I Love my Moderate System

[Mark of Cenla]

I have what many of you would call a "mid-fi" system. However it sounds great to me, and I really enjoy listening to music and videos on it.

Sherwood RX-4503 receiver
Sony CDP-CE5000 CD player
Polk RTiA1 bookshelf speakers
Sony SA-W2500 subwoofer

I have been using the CD player for over five years and played on average three or four CD's a day. Some think subs like the Sony are "one note wonders," but it sounds good to me. Even though the Polks have decent bass without the sub, I still prefer to use it. I have a second SA-W2500 in another system. Peace and goodwill.

 

[lovinthehd]

We have a lot of people who use stupid terms like mid-fi? Dang. Enjoy what ya got is always a great way to listen to the content....

 

[2channel lover]

Congrats!...you've found that holy grail in a "moderate" system. Some people spend a small fortune and never find that holy grail position with their A/V systems.

 

[Pogre]

I think that's awesome. I too, am pretty happy with what I have but will probably always be coveting the stuff I can't afford... sigh.

 

[Mikado463]

Mark, as I said to you over @ AK, so long as it puts a smile on your face and toes are a 'tapping' all is good !

 

[Stereo68]

Same here. Don't listen to those who put down your system. Enjoy it!

I can remember when "Hi Fi" was used as a noun, to identify the all-in-one record player-amp-speaker units common in the 1950s and early '60s. The solid-state revolution brought high fidelity sound to the mainstream. Hi Fi (the adjective) spans a very wide range of systems.

 

[Verdinut]

Some people spend a small fortune and never find that holy grail position with their A/V systems.

I know a few of them. Many are audiophools. They are never satisfied with what they have, they're gullible and they're wasting their money.

 

[2channel lover]

I know a few of them. Many are audiophools. They are never satisfied with what they have, they're gullible and they're wasting their money.

I personally don't know any, but I have witnessed an audiophool purchase....(a $650 power cord, and $1200 in Kimber Cable speaker wire) it's interesting that people with above avg incomes (seemingly would be at least avg intelligence) can be so gullible. I would hope that wouldn't be me, but if I could stroke a check for a complete McIntosh system...the money for the power cable and the speaker is probably not missed.

I will say I've lived for 4 days on a golf trip with someone and personally saw how a fool and his money can part ways...

 

[Pogre]

I personally don't know any, but I have witnessed an audiophool purchase....(a $650 power cord, and $1200 in Kimber Cable speaker wire) it's interesting that people with above avg incomes (seemingly would be at least avg intelligence) can be so gullible. I would hope that wouldn't be me, but if I could stroke a check for a complete McIntosh system...the money for the power cable and the speaker is probably not missed.

I will say I've lived for 4 days on a golf trip with someone and personally saw how a fool and his money can part ways...

Joe Rogan had an interesting take on that. Once you reach a certain level of wealth money loses meaning and everything basically becomes "free". Like you said, 1200 bucks for cables is like a trip to Starbucks for some of us.

 

[shadyJ]

I couldn't help myself, so I looked up measurements for the RTi A1 speakers. They aren't bad, but they do have a lift in upper treble at 9 kHz and above, and the treble does start to beam a bit around 8 kHz or so. So these probably sound bright on axis, but, looking at off-axis measurements, I bet that you get a pretty flattish direct response around 20 to 30 degrees off axis. Angling these speakers will have a real effect on upper treble, so be sure to experiment with toe-in for the most desirable sound if you haven't already done so.

 

[2channel lover]

Joe Rogan had an interesting take on that. Once you reach a certain level of wealth money loses meaning and everything basically becomes "free". Like you said, 1200 bucks for cables is like a trip to Starbucks for some of us.

To this guy..it was like free money literally...oil money from his grandfather...inherited a million at 30 y/o...near broke at 35. Bought everything but a golf game.

 

[Gmoney]

To this guy..it was like free money literally...oil money from his grandfather...inherited a million at 30 y/o...near broke at 35. Bought everything but a golf game.

Yep, when someone gets money like that and they never had that kind of money before it’s like a drug.
I know of a few who did the same thing lost it all in two year’s or less. First thing they do is buy high dollar car’s, big house not realizing that those high dollar thing’s are hi maintenance also.

 

[lovinthehd]

To this guy..it was like free money literally...oil money from his grandfather...inherited a million at 30 y/o...near broke at 35. Bought everything but a golf game.

Same Joe Rogan I'm thinking of, Fear Factor, UFC Commentator, podcaster, etc? Net worth is fine these days it seems in any case.

 

[Mark of Cenla]

I couldn't help myself, so I looked up measurements for the RTi A1 speakers. They aren't bad, but they do have a lift in upper treble at 9 kHz and above, and the treble does start to beam a bit around 8 kHz or so. So these probably sound bright on axis, but, looking at off-axis measurements, I bet that you get a pretty flattish direct response around 20 to 30 degrees off axis. Angling these speakers will have a real effect on upper treble, so be sure to experiment with toe-in for the most desirable sound if you haven't already done so.

I mostly listen to them near field, like I am right now. Thanks for the link. Peace and goodwill.

 

[Mark of Cenla]

Well, as I am wont to do every three or four months, I changed the system in the OP. The CD player and subwoofer are the same. I compared my Onkyo A-9050 integrated amp to the Sherwood receiver, and the Onkyo has better highs, more detail, but the difference was small. I changed the speakers to my Boston Acoustic A26's, which have an overall better tone than the Polks. The system is still mid-fi. Peace and goodwill.