What Were Lessons You Learned Getting Into HiFi?

I realized something today, personally I would not spend more than $20k total on a HP system again. If I could start from scratch, A-Z I could put together a nice HP system to please ME for roughly $20,000. This includes cost of everything from the outlet in the wall all the way to the HP on my head. Clean power would be a separate cost covered under construction or home expenses. If you had to add the actual power too the cost goes up.
If I wanted a more complete desktop system to include speakers I would stop at roughly $35 k.

I hate this place and the rest of you, had I spit numbers like this out 6 years ago I would have had to cut out my own tongue :rage:

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Tongue is a delicacy in some cultures.

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But not oneā€™s OWN.

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Out of curiosity, I just did the math on what I actually paid for my main HP chain, from Power Plant to MYSPHERE, and it landed at $8K + cost of cables (couldnā€™t be bothered to add up the cables, but itā€™s mostly mid-tier AudioQuest stuff), though if I had to buy it all at new prices, that number could easily be double.

(Iā€™ve spent much more than that since I have six headphones and three desktop amps because I canā€™t bring myself to sell certain things, lol, but just talking about main chain here.)

Iā€™m hoping to go one more round on DAC upgrades, so if I buy a d1-core and whatever DDC/cabling upgrades that go along with it, I probably wouldnā€™t be too far off from that $20K mark either.

Though to be honest, sometimes when Iā€™m listening to music on my Quicksilver late at night, I still feel like this:

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This is a problem ive had recently with car insurance values. What i paid (or even just what i can get for it easily) is easily 50% less than the cost of replacement like for like.

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I feel this for sure. I had an amazing session a few days ago with hd580 on forge and p6p. Tbh if i only did late night listening i legit may have ended my journey at under the cost of a sus. Its middle of the day when i get way more picky

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There are many places to get off on this journey, and be very satisfied. Yet we seem to not do it.

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A recent learning for me - DAPs can be a very cost effective and easy way to get fantastic sound. Especially if the DAP includes a standard OS, such as the HiBy devices running Android.

  1. No AC Power, power cable, or LPS vs SMPS concerns. Just charge it and go.
  2. No digital signal chain concerns. Just download music with your favorite app (Qobuz), and go.

Of course thereā€™s practical limitations on power delivery, battery life, etc. And no ability to swap out components to tune the signal chain to preference. But the HiBy R6 and now RS6 have been game changers for me, especially the RS6. If money ever got tight and I had to sell things off, I could reduce to just the RS6 and be really happy (serious first-world consideration there).

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:100: I was at a point where I got rid of my entire desktop setup and only had a P6P/[DAP] as well.

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There is a reason I bought 2 Cowon Plenue S units and am having one modded.

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A few days ago i stumbled across a long forgotten saved link to a page that years ago helped spur my obsession w/ some of the more eclectic pieces i own and enjoy. Itā€™s just another audiophile with his opinions and some reference information but the material had a positive influence on me. Over the years both M0N and my dealer have further helped me refine my tastes along w/ the occasional deal i could not pass up :hugs:
This dude though set me on ā€œhuntsā€ that i continue to this day, ivā€™e missed all the items multiple times by mere hours or due to lack of funds but i continue to search for obscure pieces because of interest his articles generated for me.

Itā€™s a few hours worth of reading and i assume much of the info is common knowledge to many here but i want to post the link for folks who enjoy adding to their knowledge base, even if itā€™s just a small bit of random info.

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Love his website. He is on a mission to try different tube amps. He also regularly sells amps he auditions at very reasonable prices on USAM.

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Some of the drivers are Art Deco works of art.

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Iā€™ve learned that it doesnā€™t matter how much of your stuff you sell, youā€™re going to plunk that money right back into an upgraded component. In many cases youā€™ve already spent the money on the upgraded component. In many cases still the upgraded component is worth a few hundred more than what you sold your old gear for.

Thatā€™s just the way it is, some things will never change. Thatā€™s just the way it is, ah, but donā€™t you believe them.

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Done and done.

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Iā€™ve come to realize recently how easy it is to get wrapped up in one brand to the point of being blind to the possibility that you may like another brandā€™s products more than your current favorite.

Itā€™s good to be open to trying different things even if you think you know what you like. Thereā€™s always the possibility that you arenā€™t quite the expert on yourself that you think you are.

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I learned this stuff can get expensive!

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Sometimes it is needed to solve power cord ocd

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  • Donā€™t get in the monkey-wheel to always puchase ā€˜latest & greatestā€™ !
  • Stick to your listening preferences, everyone (ears) is (are) different !
  • REALLY ENJOYING MUSIC, also means: take your time, relax & listen to full albums
  • If you buy expensive gear, test it in your HiFi chain, never ever trust Youtuberā€™s opinion-only or rely purely on retailers opinion/their listening rooms (even different cabling could make some audible difference in your home)
  • Get a good understanding of how certain electronics, speaker drivers etc work
  • Cables make a difference, BUT donā€™t get crazy, dont use them as ā€˜equalizerā€™, else your chain is lacking somewhere else
  • Very expensive gear can usually be bought used without any issues, just look for vendors with good support & someone you know to repair HiFi gear in your area (mostly small fixes are fine, not replacing whole mainboards)

ā€¦still learnig, NEVER STOP :slight_smile:
ā€¦damn, do I sound old? :wink:

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My lessons?

Trust your ears, but be skeptical of your conclusions.

Sound quality often scales with cost, but the gear you have now is probably better than you realize.

The Beatles were definitely better than The Rolling Stones.

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