Does your system still surprise you?

[itschris]

Slowly but surely, I've been listening to all my favorites on the new setup. Last night, I got in a solid 3 hours of listening. My wife is gone for 10 days doing the Longest Garage Sale in the World thing and is off buying junk in 3 or 4 different states. Last night, my daughter was at her friends planning their attack for their first year of high school. So it was just me in an empty house.

I grabbed a big hunk of 6 year old Gouda, some hot soprasetta, and an awsome bottle of 1997 Simi Cab Reserve. I put the speakers into position, dimmed the lights and listened to music uninterrupted for half the night.

I broke out a few of my Cowboy Junkies discs to get started and fell in love with Margo Timmons all over again. The Trinity Session disc was recorded with a single mic in a church. Talk about nuance. I was stunned at how wonderful it sounded. I know many of us have had the chance to listen to some exquisite systems in our time, but I have to tell you, I really didn't feel, nor noticed that I was missing much. I could hear every breath, every shuffle or movement that was picked up by that mic and the natural reverb in the church was pure and well described by my setup. They do a remake of Sweet Jane as well as Blue Moon and both songs have beautiful dynamics and I was very pleased at how everything was conveyed to my ears.

I moved on to some other music and found myself just as satsfied and was actually a bit shocked just how good everything really sounded. I did a 180 and switched to the disc to GARBAGE and was floored. "I'm only happy when it rains" has all kinds of odd little sound effects and was just very surprised at how well they were reproduced in comparison to my old setup. I heard a lot more in those 3 hours and found a lot of new reasons to love the same old music all over again.

When you guys get to sit and listen, are there ever times when you're just really surprised... even a bit shocked at how good your setup sounds... kinda like you get this good feeling that you have the kind of setup that you read about all the time... and it's really that good?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I spend about 1.5 hours every night just listening. I always appreciate how fantastic the sound is, but I would no longer say it surprises me.
(I have occasionally considered a more expensive system in an abstract way, but when listening to mine, I realize there would be no point in spending more as there is really no room for improvement.)

 

[GlocksRock]

Another happy DefTech customer Take that all you haters!

/flamebait

 

[3db]

When you guys get to sit and listen, are there ever times when you're just really surprised... even a bit shocked at how good your setup sounds... kinda like you get this good feeling that you have the kind of setup that you read about all the time... and it's really that good?

I love the Cowboy Junkies and I found that their recordings are above average. But onto your question.

My system still floors me when I take the time and sit down and really listen like you have. For me though, its all dealing with vinyl because I'm rediscovering my old vinyl because of the new turntable I purchased last year. I've heard nuances with my vinyl that I didn't recall hearing from the previous turntable.

As far as CDs go, its the latest CDs I've purchased where I haven't had the time to sit and listen also surprises me.

Its the subtle nuances from either medium that effect me the most and I think its these nuances that makes listening to music as whole, a rewarding passtime. Good post itschris

 

[itschris]

Thanks. It's just that good feeling you get knowing you have something that's a little bit special maybe... and that maybe where the surprise comes for me. I was listening last night and I was thinking, "God that sounds amazing!" and I was thinking about how many people would never experience that because they don't place a lot of value in it. To me, there's a lot more difference between Consumer Grade (for lack of a better descriptor that comes to mind at the moment) and solid mid/upper-mid shelf gear than mid shelf to top shelf. At a certain point, the benefits become more minute.

I was just so floored by how enjoyable the Junkies sounded... especially the Trinity Session disc. There was very specific placement vocal and instruments in the imaging because of the way it was recorded. One time I kept hearing a sound and I kept going back to it and I finally figured out I think that it was some one shifing in their chair and you can kind of hear it creek a bit. I remember watching a special on about them years back and they showed them recording that album. They were sitting in chairs in a circle around the mic. I just thought that was cool, kinda organic, unilike the ProTools way of making music today. It was really nice and I just had this feeling like "okay... I'm there... my stuff is good."

I love the Cowboy Junkies and I found that their recordings are above average. But onto your question.

My system still floors me when I take the time and sit down and really listen like you have. For me though, its all dealing with vinyl because I'm rediscovering my old vinyl because of the new turntable I purchased last year. I've heard nuances with my vinyl that I didn't recall hearing from the previous turntable.

As far as CDs go, its the latest CDs I've purchased where I haven't had the time to sit and listen also surprises me.

Its the subtle nuances from either medium that effect me the most and I think its these nuances that makes listening to music as whole, a rewarding passtime. Good post itschris

 

[bandphan]

for each new tweek i can do and see/hear the benefit, yes it still suprises me

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Another happy DefTech customer Take that all you haters!

/flamebait

I just read the new Stereophile review of the new Definitive Mythos STS towers. It was the best sounding speakers they have ever heard for $3K or less. They compared the STS to a $3K pair of Joseph Audio speakers, which were no match for the STS.

But there are speakers for everyone. The important thing at the end of each day is that we need to actually listen to some excellent sources of music or movies. Even the most expensive speakers in the world will sound bad when you listen to bad sounding music or movies.

I watched Dark City on blu-ray last night. I have seen this movie about 10 times. But it felt like it was the FIRST time I saw it at the THX movie theater. It put a huge grin on my face.

Every single speaker/channel was so engaging.

It didn't surprise me that my system could sound so great. But I was surprised at how great sounding the SOURCE was.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I occasionally swap my BP8Bs or BP10Bs from my HT for the Primus 250s in my stereo. I enjoy them, but would enjoy them more if they had less bass. It is hard to relax and enjoy the music when I am worried about being evicted because the bass is so intense! (This is not an issue in the HT because that room is so much smaller that the overall volume is set way low.)

 

[j_garcia]

I haven't touched or really changed a single thing in my system in about a year and I am not only still happy with it, I am still surprised at times when I hear a great sounding movie with some fun surround activity or when I put on some favorite music and it draws me in so that I have to sit and just listen I watched Flight of the Phoenix the other day and oddly enough I was most impressed with the MUSIC in the movie

 

[itschris]

See... that's cool. It's like you never can quite get used to the good stuff. That's a good thing in my book.

I haven't touched or really changed a single thing in my system in about a year and I am not only still happy with it, I am still surprised at times when I hear a great sounding movie with some fun surround activity or when I put on some favorite music and it draws me in so that I have to sit and just listen I watched Flight of the Phoenix the other day and oddly enough I was most impressed with the MUSIC in the movie

 

[croseiv]

Yes it does. Especially from a bass perspective. But over all I spend a lot of time listening lately. Man, movies with good bass just blow me away!

 

[speakerman39]

Yeah, it is still fun. As I go into my lil ht room and see my (2) Pluses poached directly behind my love-seat just puts a smile on my face. Doing a little tweaking here and there and just hearing the small improvements reminds me that I am headed in the right direction. Nothing is more pleasing than listening to something that has been recorded very well. More or less, sooner or later, it is just a work in progress imho.

Cheers,

Phil

 

[Alex2507]

A few days ago my GF and I were listening to the 70's music channel on cable for about 20 minutes waiting for the Oprah hour to begin. A few different songs were played that we had never heard on our system. There were parts in the music that were revealed to us for the first time ever. Now these were some old tunes that we know well. Yes it was surprising. I mean, who knew? I was glad she got to notice it as well. It makes her tolerant of my fascination with all things audio.

Recent tweaks and additions seem to be paying off too. The thing that surprises me most is my new found inability to enjoy music in cars and cheesy job site radios. I have the Brothers in Arms SACD. Well I got to hear Money For Nothing at work a few weeks back and I was not diggin' it one bit. I can't wait to give Beethoven's 9th on DVD-A a listen with the upgraded system and this thread has served to lengthen my wish list for music.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[moreira85]

Slowly but surely, I've been listening to all my favorites on the new setup. Last night, I got in a solid 3 hours of listening. My wife is gone for 10 days doing the Longest Garage Sale in the World thing and is off buying junk in 3 or 4 different states. Last night, my daughter was at her friends planning their attack for their first year of high school. So it was just me in an empty house.

I grabbed a big hunk of 6 year old Gouda, some hot soprasetta, and an awsome bottle of 1997 Simi Cab Reserve. I put the speakers into position, dimmed the lights and listened to music uninterrupted for half the night.

I broke out a few of my Cowboy Junkies discs to get started and fell in love with Margo Timmons all over again. The Trinity Session disc was recorded with a single mic in a church. Talk about nuance. I was stunned at how wonderful it sounded. I know many of us have had the chance to listen to some exquisite systems in our time, but I have to tell you, I really didn't feel, nor noticed that I was missing much. I could hear every breath, every shuffle or movement that was picked up by that mic and the natural reverb in the church was pure and well described by my setup. They do a remake of Sweet Jane as well as Blue Moon and both songs have beautiful dynamics and I was very pleased at how everything was conveyed to my ears.

I moved on to some other music and found myself just as satsfied and was actually a bit shocked just how good everything really sounded. I did a 180 and switched to the disc to GARBAGE and was floored. "I'm only happy when it rains" has all kinds of odd little sound effects and was just very surprised at how well they were reproduced in comparison to my old setup. I heard a lot more in those 3 hours and found a lot of new reasons to love the same old music all over again.

When you guys get to sit and listen, are there ever times when you're just really surprised... even a bit shocked at how good your setup sounds... kinda like you get this good feeling that you have the kind of setup that you read about all the time... and it's really that good?

wow 3 hours of sitting and enjoying your setup???? I would love to that but witha 13 week old I barely get to do that anymore. I got home today and my wife was out with the little guy, i popped eagles live dvd and as soon as I hit play they drove in the drive way (not that i am complaining because i love being with the little guy) and I had to lower the volume to approp level.
I enjoy playing my mp3s and just sitting back on my couch with my laptop on audioholics while enjoying the beutiful sound.

 

[itschris]

Oh I know how that is. My daughter's 14 and she just recently stopped dancing in front of the TV while you're trying to watch. But every chance I get, even I'm on my own for an hour or so, I'll stop whatever I'm doing and get settled in and for some listening. There's no way to accomplish that when either of them are home.

wow 3 hours of sitting and enjoying your etup???? I would love to that but witha 13 week old I barely get to do that anymore. I got home today and my wife was out with the little guy, i popped eagles live dvd and as soon as I hit play they drove in the drive way (not that i am complaining because i love being with the little guy) and I had to lower the volume to approp level.
I enjoy playing my mp3s and just sitting back on my couch with my laptop on audioholics while enjoying the beutiful sound.