Paul, all what you say is true so long as your hearing is perfect.
I survived the HiFi audio era of the 1970's and 1980's without going overboard because my hearing isn't perfect, probably due to cranking the audio up and a few live rock concerts. My best system cost me about $1500 (1980s) which was typically a mid-range system and I was happy with it. Others however weren't as impressed with my audio system. These were people that preferred electron tube sets over digital because they "could tell the difference."
But I could hear some differences in their systems over mine. Higher high-notes were the most noticeable difference. The cost difference though kept me from making the leap. It really boils down to personal preference and cost benefit. You can get spoiled though listening to a superior audio system because you will hear things that you never heard before in the same music with cheaper systems.
But I will go ahead and say that my current little Bose system is awesome and worth the money.
Steve
Steve, thanks for sharing! Yes, sounds like what you have is appropriate for what you should have. This may be different for each person. I'm not much a fan of Bose though - I find their approach to lead to a few problems with speakers, trying to cram too much in too small a space - but that is fine. They do image very well in general. Small speakers in general can image in 3d space much better than larger ones and many like small speakers even as the main front speakers for this reason alone, coupled with a subwoofer for the bass handling parts.
Although I love live music and go whenever I can manage it, for rock concerts I always bring ear plugs! The sound levels are insane sometimes. This is one way I've preserved my ears to middle age. Also, I always use some little foam ear plugs whenever I do work in the garage or shop. I met a young mechanic the other day air impact driving away all day in his garage. I told him to consider using ear plugs while doing that work to preserve his hearing. Tooo many people lose hearing they don't need to lose over time.
For people that do have damage but can detect better sound with a better system, you can use equalization on each channel like I have to correct one ear as needed. This may not be good if you live with others! But you can do that these days. Boost the highs or midrange or lows or what have you. I boost my right front speaker about 3 db in the 4k and 8k treble range because my right ear has some damage (formerly ruptured ear drum). Doesn't slow me down at all in the enjoyment of the better sound.
For people that become interested in better sound and want a better system, in general, first I would learn about what is actually good out there - brands, then models. I would go to garage sales. My first set of Linn Sara speakers I got at a garage sale for all of $10 each and that was with steel stands! These things originally retailed for like $2k a pair. Well it was a divorce sale and the speakers either played bass or treble but not both and the ex wife wanted them OUT as they were ex hubbies'. Well I took it home and found the bi amp connector plate was just missing so I made a new one. These are set up to allow a separate amp for the bass and separate for treble if you wanted, but that wasn't connected was all. Then I got another set later on for all of $300 off ebay for rears. The Linns are from Scotland and known for their turntables mainly but also make everything else well. People don't think of Linn for speakers, which is how I knew to grab them when I could as there was not that much interest. The Saras go down to 2 ohms too and need big amps to sound good! Sound like garbage on most receivers if they play at all!
Later on I got the Linn Kaleidh towers from a friend, including 2 active Linn amps and the controller for all of $500 used from him. This also would have tallied about $2-3K just for that when new. My Paradigm 15 inch sub was about $2200 new. I waited about 5 years, then found one off craigslist for $500. The guy just bought a smaller and better JL Audio sub and so out with the old. He was a very wealthy person and didn't think twice about selling it fast for not much money. Well, the Paradigm is an awesome sub! One of the top 5 in the world at the time (early 2000s). Will go down to like 12 hz, so thunder sounds just like thunder. It can shake the whole house no problem! So that was an easy choice and good one. My Acurus pre and amps I got off an ebay deal for about $1k total for those 10 years back. Originally about $4-5k for those. The company was out of business for years when I got those but I knew what they were so grabbed them. Very good amps. The Pre-amp could be a little better in some ways though for frequency response and DAC, now outdated for technology for digital conversion.
Someday I might upgrade the preamp to something more modern, but it also has a non-processed full 7.1 set of inputs, so right now I'm trying to get a computer hooked into the stereo and just let the computer do the dac conversion into it and not use the pre for that anymore. Then it will be awesome again. I'm moving towards almost all computer based new music now, getting higher than cd resolution files in 24 bit 96 khz or 24/48 or even 24 bit/196 khz files. All cds are 16 bit 44khz for comparison. These have like 100x more musical bits of content than cds do! Let me tell you, the difference in sound is staggering from these newer high resolution computer music files! Detail, micro dynamics, imaging all get much better with the higher resolution files than cds.
So you see, you can get good gear but not for tons of money over time if you know what to get when you find it and then go find the deals. I rarely pay more than 25% of new for any of my used audio buys. Buying old made in USA high end gear is not much risk vs. new - most stuff performs the same for decades... Now if I could just find some good TUBED gear cheap! Like some Macintosh or Audio Research! That would be an upgrade! I love tube sound but have never owned anything tubed.
For those wanting to hear the things described without paying one cent, all major cities in the US have high end audio dealers that carry the really expensive gear. You can go visit them and bring some of your music along. You can play your music on the systems and just go to explore. Almost all will be gracious and let you learn about the differences. It is all free of course. Also, many places have audio clubs were people in the club will play their systems for the club members and rotate. Great way to learn about the hobby and what is good to you and what is not. You can also subscribe to the mailing catalogs of Audio Advisor out of Michigan and also Music Direct. These two sell good stuff and send catalogs in the mail still. Great way to learn about some products out there.
Really good systems tend to make every kind of music sound really good, but some do better for rock and roll and some do better for say classical. Rock and roll likes good micro dynamics and detail and bass control and output, so brands like Klipsch or Wharfdale or NHT, maybe some Polks, old 90's Aragon or Acurus or Adcom or modern Outlaw Audio amps or similar muscle high power transistor amps, etc. would be brands to be aware of. There are dozens of others. JL Audio makes the best subwoofers right now, but Paradigm and PSB and REL are great, HSU Research (Outlaw makes a version) is great too.
Also, anyone can PM me anytime if you like if I can ever help anyone with anything at all. I love to talk as you can tell ! (My wife tells me this every once in a while.... ) - Paul
