This year i mostly...

[Covenanter]

... put on weight.

Chris

 

[Daveperc]

Decided I couldn't live with scratchy volume control, noisy record deck, (and other minor niggles) so time for an upgrade (after 30+ years of service)

Realised that new kit would need new built in units etc as old shelves etc looking very dated....

Recognised that if new units were going in then carpet had to be replaced too.... had new carpet fitted

Sourced new units from Ikea - which involved visiting five different stores - about 650 miles of driving due to their lousy stock control system!

Ordered new EB2 speakers - and am learning to be patient...

Had my ears upgraded so I can really enjoy music again!

Repaired volume controls etc, fitted new motor to AR77XB for the vinyl, and now the whole old system really sings!

Bought subscription to Spotify, and rigged old laptop to play - now have almost unlimited music source

Spent too long reading this forum, narrowing choices of amps, Dacs etc ready for when EB2's are ready (Feb)

And typed story into this thread!

Happy Christmas all! :cheers:

 

[chebby]

Got tempted to buy a Naim UnitiQute at a very favourable price. But it would have taken at least 6 weeks to order so I lost interest. (If it had been in stock I would have bought it the same day.)

Thought briefly about the new M-CR610 but it's made of plastic and looks ugly and offers nothing new that's of any use to me.

Bought some JPW Sonatas in mint condition (and in original box) but, despite condition, had one duff tweeter.

Bought two MNIB (never used) Audax tweeters and fitted them in above. Cracking speakers. Still have plans for them in a second system.

Bought a new fig. 8 mains lead (£4.99) and cut it down to 0.75m and fitted an MK Safe Plug (£3.99) to replace the over-long mains lead on my Marantz. (Supplied lead went back in Marantz box for next owner.)

Bought an Apple iPad Mini. (Brilliant. Use it every day.)

Got some remarkably cheap (yet suprisingly good) Philips Bluetooth headphones discounted from £50 to £36. (I use these a lot with the iPad Mini when I am not at home.)

 

[luckylion100]

Fully embraced my midlife crisis and changed girlfriends to one that appreciates music.

 

[wilro15]

Decided to get a dedicated 2 channel system instead of just AV.

Transferred all my CDs onto Mac Mini.

Sold all CDs to Music Magpie.

Bought Kef Q500 ex-display (saved £200).

Bought Arcam FMJ A18 (ex-display).

Bought Arcam rLink.

Bought into iTunes Match.

Sold Arcam FMJ A18 (got back what it cost me).

Sold Arcam rLink.

Bought NuForce DDA-100.

 

[jerry klinger]

...... tried out various amplifiers without finding what I wanted, until the Naim Supernait 2 came along. This was one of those announcements that you knew would be a winner, and it is indeed probably my favourite amplifier what I've ever owned.

...... didn't buy a huge amount of music but relistened to my collection via the above. Got a few LPs though. - old stuff.

...... tried out some vintage gear for old times' sake but ended up moving it on. I have to say the old Kef Celeste IVs (1980-81 era) sounded amazingly good on the end of top contemporary electronics.

...... found a compact system for the spare room which I really really like (Pioneer XC-P01). Massive ear-tickler.

 

[The_Lhc]

Transferred all my CDs onto Mac Mini.

Sold all CDs to Music Magpie.

You know that's illegal right?

 

[Toolpusher]

Fretted over finding a job after ages unemployed.

Listened to music on the radio having had to flog my vinyl-based system, plus vinyl collection in the depths of the recession, to keep the Bank from the front door.

Finally found a new job, it's not a great job, but it is great to be working.

Almost immediately came into a sizeable sum of money, enough to buy a modest flat outright, plus fill it with all sorts of new-fangled HiFI kit.

Back in the game!

I pretty much feel like Bond, after Felix Leiter subs him the cash to keep playing cards. :bounce:

 

[The_Lhc]

Finally found a new job, it's not a great job, but it is great to be working.

Almost immediately came into a sizeable sum of money, enough to buy a modest flat outright, plus fill it with all sorts of new-fangled HiFI kit.

Was it a bank job?

 

[Toolpusher]

You'll nevah take me alive Coppah! :rofl:

 

[alchemist 1]

...bought vinyl.

Ooh !..........for the bathroom or kitchen ?

 

[CnoEvil]

.......got older and grumpier........and gave all my money to a builder.......here's hoping 2014 is better, :beer:

 

[knaithrover]

.....got promoted at work (much more free time) and finally FINALLY bought a detached house so i can now listen to music as loud as i like without worrying about neighbours.

I spend a lot of time in my new listening room.

Now my ears ring constantly...........

 

[steve_1979]

This thread reminds me of Jesse from the Fast Show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWr0E_Qb39A

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Got my first turntable i actually paid for

Paid for spotify

Laboured over buying an amp for months

Bought an amp

Bought a phono stage

Measured the frequency response of my room

Bought more music than ever before

+1

it was a busy year for the two...

 

[marou]

Bought some JPW Sonatas in mint condition (and in original box) but, despite condition, had one duff tweeter.

Bought two MNIB (never used) Audax tweeters and fitted them in above. Cracking speakers. Still have plans for them in a second system.

i bought some Sonatas for £100 (wood veneer rather than the later vinyl) for a second system on your recommendation, Chebbie, so let me take this opportunity to thank you for the wisest advice, best comment record, and general all-round goodeggness on this forum.

 

[chebby]

Bought some JPW Sonatas in mint condition (and in original box) but, despite condition, had one duff tweeter.

Bought two MNIB (never used) Audax tweeters and fitted them in above. Cracking speakers. Still have plans for them in a second system.

i bought some Sonatas for £100 (wood veneer rather than the later vinyl) for a second system on your recommendation, Chebbie, so let me take this opportunity to thank you for the wisest advice, best comment record, and general all-round goodeggness on this forum.

Thanks marou. I'm glad they worked out well for you.

What are the other parts of your second system?

I know this sounds like a daft question - given the price difference - but did you ever compare the Sonatas to your Harbeths? (I think you mentioned they were P3ESRs.)

It would be interesting to know if they shared any traits in character (if not refinement) given that they are both similarly sized infinite baffle enclosures.

I still think the lack of budget - mid-priced, infinite baffle bookshelf speakers is a pity.

The cheapest way (apart from buying used) to buy small IB speakers nowadays is either LS3/5A kits from Falcon Acoustics or Stirling Broadcast. Then it's a jump to £900 for Spendor S3/5R2s. (Unless I have missed any.)

The last ones I owned (apart from my Sonatas) were Naim nSats a few years ago, but they were going out of production at the time.

 

[JoelSim]

Met John Duncan

Annus Horribilis then?

Like

 

[JoelSim]

Stopped going out and getting S**tfaced on a regular basis to put all my money into buying stock and Google bloomin' Adwords.

Next year Rodney...

Thankfully already have a lovely hifi, which is now my best friend and on for at least 12 hours every day.

 

[pauln]

Spent 6 months living in a hotel (a very nice one in Russia) so bought some Bose Computer Mini Monitors - listened to them for 3 - 4 hours most evenings and the best £250 I've spent for a long time. Despite all the anti Bose snobbery amongst hifi folk, I think they sound fantastic plugged directly into my laptop and they don't add too much weight to my case.

Also, because we never sit in the lounge and listen to music anymore, I replaced my 20 year old Linn Index speakers with a Monitor Audio ASB-2 soundbar. Bought some Audio Pro Addon 5 active speakers for my daughters bedroom (excellent) and, finally, after a couple of years thinking about it, got some HD650 headphones. Next year I'll get a nice DAC amp for them.

Bought quite a few pre loudness wars CD's off ebay for very little, ripped them and put them in a box in the attic.

(Still covet some Harbeths but nowhere to put them)

 

[JoelSim]

.....got promoted at work (much more free time) and finally FINALLY bought a detached house so i can now listen to music as loud as i like without worrying about neighbours.

I spend a lot of time in my new listening room.

Now my ears ring constantly...........

What has a detached house got to do with anything? :shifty:

Mind you I am now on late night texting terms with the girl downstairs even if she doesn't pop up when I ask...

 

[pauln]

Fretted over finding a job after ages unemployed.

Listened to music on the radio having had to flog my vinyl-based system, plus vinyl collection in the depths of the recession, to keep the Bank from the front door.

Finally found a new job, it's not a great job, but it is great to be working.

Almost immediately came into a sizeable sum of money, enough to buy a modest flat outright, plus fill it with all sorts of new-fangled HiFI kit.

Back in the game!

I pretty much feel like Bond, after Felix Leiter subs him the cash to keep playing cards. :bounce:

ex Toolpusher then?

Quit the rigs in the late 80's myself.

 

[mikeparker59]

Spent a lot of time on Zoopla and Rightmove looking for detatched properties in my price range so I don't have to listen to the rumble of next doors TV interfering with my listening due the paper thin wall that separates us.

Found nothing so spent as much time researching soundproofing and realised that it's a lot more complicated than just sticking up a false wall and filling it with stuffing!

Back to Rightmove and Zoopla then!

 

[marou]

Bought some JPW Sonatas in mint condition (and in original box) but, despite condition, had one duff tweeter.

Bought two MNIB (never used) Audax tweeters and fitted them in above. Cracking speakers. Still have plans for them in a second system.

i bought some Sonatas for £100 (wood veneer rather than the later vinyl) for a second system on your recommendation, Chebbie, so let me take this opportunity to thank you for the wisest advice, best comment record, and general all-round goodeggness on this forum.

Thanks marou. I'm glad they worked out well for you.

What are the other parts of your second system?

I know this sounds like a daft question - given the price difference - but did you ever compare the Sonatas to your Harbeths? (I think you mentioned they were P3ESRs.)

It would be interesting to know if they shared any traits in character (if not refinement) given that they are both similarly sized infinite baffle enclosures.

I still think the lack of budget - mid-priced, infinite baffle bookshelf speakers is a pity.

The cheapest way (apart from buying used) to buy small IB speakers nowadays is either LS3/5A kits from Falcon Acoustics or Stirling Broadcast. Then it's a jump to £900 for Spendor S3/5R2s. (Unless I have missed any.)

The last ones I owned (apart from my Sonatas) were Naim nSats a few years ago, but they were going out of production at the time.

My second system - a Linn Classik which sounds very good indeed with the Sonatas - is in France so not really available for direct comparison with the Harbeths but interestingly, given the proce differential, I think the Sonatas wouldn't be far behind. But then one's expectations are lower when paying £100. The crucial elements for me are clarity in the mid and upper ranges and accurate rather than emphatic bass I.e. no boom. Both Harbeths and Sonatas deliver in these respects, the former wonderfully, the latter much better than I expected.

 

[matt49]

... spent the year pimping a long established and successful Sonos installation.

I did too many demos to count.

I bought some wonderful kit (Devialet, Sonus faber) and some stuff I regretted and will sell on (Cyrus). I did some good S/H deals (Sugden, Sonos). I had some kit modded (MDAC, Sonos).

En route I had my own epiphany: it is possible to replicate the sound of a concert hall in your living room.

I got into some arguments on forums, learnt lots about hifi, made some new friends, and heard lots of new music.

Now I have a fairly clear idea where I’m going, and in 2014 I hope to reach the sunlit uplands.

:santa:

Matt