Review of Benchmark DAC1/AKG K701 System

[Worf101]

FOLLOW UP REVIEW

So to get to the real question: after almost a year am I still enjoying the DAC1 / K701 Combo? As I listen to "These Streets" and "It's a Pity" By Tanya Stephens (Reggae) I remember why I got into this hobby in the first place.... it's all about the music... and I've long passed the stage with this combo of listening for subtle details, soundstage, PRAT, dynamics or any other audiophile terms... I just listen to whatever song I feel in the mood for and really enjoy it...

I'm sure one day the upgrade bug will grab me by the ankles, hold me upside down and shake the money out of my pockets... but right now I'm enjoying listening to music more than ever, and I honestly can't think of a better recommendation than that...

Man, the brilliance and insight of these statements makes me want to stand up and cheer. How many people do you think are out there with HIDEOUSLY EXPENSIVE systems that never LISTEN to music? Every single minute of every day devouted to chasing the sonic 'Holy Grail" that will never be found and probably doesn't exist. I'm glad that somebody else at least "gets it".

Da Worfster

[Ajani]

Man, the brilliance and insight of these statements makes me want to stand up and cheer. How many people do you think are out there with HIDEOUSLY EXPENSIVE systems that never LISTEN to music? Every single minute of every day devouted to chasing the sonic 'Holy Grail" that will never be found and probably doesn't exist. I'm glad that somebody else at least "gets it".

Da Worfster

I think the problem is that Audiophilia is as much (if not more) about the love of electronics as it is about loving music...

Before I became an "Audiophile", I would spend my free time listening to top 10 and top 40 countdowns on the radio, watching them on TV and checking Billboard Charts online... I could tell you what song was no 1 and how many weeks it was on the chart, faster than you could blink. After getting bitten hard by the upgrade bug, back when I was loving music on a Panasonic MiniSystem (almost 2 decades ago), I found myself spending more time searching the net for product reviews and user ratings... I could tell you what the latest 5 Star rated Integrated Amp in the $1.5K Price Range was, but I lost track of what was happening on the music charts... I found that when I was bored with hearing my existing music collection, my first thought was to upgrade my system, rather than buy some new CDs...

I'm not opposed to Audiophilia, but I've learned that it is a ridiculously expensive hobby. There is no point chasing the non-existent Holy Grail of sonic nirvana, since there is always better gear available if you have the time and money to find it... My attitude now is to invest in a 'decent' (not necessarily expensive) setup and then focus on the music..... It's far more enjoyable and frankly, it's much cheaper to buy 10 new CDs whenever you get bored, than to upgrade your HiFi setup...

[jaxwired]

I think the problem is that Audiophilia is as much (if not more) about the love of electronics as it is about loving music...

True, but so what. Who's denying it and why is it a problem? The audio hobby is all about the equipment and it's lots of fun. Researching, demo'ing, buying, swapping, critquing...all great fun. Music is another great hobby. I have both. I think most audiophiles have both hobbies. They are different hobbies. I see no reason why they should be mutually exclusive.
Now if you spending money you can't afford or are just finding the audio hobby frustruating, then by all means, don't engage. But, people seem to think that abandoning the hobby in the pure pursuit of music is somehow morally superior. It's not. It's just a different way to spend your time and money.

[Ajani]

True, but so what. Who's denying it and why is it a problem? The audio hobby is all about the equipment and it's lots of fun. Researching, demo'ing, buying, swapping, critquing...all great fun. Music is another great hobby. I have both. I think most audiophiles have both hobbies. They are different hobbies. I see no reason why they should be mutually exclusive.
Now if you spending money you can't afford or are just finding the audio hobby frustruating, then by all means, don't engage. But, people seem to think that abandoning the hobby in the pure pursuit of music is somehow morally superior. It's not. It's just a different way to spend your time and money.

I'm not picking on AA here, but the question he poses in this thread:

Music lovers

is what guys like myself and Worf (presumably) are talking about. The belief held by many audiophiles, that you can't be a music lover unless you have a "high quality" system.

As dramatic as my post sounded, the aim was not to say that we should all abandon the audiophile (electronics) hobby, but to remind us that a love of and enjoyment of music does not require never ending upgrades, and bankruptcy.

Audiophiles traditionally claim the love of music as the reason for this hobby. I dispute that claim. Love of Electronics, tweaking and gadgets is IMO the real driving force behind Audiophilia.

[poppachubby]

I'm not picking on AA here, but the question he poses in this thread:

Music lovers

is what guys like myself and Worf (presumably) are talking about. The belief held by many audiophiles, that you can't be a music lover unless you have a "high quality" system.

As dramatic as my post sounded, the aim was not to say that we should all abandon the audiophile (electronics) hobby, but to remind us that a love of and enjoyment of music does not require never ending upgrades, and bankruptcy.

Audiophiles traditionally claim the love of music as the reason for this hobby. I dispute that claim. Love of Electronics, tweaking and gadgets is IMO the real driving force behind Audiophilia.

Uhhhh, hey man. I think you didn't get AA's post. He didn't say anything about high quality, but rather, that extremely low quality presents an issue.

[Ajani]

Uhhhh, hey man. I think you didn't get AA's post. He didn't say anything about high quality, but rather, that extremely low quality presents an issue.

Oh no, I got it.... and I should clarify: when you refer to things as extremely low quality, you are starting down a slippery slope... In AA's case he is referring to the cheapest of the cheap (laptop computer speakers and freebie headphones that come with your ipod)... However, Audiophiles with far more expensive setups than what AA has, will often refer to his gear as low quality... it's a slope... so that's why I differentiate between love of music and love of equipment...