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From: jabusch@uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: Re: Are these related???
Message-ID: <5700085@uiucdcsb>
Date: Sat, 13-Jul-85 13:03:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: uiucdcsb.5700085
Posted: Sat Jul 13 13:03:00 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 15-Jul-85 02:27:35 EDT
References: <5700078@uiucdcsb>
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Nf-ID: #R:uiucdcsb:5700078:uiucdcsb:5700085:000:4232
Nf-From: uiucdcsb.Uiuc.ARPA!jabusch    Jul 13 12:03:00 1985



	I agree somewhat.  If you really read my base note, you
would have seen that I did point out the necessity to list equipment
when it is necessary for good matching.  In fact, I used the power amp-
to-speaker relationship as an example!  But, it is not always necessary
to list everything else.  If you desire a new amp, the speakers you have
are your most important consideration.  Your preamp is very necessary
when getting a turntable and cartridge.  A CD is not a good idea when
you own an Emerson all-in-one boom box.  However, price range is usually
very important to consumers, and therefore you cannot discount it as 
unimportant.  If someone got a whole system at a very heavily discounted
price, but now wants to add something, if the appropriate device is far
beyond anything they can afford for the next twenty years, they should
look around at different options which are more affordable, if they truly
feel the new addition is necessary.
	Your contention is that if they cannot afford the equipment then
forget it completely.  This is reasonable advice, as long as there is no
alternate equipment that might fill their needs.  This is seldom the case,
however.  Just because you have certain brand names these days that cost
tremendous amounts of money and carry certain amounts of prestige does not
necessarily mean that there is no suitable addition that is more common
that will live up to the same demands, minus the prestigious name.
Witness the NAD line.  The NAD 3020 integrated amp, which only cost $220
dollars, was rated by a reviewers a few years back as being equivalent
in performance to preamps from other sources that cost up to $1000.
	The whole point here is that a budget is most important in audio
equipment purchases.  Do you own RS1's?  Obviously, if you don't, then
either you consider them inferior to the rest of your equipment, or else
you cannot afford them.  Does the fact that you can't afford them mean 
that you should do without speakers?  ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!!!  WHAT IT MEANS
IS THAT YOU HAVE TO SET YOUR SIGHTS A LITTLE LOWER, UNTIL SUCH TIME AS 
YOU CAN AFFORD THEM!!!!  UNTIL THEN, YOU GET THE BEST EQUIPMENT THAT 
YOU CAN BUY THAT STAYS WITHIN YOUR BUDGET!!!!   SO, THE NEXT REASONABLE
THING TO DO IS TO ASK AROUND FOR ADVICE ON EQUIPMENT THAT FITS WITHIN THAT
BUDGET, WHILE SUPPLYING INFORMATION ON THAT EQUIPMENT YOU ALREADY OWN WHICH
WILL HAVE DIRECT EFFECTS ON THE SOON-TO-BE-PURCHASED EQUIPMENT !!!!!
OTHER EQUIPMENT THAT DOES NOT EFFECT THE NEW EQUIPMENT IS NOT IMPORTANT,
SINCE YOU WANT TO GET THE BEST, ANYWAY.  
	Again, if buying speakers, the amp is necessary information.  But
most necessary is the amount of money that can be spent, since this is
the limiting factor in lots of cases.  There is no reason that all of that
money has to be spent if something cheaper exists which is superior or 
more closely matches your requirements.  There is also no reason not to buy
the best affordable, unless you have a reason to make the tradeoff.  
Howver, the whole reason for this note string in the first place is that
your cassette deck is not pertinent information for purchase of your CD.
What is pertinent is your budget and your preamp, possibly amp and speakers.
	My experience with people's stereo systems is that, unless the per-
son is losing his/her hearing for some reason or other, such as age or
job conditions, that person will gradually become dissatisfied with most
of their equipment after a given period of time.  Then, there is generally
a desire to buy new equipment with yet higher fidelity.  So, if a person
can afford something now, they should buy the best affordable so as to avoid
the reasons for replacing that equipment for as long as possible.  Until
then, if the desire is great enough, who is to say that they should not
put up with something they can afford, except that person him/herself?
Objective advice is important, not dictation.  The wise buyer will get
all advice and then weigh it carefully when looking at equipment.  Above
all else, the buyer should attempt to listen to a system as close to their
own as possible with the new equipment installed, preferrably in their own
home for a day or two, if the dealer permits.

John Jabusch