I read speakerman1's posts in AM listening, didn't want to crap on his thread so I started this one, here is a response I replied to speakerman1 in a PM.

I just read your posts, I see nothing wrong with what you have written, I too wish others would take your outlook, a persons choice of music and what they play it on is a very personal thing, it seems at times when we post about our system or choice of music we open ourselves to others criticism.

It seems to me there are at least 3 kinds of people (probably more if broken down further) involved in this hobby as well as crossovers from each group: 1) Those whose interest is in just the specifications of their equipment and it's value, 2) The collectors, collecting receivers, amps, speakers what have you for the sake of having the entire line, 3) the hodge podges, no real matching of any of the equipment, each piece for its own reason or lack of reason.

The main thing to remember is we all have the same hobby, even though we have never physically met we are all seeking personal enjoyment, whether it be for finally acquiring the last piece in a group of equipment that we have been looking for, or hearing something new in a particular piece of music that was there but we never heard before we got whatever 'new' piece of equipment or tweak. We should all be happy for that individual as they should be for us. We all got started in this at some point, my first stereo was a Lloyds, at the time it fit my budget and was a huge step up from the quarters sitting on the steel tone arm of the previous record player I had, was it great, no, was it great to me then, hell yes, I still remember listening to No Quarter through a set of really big heavy cans.

I am sure there are many variations and combinations of reasons, what do you like about this condition we all share?

Jim

The equipment is the source of our enjoyment. The music is suppose to bring us joy. When we wonder if the equipment is good enough. We have lost what we are really searching for. The happiness the music brings.

+1

Sometimes we forget this.

Jim

I will defend my components to the end, if and when I upgrade or make a change I will defend my changes, good or bad,

what I like when I hear different systems, is the difference in sound, not usually bad, sometimes better, or different quality of sound, I like hearing the differnces, to me that is the fun part, I am not technical with my listening habits, i just use my ear,

I have a soft spot for carver and bose, because they got me back into this hobby, I found some limitations in the sound but it got my juices flowing again. If I had no choice but to only have my original system, "The Carver Receiver, Bose 601 IV, and a dvd player" I would take it in a minute, it may not be as refined as my current system but I love music.

I get a kick out of going to work and turning on the sansui 2000, and firing up the old advents and listening to music while at work, it sounds good, not great, but good.

On the note that some people are picking on others systems, I dont see it, what I see is our members communicating how they interpret, and listen to music, and how they review or critique a component, sometimes it may come across as brash, I have certainly made comments that could be construed as pointed and crass, but I am opinionated, just like the rest of us who post here, if you didnt have an opinion you would be like the "silent 700 members" that lurk and have nothing to say.

I think we have one of the websites out there, we all really do respect each other and we dont get into flame wars, "it does happen occasionally" but for the most part we get along very well with very diverse thoughts on components, synergy, testing methods, etc.

"thats all I got to say bout that" forrest gump.

elroy

I think all of you guys have lousy systems, and that basically stems from the fact that you lack both good hearing and a refined taste.

As for myself, I guess I´ve spent more than my share of time and money looking for that perfect "something". I´ve run through almost all paths imaginable as far as audio pieces are concerned, and then, suddenly, I realized I had a pretty fine system which has since remained unchanged in its main structure.

Funny thing is, since I decided not to pay too much attention to the system, I´ve began enjoying my music equally in the four different systems I have at home. They all sound different, one is much, much better than the other three in overall terms, but they all are just as enjoyable. I get a kick out of the smallest system in the form little Pioneer SX-424 driving the Celef ( ProAc ) mini monitors, just as I get a kick from my four way, actively amplified main system.

Of course there are "upgrades" I would still like to make, but I think that I´ve kicked that habbit, just as I quit my smoking habbit.

thats exactly how I feel, just couldnt get it out coherently.

elroy

Interest, curiosity and it was cheap.

Hey Jerome, do you still have your 10B?

Right here:
http://www.sound-thinking.org/index.php?showtopic=5668

Just picked up another 2325 a couple weeks ago.

Nice!

That unit is a keeper!

for me, my personal Hi-Fi Odyssey began back in july of 2003.
i had just got out of OHSU in PORTLAND, OREGON,
(fresh from an colostomy operation in which a good full diseased half of my intestinal tract had to be removed, and the plumbing re-routed to an abdominally-mounted disposable colostomy pouch)
and we went straight down to AUDIO SPECIALTIES, LTD. in the GRESHAM dist.
to buy the 1990 model PIONEER VSX-D1S A/V stereo receiver that i absolutely fell madly in love with a week prior, when, the day before i was to be admitted to the hospital,
me and my mother drove over to AUDIO SPECIALTIES in order to pick up a turntable belt i needed.
when i was there, i happened across the D1S, among the many other used A/A/V components he had out on his showroom floor, and, let me tell you;
it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT.
i HAD to have it.
well, in the proceeding week, my family was actually able to put together the needed $350.00 to purchase it, and there you go.
now, granted, i had had an actual audio system since 1999/2000 or so, but i do not consider it significant.
true audiophilia was borne in me with this receiver, and, in the intervening six years since it's purchase,
i have been fortunate enough to have had an opportunity to build a highly flexible, high-fidelity Audio/Video system around that foundation component:

Very well said Jorge!

Each persons system is unique, and should bring joy to that person when listening to their music of choice.

John, I am happy for you that in your time of need you were able to find something which could bring you joy and obviously contiues to bring you happiness, it is after all a life long hobby. Many of us lost our way during our child raising years but have now come back.

Enjoy your future but don't let the present slip by wishing for tomorrow. Time is the oposite of something learned, time you can neither keep, nor have back, but something learned can never be taken away.

Jim

I bought my Sansui setup in 1980. I was out of college, single, employed, and had just bought a house. It was a combination of good sound and good looks that made up my mind. The only part I "settled" for at the time was the speakers. I wanted K Horns, but couldn't justify the cost.

I don't spend as much time with my system as I should, but that might change as soon as both kids are gone. When I do, however, I listen to the music, so making changes isn't a priority to me. Poor hearing is also a restriction.

I still pick up a few pieces that are bargains, but hopefully to give to the kids if they ever decide to enjoy some quality. I plan to have my amp re-capped some day, and used K Horns are getting down in my price range now, so I'll probably buy a pair. After that, it will probably be a rocking chair and some wine.

because it happened across my path when i had the opportunity to buy it. the system i have just kind of grew together. i began by assembling pieces around my speakers, first the ADS L810's, but the AR9's just kind of fell into my lap, so i began to build around them instead. when a component came along that i thought would make a good fit i grabbed it, and its worked out well for the most part.

i've never been in it for the gear itself (though i am a bit of a speaker nut), the motive behind it all has always been to hear the music i like.

I make mine your words.