Thread: The Finish Line

This past year has seen me purchase no audio gear and no audio tweaks. What's amused me the most is I have no desire to spend any additional money on audio gear. That's quite a change for me. I haven't lost interest in enjoying music and I still purchase new music but there isn't one audio component or tweak that has moved me to consider a purchase.

I think my state of mind takes into account several things. The first is I am completely satisfied with the audio performance of the systems I have assembled over the past four or five years. The various audio components and speakers that have graced my home during this time have been many. Each has been a fine performer during its time in my systems but my quest continued until I finally arrived at the gear mix I presently own. I am truly pleased with the two systems I enjoy daily.

The second thing that has impacted my audio purchase sabbatical has been my reflection on the diminishing returns delivered as one moves up the tiers of high-end equipment. It is extremely expensive to continuously search for some elusive advance in performance at ever increasing cost. The ratio of performance versus value grows tinier while prices approach stratospheric levels. I probably could have been equally as happy with previous systems and had considerably more savings had I settled down three or four years back. I certainly don't regret continuing my journey to this point but deciding exactly where the end zone is located seems like a worthy thing to consider, especially since we all know so well there is no real end to what is available and dangled before us in high-end audio.

And finally, I sat down with a list of gear I have owned during the past 45+ years since purchasing my first McIntosh MC30 mono amps in 1968 and put numbers to them. The total was a bit startling in that it exceeded $300K. That's a healthy number in anyone's book. Granted, I did not relinquish that amount all at once, more like sand through an hour glass, but it never really stopped until last year. I don't lament any purchase. The equipment was a pleasure to own, an education for me in many ways, and brought hours upon hours of enjoyment into my life. None the less, in retrospect I think I could have been pleased and entertained for far less expense throughout these years. Sometimes I have difficulty controlling my enthusiasm for something I enjoy. I have overindulged myself far more than necessary in a number of interests, not just audio.

I understand why some estates of those who have passed away include sound systems that have been in their families for a generation or more. Those owners built sound systems that pleased them and then simply stepped off the merry-go-round to enjoy what they had built. I have finally arrived at that same place. I won't say never because I don't know what the future holds, but for now I think I have discovered my audio journey's finish line.

Dan, that is just awesome! I envy your position, I really do. It's a great place to be and now all you need to do is enjoy the music. You've reached Audio Nirvana as far as I'm concerned! Major congrats!!!

Cool glad to hear your happy!

Originally Posted by MusicDirector

Wow, Dan what you wrote is eloquent poetry with meaning. You spoke universal truth in my opinion. The great and important thing is that you have found your audio happiness, your nirvana if you will and now it's time to enjoy the music, which is the most important thing. It is true enlightenment to sit back put on a record or what have you and let the music wash over you bringing you peace. To remove the gear from one's mind and truly listen to the music and engage with it is nirvana.
This is the very thing I wish folks to learn or start doing again.
What you said is so down to earth and sensible!
Enjoy the music!

~Eric

Eric.......I have been thinking about writing that post for a few weeks. I was motivated to gather my thoughts by my listening session with the studio system last night. I listened to three Holly Cole albums back to back (Don't Smoke In Bed, Night, Temptation). When the last song finished and the room fell silent I sat on the couch for at least ten minutes contemplating how immersed I was in the music. I found myself sighing and under my breath muttering to myself, "Simply amazing." From that moment until this afternoon when I posted the thread I have been thinking about my nearly five decades audio journey and where I am now. Happiness, satisfaction, and joy are but a few of the emotions I experience when I enjoy my systems. I know it's right when I can't think of anything else I would do to change anything.

Dan,

You are in a good place. The fact that you are enjoying music (old and new) and there is ZERO interest in spending more on equipment is fantastic. Enjoy music and life. The equipment "stuff" can be a distraction.

Oh, please do not disengage! You have too much value to add on forums like AS.

Mike.......Thank you. I do not intend to disengage. I know I have been posting less lately but not for lack of interest. I have multiple interests and only so many hours in a day.

We are counting on it Dan!

Great post! And glad to see PMC in your sig!

Im not ready to make an official declaration like you have here but I too have slowed way down since devialet and my PMC fact 12s took up residence.

Glad to see a fellow audiophile so happy and content. Enjoy!

jaxwired.......Yes indeed, happy and content.

Congratulations, I think I now know how you feel. I haven't bought anything for a month or so now, and I can't imagine buying anything else. Now it is just the music, which also adds up. I downloaded 8 albums from HD Tracks last week, and even with a 20% and 15% coupons, still was expensive.

That's great to hear Dan! You're in the right place for sure. Congrats! Quite the journey though wasn't it?

Dan...You are lucky to have commenced your journey 45+ years ago. There have been many advances in technology along the way, many formats have come and gone and have returned. But in the same breath there are vintage systems and methodologies that continue to hold their own which do indeed outperform some of the product flavours of the year. Especially so in the analogue world which is fundamentally analogous to the way in which we receive music. You are lucky to have spent so little money for so much enjoyment when compared to those who have just embarked on their journey of appreciation of higher end Hi-Fi.

You are lucky to have lived through to enjoy many decades of music genre. The Golden Age of music from the mid to late 20th Century which was very influential in shaping our current way of life.

I am confident that you will get many more years of continual enjoyment with your current systems as they are. Many components of which are certain to become timeless collectibles. There certainly is more to it than coveting shiny new boxes especially if the musical exhaltation is already there in your life.

Dan, that’s a nice write up on your audiophile adventure and coming to the finish line. I myself feel the same way as I just did a major power upgrade for my system and feel it will be a very long time before any new changes again. Now I can concentrate on acquiring funds to purchase a new diesel pusher motorhome next year.

Dan its nice to hear about someone that has found their 'happy place'

Congrats!

Dan, I'm glad you're in a good place. I too have slowed down. Right now I'm much more concerned with addressing my room in my new home than purchasing anything. Trying to focus on what I have and to maximize it.

Originally Posted by Steve

Dan...You are lucky to have commenced your journey 45+ years ago. There have been many advances in technology along the way, many formats have come and gone and have returned. But in the same breath there are vintage systems and methodologies that continue to hold their own which do indeed outperform some of the product flavours of the year. Especially so in the analogue world which is fundamentally analogous to the way in which we receive music. You are lucky to have spent so little money for so much enjoyment when compared to those who have just embarked on their journey of appreciation of higher end Hi-Fi.

You are lucky to have lived through to enjoy many decades of music genre. The Golden Age of music from the mid to late 20th Century which was very influential in shaping our current way of life.

I am confident that you will get many more years of continual enjoyment with your current systems as they are. Many components of which are certain to become timeless collectibles. There certainly is more to it than coveting shiny new boxes especially if the musical exhaltation is already there in your life.

Steve.......You are quite right about vintage systems and methodologies that continue to hold their own. With all the advancements in circuit designs and power boosts, it is not all that difficult to find audio components that are 40 to 50 years old that still stand up well in todays audio arena. Case in point, back in 1973 I purchased a McIntosh MA230 from a friend. He had it stored in a closet because the right channel had a frying noise in it and he had quit using it. I offered him $200.00 for the MA230 and he took it. I knew a McIntosh clinic was coming to town and about a month later the McIntosh clinic set up at a high-end audio store (Chelsea Audio) in Lake Oswego, Oregon. I carried my MA230 integrated amp into the store, met Dave O'Brien who put it on the test bench and dug into it. He replaced all the transistors in the preamp section and a couple of capacitors, threw away the old vacuum tubes and replaced them with new ones, set the bias, and ran some tests. I was a bit worried watching him pull parts out and remember asking Dave why he wasn't looking at a schematic of the amp while replacing all those parts. He chuckled and told me he knew the MA230 like the back of his hand. When he was done I received a graph showing less than 0.5% distortion 20Hz to 20KHz at 32 watts output. That was better than factory specs. Best of all, the repair and new tubes were done at no cost. I sure miss the days of the McIntosh clinics. I returned home with the MA230, connected it to my pair of Altec Valencia speakers and it sounded fabulous.

I kept the MA230 for five years before selling it for $500.00 and purchasing a new MAC1900 receiver. It did not take me long to begin regretting the sale of the MA230. As the years passed I occasionally thought of the MA230 and each time I saw one for sale I found myself considering a purchase but never made it happen. Last year I wrote a post on AA about missing my old MA230 and regretting letting it go. Member GaryProtein saw that post and sent me a PM saying he had an old MA230 that had been sitting in his basement for about 30 years that had belonged to his father. He told me if I wanted it I could have it. I was elated and accepted his offer. I ordered new shipping boxes from Audio Classics and had them shipped to Gary so he could ship me the integrated amp. When it arrived I put it on my bench, connected it to a Variac and slowly applied power. It powered up but I could not get the tubes to bias correctly. Rather than dig into it myself I decided to ship the MA230 to Terry DeWick in Tennessee for a complete refresh. Terry rebuilt the power supply, replaced some caps in the preamp, gave the MA230 a clean bill of health, and shipped it back to me. Once I received it I replaced the small signal tubes with new Gold Lion tubes. The original 7591 output tubes were still strong and in great condition. I connected the MA230 to a pair of JBL 4312A monitor speakers I have, a MR74 tuner, a Denon DVD2800 player, and began to audition the rig. I was amazed at the richness, warmth, and musicality of this vintage system. The McIntosh MA230 sounds so sweet. I was immediately transported back to the days of owning my original MA230 and was smiling ear to ear. I now spend a few hours a week enjoying this system. It never fails to bring a smile to my face. The MA230 stands up well against modern components and with the efficiency of the JBL 4312A's she can rock.







I purchased a McIntosh walnut veneer cabinet to compliment the integrated amp. To ensure the output tubes would not build up too much heat in the cabinet I installed two small fans on the rear of the chassis to draw air across the output tubes and keep things cool. The fans are 12 volts but I operate them on a 6 volt transformer so they spin slower and are dead silent. They still provide sufficient air flow and the metal grill on top of the cabinet remains cool to the touch.







Gary made a dream come true when he gave me his father's old MA230. It is such a joy for me to have the McIntosh MA230 back in my life. Not only does it sound very good but it brings back many memories of fun times when I am listening to it. There have been moments while listening to this vintage system where I thought I could be quite happy if this was the only system I owned.

So back to your comment, Steve. Yes indeed, vintage equipment can be quite competitive and viable against todays modern components. I am so pleased to own a McIntosh MA230 once again.

Since I mentioned the McIntosh Clinics and Dave O'Brien in the above post I will provide the link to Dave O'Brien's page on Roger Russell's website. It is an interesting read about a dedicated man who spent his working career helping others enjoy their sound systems. Rest in peace Dave.

I found it interesting to see Dave working on a McIntosh MA230 in the second photo on his page. For all I know that might have been mine.

Dave O'Brien's McIntosh Amplifier Clinic Page

Thanks Dan. Dave probably forgot more than most guys know today!