Audiophiles come in many different types with different values. But most are bent on achieving the most pleasing sound reproduction possible. I have been one for 50 years and always humorously considered it a disease. My partner jokes about there being two currencies: regular dollars and audio dollars... $1 dollar = $100 audio dollars... Charmin TP... too expensive! $5,000 for a set of interconnects a good deal.
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Some audiophiles are obsessed with equipment, some sonic details, some cost effective sound, some the magic of live music. Personally I have reached for the best possible system by buying one component and then working to upgrade and match the quality across my system, then really enjoy it for five to ten years, then reach up and upgrade another level (rule of thumb.. double the price and you get a wow level improvement). I would enlarge my music selection and read about equipment in between upgrade cycles. Great to do on airplanes... buying CDs in Japan or Scotland the local stuff. Then as my income rose, I could go up another level. My tastes changed over time as my early desire for more bass expanded to encompass all aspects of reproducing music.
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Overall, the most enjoyable time is between upgrades... just really enjoying the music. It relaxes me, opens my mind to deeper thought. Increases the enjoyment in my life. I was a corporate executive for most of my career... very stressful, lots of international travel, lots of conflict. Sitting quietly and being immersed in the experience is simply amazing. Ten years ago I got season tickets to the Symphony... 7th row center. I have been able to tune my system such that if I closed my eyes I could not tell whether I was at the symphony or at home (assuming a good recording in an hall with similar acoustics). So, while a disease, it can be a real constructive and rewarding one.
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For all practical purposes I am the only one that has listened to my system. However, I do know a couple of aspiring audiophiles whom I am trying to guide through the process of learning about what they really want out of a system and putting one together with the minimum mis-steps. Audio systems are system... with move variables than you can shake a stick at. So it most be a pursuit of passion to be successful and rewarding. Since achieving high levels of performance is expensive, the upgrade process can be stressful. Some people are well adjusted many are not, in general public and as audiophiles... are there more alcoholics or audiophiles? ... which ends up prematurely dying? Personally, bicycling, mountaineering, photography, SCUBA diving, and audio have pleasantly balanced my life with work.
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Some audiophiles are obsessed with equipment, some sonic details, some cost effective sound, some the magic of live music. Personally I have reached for the best possible system by buying one component and then working to upgrade and match the quality across my system, then really enjoy it for five to ten years, then reach up and upgrade another level (rule of thumb.. double the price and you get a wow level improvement). I would enlarge my music selection and read about equipment in between upgrade cycles. Great to do on airplanes... buying CDs in Japan or Scotland the local stuff. Then as my income rose, I could go up another level. My tastes changed over time as my early desire for more bass expanded to encompass all aspects of reproducing music.
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Overall, the most enjoyable time is between upgrades... just really enjoying the music. It relaxes me, opens my mind to deeper thought. Increases the enjoyment in my life. I was a corporate executive for most of my career... very stressful, lots of international travel, lots of conflict. Sitting quietly and being immersed in the experience is simply amazing. Ten years ago I got season tickets to the Symphony... 7th row center. I have been able to tune my system such that if I closed my eyes I could not tell whether I was at the symphony or at home (assuming a good recording in an hall with similar acoustics). So, while a disease, it can be a real constructive and rewarding one.
.
For all practical purposes I am the only one that has listened to my system. However, I do know a couple of aspiring audiophiles whom I am trying to guide through the process of learning about what they really want out of a system and putting one together with the minimum mis-steps. Audio systems are system... with move variables than you can shake a stick at. So it most be a pursuit of passion to be successful and rewarding. Since achieving high levels of performance is expensive, the upgrade process can be stressful. Some people are well adjusted many are not, in general public and as audiophiles... are there more alcoholics or audiophiles? ... which ends up prematurely dying? Personally, bicycling, mountaineering, photography, SCUBA diving, and audio have pleasantly balanced my life with work.