Keith_W
Major Contributor
30 years in audio!
First "serious" system: Mission 760i speakers, NAD 3020i integrated amp, Marantz CD52 CD player, Sony cassette Walkman. It was assembled from reading reviews in "What Hi-Fi". Hey, I was young, inexperienced, and didn't know any better. It was a MASSIVE step up from computer speakers and I was deliriously happy. I literally listened to my entire music collection (at the time, consisting of a paltry 10 CD's and maybe 50 cassettes) over and over again.
I moved up from that a few years later to Audio Definition speakers (an Australian brand, now defunct) + Pioneer A400 amp + Sony XB940 SACD player. I was very happy with this combination and it kept me occupied for 10 years.
Next step up was Proac D38 + Cary CAD-211 power amp + Cary SLP-05 preamp + Cary CD306 SACD player. I finally fulfilled my long ambition to move to valve amps and not to mention scratch the Proac itch. I can not objectively tell you why they sound so good, it might have something to do with the 100Hz bass bump and the emphasized midrange that makes them easy to listen to. To this day, this is still my preferred target curve. Sadly I never had a chance to measure them so that I know exactly how to replicate it, so I am guided by online published measurements instead.
Then on to my current speakers, which I have owned for 15 years: Acapella High Violon which has been converted to active and driven by 4 different amps + Rythmik subwoofers, with a PC as the source. It was at this point where I started investigating how to fix the problems with the speaker which lead me down the measurements path and realizing that massive improvements can be had for cheap, or even free. My first REW sweep was a real eye opener, it showed me exactly where the problems were and confirmed what I was hearing all along. For the past 5 years I have not made any audio purchases besides software and music.
So I have "only" owned 4 speakers in 30 years (if you don't count computer speakers, of which I have owned many). I consider that a good thing! I still listen to music on computer speakers though, probably more often than my main speakers because I am seated in front of my PC so often, like right now.
First "serious" system: Mission 760i speakers, NAD 3020i integrated amp, Marantz CD52 CD player, Sony cassette Walkman. It was assembled from reading reviews in "What Hi-Fi". Hey, I was young, inexperienced, and didn't know any better. It was a MASSIVE step up from computer speakers and I was deliriously happy. I literally listened to my entire music collection (at the time, consisting of a paltry 10 CD's and maybe 50 cassettes) over and over again.
I moved up from that a few years later to Audio Definition speakers (an Australian brand, now defunct) + Pioneer A400 amp + Sony XB940 SACD player. I was very happy with this combination and it kept me occupied for 10 years.
Next step up was Proac D38 + Cary CAD-211 power amp + Cary SLP-05 preamp + Cary CD306 SACD player. I finally fulfilled my long ambition to move to valve amps and not to mention scratch the Proac itch. I can not objectively tell you why they sound so good, it might have something to do with the 100Hz bass bump and the emphasized midrange that makes them easy to listen to. To this day, this is still my preferred target curve. Sadly I never had a chance to measure them so that I know exactly how to replicate it, so I am guided by online published measurements instead.
Then on to my current speakers, which I have owned for 15 years: Acapella High Violon which has been converted to active and driven by 4 different amps + Rythmik subwoofers, with a PC as the source. It was at this point where I started investigating how to fix the problems with the speaker which lead me down the measurements path and realizing that massive improvements can be had for cheap, or even free. My first REW sweep was a real eye opener, it showed me exactly where the problems were and confirmed what I was hearing all along. For the past 5 years I have not made any audio purchases besides software and music.
So I have "only" owned 4 speakers in 30 years (if you don't count computer speakers, of which I have owned many). I consider that a good thing! I still listen to music on computer speakers though, probably more often than my main speakers because I am seated in front of my PC so often, like right now.
