Do You Regret Your Pre-ASR Audio Gear Choices of the past?

[Cote Dazur]

Do you regret much of the gear that you owned in your past audiophile journey?

Do you look back on it as a waste of time and money?

Such good questions. Short answer, no and no.

What as changed since I have spent time in ASR is how I perceive my system and what I know believe is important and not so important.
I bought that particular system and upgraded it on false pretend, that much I now realize. I tried to improve it doing a lot of useless test and changes. ASR made me a lot more efficient, that system now sound much better to me, actually sounds great, now that I am addressing the real issues, instead of chasing imaginary issues.
I did not have to change any component, they are great components. Did I spent too much on them, yes, but I also used them for a long time, so I consider that I have had my money back and I also still have a proud factor to own them, that is worth value for me.
It was all part of my personal audiophile journey, I feel less like an audiophile than before but at the same time spend more time than ever (now that I am retired) listening to music (and less to sound) on my great set up.

 

[Descartes]

The Sony UBP-X800M2 has no analog outputs - it's strictly a digital transport.

Interesting so it’s DAC is completely bypassed?

 

[pderousse]

Oh how ever did I get by without ASR? Stupid question (There are not many, but this is one). Go ahead and have regrets to consume what is left of your life, or cut and move on with your lesson and what is left of life. I prefer the latter in all cases.

 

[sqrl]

I could regret not owning subwoofers, but then I can just play some music and cheer up immediately.

 

[Sal1950]

Interesting so it’s DAC is completely bypassed?

There is the coaxial digital out that can be used for audio CD type playing.

 

[TLEDDY]

I bought several “weird” things touting vibration control on tube-based electronics. I managed to avoid the truly insane stuff like M-Pingo discs and overpriced speaker cables. Live and learn!

 

[Defi]

I bought a tube headphone amp but it was a kit and I had a ton of fun putting it together and learning to solder. I don't even use it anymore due to desk space and not wanting to run out the tube and fussing with switching it on and off all the time due to sporadically sitting down at my desk all day... and the fact that I prefer the neutral sound of my topping headphone amp, although the tube thing is kind of cool for some stuff.

I think as far as audio goes I wouldn't have bought it, but I kind of want another reason to solder. I was thinking about getting a kit for a stereo amp from the same place but have since realized that I have no desire to own more tube gear.

Apart from that I bought Yamaha HS-8 for the sole purpose of mixing on. They sound like ass but my (still garbage) mixes were way easier to work on than my previous monitors (Dynaudio BM5a). I would honestly just mix on my Revels now if I could prod myself to being creative in that hobby again. I do it just for my own sake anyway so if it sounds good on my system that is all I want. Everything prior to these purchases was in such a budget constraint that it barely mattered. I have a 5 speaker pioneer home theater system--the one designed by andrew jones--with an svs sb-1000 and that setup doesn't get anywhere near its potential due to the room setup having to follow the rules of the house (i.e. not mine).

 

[Joe Smith]

No.

 

[suttondesign]

Audeze headphones. I kept telling myself they must be great, yet I kept setting them aside because of the odd frequency response.

 

[EJ3]

A common theme here on ASR is how many feel they managed to escape the ideas that drive the purchases of many other audiophiles. Getting rid of the woo-woo, no more being influenced by golden ear reviewers, getting off the gear merry-go-round, and finally making more knowledgable decisions that have led to their current system.

So my question to the crowd is:

How do you view your “ pre-ASR life?” (and perhaps your own more “objective” views predate ASR).

Do you regret much of the gear that you owned in your past audiophile journey?

Do you look back on it as a waste of time and money?

(my quick answer: no not at all. But I’m curious about others)

I apparently lucked up, as I enjoyed my old gear, had a lot of my old gear (amps, preamps mainly tested by Amirm and most of it has 90+SINAD.
Mostly confirming that I had made good choices. 1 or 2 were less impressive but that was also suspected when I bought them new (and they served my purposes well, at the time).
So, I did not regret in the 1970's & 80's (when I made most of my purchases) what I bought and they are still operating fine.
I have purchased some gear since then based on Amirm's recommendations (an oPPo 205 UDP being one of them) and I'm happy with them, too.
I think that having had a good & honest stereo shop owner who allowed me to borrow gear for a couple weeks at a time, helped a lot.