Hi. I've been fascinated with the idea of high-end audio/video equipment for years but haven't been in the position financially (until recently) to really consider becoming serious. I've read a bunch of material, ogled the specs of nice equipment and planned out purchases. However, I've held back because I'm concerned that I simply won't truly be able to hear much (any?) difference between my entry level(+) components and better components. My hearing is somewhat damaged from loud music abuse when young as well as 30 years of motorcycle riding, the first 3rd of which involved riding with no hearing protection beyond wearing a helmet. I'm certainly not to the point where I require a hearing aid but frequently do not hear things which my S.O. can detect.
Are my concerns warranted?
Current audio equipment (ignoring video for the moment), such as it is:
Yamaha HTR-5640 receiver purchased 10 years or so ago
Pioneer PD-M423 CD changer purchased 20+ years ago
Polk Audio Monitor60 Series II Floorstanding speakers purchased about 1 year ago
MartinLogan Dynamo 300 Subwoofer puchased several months ago
I realize that I've asked an impossible question. However, I'm guessing that other folks have gone through the same soul searching that I am. I would love to go out and buy a Marantz AV8801 and MM8077, for example, but I'm afraid I would end up feeling empty when I couldn't detect any sonic difference between the output from those and that from my Yamaha receiver.
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Uncle Lumpy
Are my concerns warranted?
Current audio equipment (ignoring video for the moment), such as it is:
Yamaha HTR-5640 receiver purchased 10 years or so ago
Pioneer PD-M423 CD changer purchased 20+ years ago
Polk Audio Monitor60 Series II Floorstanding speakers purchased about 1 year ago
MartinLogan Dynamo 300 Subwoofer puchased several months ago
I realize that I've asked an impossible question. However, I'm guessing that other folks have gone through the same soul searching that I am. I would love to go out and buy a Marantz AV8801 and MM8077, for example, but I'm afraid I would end up feeling empty when I couldn't detect any sonic difference between the output from those and that from my Yamaha receiver.
Thanks in advance for any insights!
Uncle Lumpy