me want to maximise the experience, but I don't want to take a step sideways or backwards.

Sorry if this post makes less sense than it should. I just feel like sharing some candid thoughts with people who I trust to tell me if they know what I'm on about or if I've had too many reds :biggrin:

I'll keep looking and listening, cos my next upgrade is going to be something really special or it won't happen.

Cheers

Tony

[/b]

I think you hit the spot wiht some of those comments tony. funny you mention, as was only mentioning yesterday at the gtg talking to a couple of guys on the topic saying that there was a decade after assembling the 'best' 2ch system I could possibly afford that I stayed free on upgrades...well atleast on the 2ch side.

So I think its possible, I think you can reach a point of contentment. or a point where its not to say there isnt better equipment out there or improvments to be had, but what you have provides the enjoyment your looking for. And that significant upgrades would be required to get any further gains. and at a price that perhaps is not justifiable to your self given the gains, or perhaps theres other priorities in life(house, car, HT?) where the money could be better spent?.

And thats not to say I never listened to anythign else over that decade. Infact spent much time listning to other gear, borrowing sucessive newer release source and amplification to try out in the system, listenign to other sepakers. But none stuck or provided justification to upgrade what I had.... up until more recenty a decade plus later.

And so like you tony, I'm reaching a point with my current system where I'll be doing "more listening than buying", and like you "I don't want to take a step sideways or backwards" either...

And thats not to say there nothing more left to improvme on in my system, still keen to explore on the speaker side as with taking things further with vinyl, think some gains to be made there. But havent as yet come across anything in the search that warrants making a jump or can afford(and that probably a big part of it ! or that theres a greater need be spending money on a few other things in life instead !).

So in the mean time...I'll jsut keep buying music instead and enjoying what I have...

[mondie]

l am in bliss with my system now and can sit for hours semi-comatose enjoying the sound. l still have future plans though because over the years l have learn't through trial and error what l like and perhaps more importnatly what l dont, so l will continue to improve my system along the lines of my experience (and biases). Next major upgrade is to the room itself with some amplifier experimenting planned also.

How good can it get? The answer is EXTREMELY GOOD, better than anything you would ever imagine is possible if you carefully upgrade over time. As you go along the path of worthwhile upgrades the sum of the components constanty impresses, a small positive change now can bring significant improvments.

Its all good fun :wink:

[davidsss]

It gets you in the end. I hadn't done anything for over 10 years then my old Luxman amp blew and I bought a second hand Rotel. Now I'm contemplating new speakers, then maybe an amp and a better CD player. The TT stays, I'm sure I could do better but it's an old friend.

My biggest problem is that I keep spending money on more records, DVDs and occasionally CDs. At least only being interested in 2 channel limits the penalty in the wallet region.

DS

[Grumpy]

I have no such problems; No money; No upgrade.

[Guest JohnA]

yes there is a cure, let the wife have total control of the money

[turbo56k]

yes there is a cure, let the wife have total control of the money

[/b]

or stop visiting forums or attending GTG :biggrin: .....