Why I'm RETURNING the CSS Criton 1TDX Upgrade Kit! Reckless Spending & Audiophile Addiction!

[Superman]

i gotta say, my favourite reviewer. Clear preferences, covers all the bases, understands bass. reviews smaller companies too. love it.

[seanb]

If you talk with speaker designers at shows they are not normally 100% sold on audiophile crossover parts…some actually prefer Dayton brand for voicing…of course they are all happy to swap out for Clarity caps, mundorf, etc for an upgrade cost. I think people would be shocked to discover that there are Dayton parts in high end speakers

[keepingupwiththejones]

I appreciate the honesty in this video. Wouldn't expect anything less. This is how you handle life❤❤

[Casey.S.]

Good video and some things a lot of us probably needed to hear, lol. 👍

[willbrink]

Had a similar experience a while ago: My ATC SCM 19v2 are great speakers. Other than being a tad base shy (a sub highly recommended...), they're as good as anything I have heard. I ordered the upgrade package for them from GR and ended up returning it when I realized it was just wanting an "upgrade" for the idea, not due to any short comings of the speakers. I have upgrade-itis bad some times as many (most?) audio heads do. Right now my system is outstanding and really does not require any changes.

[davidtapogna]

Happy to see you review CSS audio. Last year, I built the 1 TDX w/ the superior crossover and have to say it's the best sounding 2-way monitor I've ever owned. (and I've owned many) They pair very well with my Raven Blackhawk tube amp.

[roybatty-]

Thanks for making this video, I was literally just thinking about upgrading the crossovers in my SVS ultra bookshelves. I think they sound fantastic. Why drop $400 and tear them apart if it is perfect for my purposes? Based on an error that Bestbuy made I got the pair for the price of one speaker, so I feel like I already won big time. Then I started thinking what is the point of just upgrading the crossover without dropping coin elsewhere? I.E. Upgrading my amplifier, subwoofer, cables, purchasing ultra high quality format music files, altering the acoustics in my room, getting a power filter, etc. How deep down the rabbit hole would I need to go and how large of a dent would I need to put in my wallet before I could say, "That was worth it?" Slippery slope IMO but to each his own.

[whocares]

I can not agree with you more. I have had my ADS M90 Speakers for 30+ years and I have reached the point where I wanted a new better sounding pair. I pulled the trigger after saving 2-3 years and I will be happy.(I told you what on your Franco Serblin review) I bought 2 1508 REL Subs, there is a 1510 now, upgrade? Nope! I have a SMSL VMV D1 DAC I choose over the ARES II since 2019, I MAY upgrade but do I REALLY need to, I wonder... Upgrading is only really necessary when you have some "spare change" and can really hear a difference. You can change a piece here and there but as some point we just need to be happy with what we have! I am in mid upgrading and it takes time to find things TRULY worth upgrading to! Thanks for your thoughts as always.

[timball]

Awesome analysis of "upgradeitis". However, as an owner and builder of CSS 2TD.s then upgraded 2TDX's and then 1TDX's with their bass modules (currently building) I can say that you lose nothing, to my ears, with the X upgrade and gain much in extension, definition and transparency, without, losing the sweetness of th standard version. I find that they compete with products more than double their cost. I anxiously await your review and opinions.

[raphaelmeillat]

Great video featuring a wise message! Thanks for sharing.

[tharak]

Hi Nemo, thanks for sharing your experience. I have at times wasted money upgrading unnecessarily 😢. I think I have a good system now but always have a feeling something better is there and I want to sell parts of the current system before it looses much resale value. Currently using bluesound + Hegel H90 + LS50M + JL D108. I am very happy with the system but I am looking at selling the LS50M and getting a CSS Criton 1 TD or TDX. I may be able to do this without spending any extra money. In your opinion do you think it may improve the overall SQ? I love the LS50M but from the all the reviews I’ve heard CSS has better bass, midrange and less fatiguing treble and my room size has now changed to 5m x 5m. Cheers!

[jonlevinson]

This was a thoughtful video. Glad you're comfortable with your upgrade path. I know from a prior video you did not upgrade the firmware in your Ares II for similar reasoning. I did and was pleased with the results, but the 2nd firmware push was an even more marked difference and I'm happy with the outcome. That said, a firmware update can easily be rolled back where as hardware modification not so much. i get it.

Since returning to HiFi a few short years ago the analogy that works for me is comparable to computer upgrades: each time I add, or subtract, a component I ask where am I moving the bottleneck? Either perceived or actual ... Began with an old 1980s Technics system and Cerwin Vega speakers from back in the day and came to realize "old" does not equal "vintage." Haha Decided on some "mid-Fi" components some of which were to my liking, some mis-matched, but the experience after a 25 year absence - along with videos such as yours - put me on the path to choosing (prioritizing) components that suit me much better. Yes, it cost money - real money - but I've arrived at a point where it's rewarding to listen. Now I'm treating HiFi like shopping for an automobile - make a decision and don't like back until the lease is up ;-) That also means cutting back on content to avoid FOMO or 2nd guessing. Enjoy your Discord channel and you've been doing a great job with your videos.

[Reluctantaudiophile]

Man did you nail it. When I ask myself this question, my answer is usually “more”, nothing I can actually state, just “more”

[Greenapul]

Tweak your room treatment instead of buying new gear.

[S.G.N.]

Great advice with audio: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Find what you love and be satisfied!

[AbsoluteFidelity]

Current owner of the Chora and Aria and Im saving up for a pair of used Sopra 1s. I NEED that upgrade. 😂😂😂😂😂

[blakef]

Thank you Nemo! Your chasing the dragon analogy is spot on. I bought a pair of Advent Legacy 2 way speakers way back. As in 1989. They are still in my current living room with new foam surrounds after the originals had disintegrated after about 15 years. I just replaced the old electrolytic caps with poly caps. They sound as good as new. I've swapped them out with several different speakers like Magnepan MMGs, which were very different but excellent. Mission bookshelf speakers were just ok. Currently I have a pair of Klipsch R-50R speakers which are very good in the midrange and treble. Very tight speakers. Seriously considering putting together a pair of CSS Criton 1TDX because of the great reviews and the fun factor. But you know what? The 34 year old vintage Advent Legacys aren't going anywhere. That warm, room filling sound is so satisfying.

[seanb]

Great video so much truth. Nemo if you went floor to ceiling with GIK corner traps with scatter plates…treating at least the corners behind your speakers…i think you would be very happy

[carlsitler]

I'm extremely happy with my super cheap system (sub $2k). I bought my dac, preamp and amp new but my speakers, sub and sub amp were used. My high end iems and planar headphones were new as well.

[jonathanluttrell]

This is me in a nutshell. I never need to upgrade, but I love that rush of new things/retail therapy. I have sold off a lot of things in the past year because of it. My first child is on the way soon, which has made me reign in this habit and work on better self control. Room treatment made my speakers way better without buying new speakers.