erland;600726 Wrote: 
> Really ?
> 
> How many 20 years old electronic devices do you own ?
> 
Don't think being an audiophile is a synonym for constant upgrading/fad
following.

When I settled in Chicago twenty years ago, I spent a year listening in
every high-end stereo store I could find to understand what kind of
sound I enjoy. I then bought a very high-end system that I knew would
last forever and have received great pleasure from it almost every
day.

My speakers are Quad ESL-57s (42 years after their release, Hi Fi News
declared them the greatest audio product of the century. Every other
site, even hard-nosed anti-audiophile sites like The Audio Critic,
likes them too).

My amplifier is a 25 year old Naim 250. (The founder of NAIM had
ESL-57s, and developed the amp to drive them well). I got my preamp, a
Naim 82 in 1992 (I know, only 18 years old). Naim charges a *lot* for
their electronics, but they expect you to keep them forever, and never
stop supporting old kit. I've had the amp tuned up at least once (the
electrolytic caps can leak after ~10 years). From reviews I've read,
they both measure well to the point of audio perception. While I am
probably paying more than I need for "perfect" amplification, the fact
that I can buy them and never worry about my amplification again is
nice peace of mind and makes the investment/yr reasonable.

I also have a Squeezebox and an external DAC, which are newer, but
there are compelling reasons for that, as digital music has greatly
advanced over the last 20 years, while speakers/amps were mature a long
time ago. I may also put in some room treatments, as the stereo is in a
room with pretty bad acoustics (very reflective), but when I find
equipment that solves a problem, why would I ever change it unless
there is a genuine advance that renders the old technology obsolete?

To me, the right way to be an audiophile is to find equipment you like,
and then enjoy your stereo. To me at least, my stereo sounds more like
having a live band in my living room than a stereo, and I've enjoyed it
that way for decades. Whenever possible, I buy something that I expect
will last forever (the Squeezebox is the only exception because the
technology is still immature. Even then, I'm in no hurry to switch to
the Touch)

> 
> How many are over 10 years ?
> Would you repair these if they break or would you just take the
> opportunity to get a new device which is the current state of the art
> on the market ?
> 
> I suspect audiophiles which buy a Transporter probably always want to
> have the best the market can offer. I bet there are going to be a lot
> better stuff than the Transporter handling digital music around year
> 2020.
> 
> I can't say that I own any really high quality electronics, my upper
> purchase limit is currently around $10k-$15k per device, but still,
> nothing in my music equipment is 10 years old. The amplifier and
> speakers are oldest but both are on the "to be replaced soon" list and
> none of them are 10 years old. In my world, with a bit lower
> expectations, I expect any high quality electronics to survive at least
> 5 years.
> 
> How many VFD display actually breaks ? Isn't this a pretty unusual
> issue ?


-- 
mps
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View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=84567

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