# Your Next Upgrade? (Part 1) **URL:** \ **Category:** Everything Else\ **Created:** [October 20, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682 "2020-10-20T23:01:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 427
**Author:** ![vkennedy61](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/vkennedy61/32/41241_2.png) [@vkennedy61](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/vkennedy61)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8608 "2023-03-23T17:55:02Z")
> [@mark-d](#): > > Moving on in my years…sitting in the sweet spot dissecting what I am listening to becomes less of a priority and more of a habit that I can do without I do like main rig listening, but I also really enjoy mobile listening with either IEM’s or decent earbuds. I recently got a set of Nobel wireless IEM, they are surprisingly good. No noise canceling, but I find that feature veils music, it’s great for phone calls, but I don’t use these for that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![amsco15](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/amsco15/32/28_2.png) [@amsco15](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/amsco15)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8609 "2023-03-23T18:15:00Z")
I have a theory that listening to music on a good system trains our brains to hear much more detail on even the cheapest systems. ---
**Author:** ![dcm](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/dcm/32/299862_2.png) [@dcm](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/dcm)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 6:26pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8610 "2023-03-23T18:26:31Z")
I can buy that theory. Ive done a lot of work in studios and I feel like my ear has been somewhat “trained” by the process of layering instruments to the point where I might be able to pick out things deep in a mix. Or who knows, maybe I just _want_ that to be the case 😆 ---
**Author:** ![weedeewop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/weedeewop/32/190064_2.png) [@weedeewop](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/weedeewop)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 6:44pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8611 "2023-03-23T18:44:46Z")
I have a similar theory, but attribute it to routinely listening to good live music performances. Makes even my best system sound tolerable. ---
**Author:** ![adifferentpaul](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/adifferentpaul/32/282181_2.png) [@adifferentpaul](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/adifferentpaul)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8612 "2023-03-23T19:04:21Z")
My most recent upgrade involved no purchases (yet), but moving my speakers further apart, sort of mimicking the placement of Magnepan 3.7i from a youtube video (my speakers are not Magnepan). The soundstage widened and the upper bass emphasis lessened a little more. The magic is definitely there with the CJ tube preamp feeding the M1200’s to the Sonist speakers with jazz and female vocals, and has now expanded to other music sounding more satisfying too. Now I need to work on the spikes at the bottom of the speakers. Suggestions?? ![magnepan37i](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/3/8/38b8b835b7761ed92323c68c8ec96958c2f8031e.jpeg) ![room](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/7/a/7af90effee41e89f4cf32a7909994b495ff599a5.jpeg) ![bottom](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/2/1/211c70660abe2c4e70c461c76739953aecf1227a.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![brian.fitterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@brian.fitterman](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/brian.fitterman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 7:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8613 "2023-03-23T19:18:48Z")
With the wood floors I would Giai or others in the forum think the Townsend devices are even better for decoupling ---
**Author:** ![SpyderTracks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@SpyderTracks](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/SpyderTracks)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8614 "2023-03-23T19:58:46Z")
Hugely approve of the ISOAcoustics Gaia’s, have those on mine, amazing, generally love all the ISOAcoustics stuff. Not experienced the Townsend stuff, is that US based? ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 8:09pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8615 "2023-03-23T20:09:13Z")
Herbie’s has nice brass/steel/titanium cups for receiving spikes that are sliders on the bottom of the cups. They are pretty cheap and I would consider experimenting with those by themselves and sitting in/on some sort of dampening material. My understanding is spikes can move vibrations in both directions so finding something to “drain” them to and prevent the return of energy to the speakers would be worth exploring. You may find the spikes should stay with the right combination of material allowing for the decoupling from the floor. More theory and product information here: > **[Cone/Spike Decoupling Glider](https://herbiesaudiolab.com/products/cone-spike-decoupling-glider?variant=12645103403063)** > > Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders for use between spikes and floor: absorbs a substantial amount of cabinet vibration, allowing speaker baffles and the cabinet itself to remain more motionless in place, and eliminates any reverberation from the floor... PS I use the Cone/Spike Decoupling Gliders under the spiked feet of my equipment racks. SEE ---
**Author:** ![brian.fitterman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbce88/32.png) [@brian.fitterman](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/brian.fitterman)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 8:12pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8616 "2023-03-23T20:12:39Z")
Townsend is UK based. ---
**Author:** ![SpyderTracks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/57b2e6/32.png) [@SpyderTracks](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/SpyderTracks)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 8:18pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8617 "2023-03-23T20:18:51Z")
Oh, really? Absolutely fantastic, will get some of theirs to test ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 8:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8618 "2023-03-23T20:30:05Z")
I’m a big fan of Sonist speakers. 👍 ---
**Author:** ![Baldy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/baldy/32/223847_2.png) [@Baldy](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Baldy)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2023, 11:21pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8619 "2023-03-23T23:21:45Z")
I think you on to something there. I still enjoy the music as much as I did when I was a kid in grade school. After having put a couple of fairly expensive stereo systems together I get what that particular scene is about but it is just as easy to enjoy the tunes coming from the boom box as it is listening to a couple hundred large singing to you. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8620 "2023-03-24T00:10:52Z")
I think it all stems from loving music. If music reaches you (it’s odd to say but I know persons who are not touched or reached or as one puts it “understands” music) then in time you learn to enjoy it on a portable radio, a car radio, a compact micro system of the 'eighties, and on large expensive stereos such as we connoisseurs know how to put together. Add another layer such as learning to play some music, complex or simple, rhythmic or melodic, and again you may sense how to extract minute information without strain on rugged and ragged rigs. And (I’m imagining and second-handing here) learn how to build playback equipment and you learn how to listen to all types of playback. Behind it all is an interest or a love for music. For most of us here there probably isn’t even a clear memory of when we fell in love with music, but we sure did. ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:15am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8621 "2023-03-24T00:15:12Z")
I know plenty of people uninterested in music. Nothing odd or wrong worth this. ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8622 "2023-03-24T00:16:41Z")
In my life it’s not wrong, but it’s odd. My family has always been interested in music, sacred and secular, and as a result I think almost everyone I really “know” is. . . it’s odd among my friends and family not to be. But it’s not wrong, just eerily different. ---
**Author:** ![weedeewop](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/weedeewop/32/190064_2.png) [@weedeewop](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/weedeewop)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:20am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8623 "2023-03-24T00:20:05Z")
I find time and space to make a special place for the arts in my life to the best of my means. Certainly others may choose not to, their choice. I don’t try to understand it, tolerate it yes; embrace their choice no. ---
**Author:** ![scotte1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/scotte1/32/147_2.png) [@scotte1](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/scotte1)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:23am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8624 "2023-03-24T00:23:29Z")
Not my next upgrade but would probably be my personal end-game amplifiers if I currently had the scratch: ![](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/b/f/bf40bee5e00e17f1b02fd52c7c21b59c9c43f2a3.jpeg) Breathtaking, in my eyes - inside and out… More info. here: > **[Pair of Accuphase A250 Class-A Mono Block ... For Sale | Audiogon](https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisb2779-accuphase-a250-class-a-mono-block-flagship-power-amplifier-solid-state)** > > Accuphase A250 Solid state for sale. 2 years old, Brand new condition , original packaging and accessories. Replaced due to systems Upgrade. Voltag... …and here: > **[a-250\_e.pdf](https://www.accuphase.com/cat/a-250_e.pdf)** > > 10.54 MB ---
**Author:** ![Elk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/elk/32/1240_2.png) [@Elk](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Elk)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:29am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8625 "2023-03-24T00:29:52Z")
“Odd” and “eerily different” implies something pejorative, rather than simply uncommon in your personal circle. Then again, pethaps my complete disinterest in team spots such as baseball and football makes me “eerily different.” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![tony22](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f04885/32.png) [@tony22](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/tony22)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8626 "2023-03-24T00:30:40Z")
Yeah, I too saw this listing. I’d probably stop at a pair of Pass XA160.8s, but still - these Accuphase are _beautiful_! ---
**Author:** ![lonson](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/lonson/32/249792_2.png) [@lonson](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/lonson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2023, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682/8627 "2023-03-24T00:34:15Z")
I don’t mean it pejoratively in any fashion, I just honestly have not been familiar with many persons at all who are not interested in music if not passionate. I understand others may have been around such persons or may be one in an intellectual manner, but it’s still “odd” to me and “eery”–and hey I actually like “odd” and “eery” so they are not adjectives I use with any form of distaste. And I only make an effort to enjoy team sports for my wife when she is watching or wanting to watch. So maybe I’m also odd and eerily different. Which is not a bad thing. [Previous page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682.md?page=426) [Next page](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/your-next-upgrade-part-1/19682.md?page=428)