What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?
So that is the question, "What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?" I would think it interesting to know what others have found in an introspective way. This is what I have found.
1. At first I believed in the hype created by over-enthusiastic new gear owners. Most often I made mistakes in buying gear other people liked rather than listening to audio components and picking the pieces I enjoyed. 2. I found more actual enjoyment in listening to my music and my equipment rather than lust after better equipment, much of which is out of my financial reach. 3. I can learn from others on audio sites like audiogon.com. Some other sites are much more geared toward advertising than exchange of ideas and/or opinions. 4. It is ok to want a Bose Wave radio. I once owned Bose 901 speakers in the 80's.
As soon as I think I have this audiophile phenomenon figured out, a new revelation tells me how wrong I am. This hobby can be humbling. Perhaps a good thing...
That if I frequent a room enough; a music system will end up in there. This phenomena has not changed since my teenage years. My wife keeps me in the basement at home.
Also These days in helping out audio friends, very satisfying trying to make the most enjoyable music rooms from the least amount of dollars. The plethora of used gear allows for this.
and
For me during summer months it is healthy to step away from Audiophilia and this site; Music becomes nature and those songs that go well with a campfire, and some beers.
Only to find year after year, that once the cold weather starts setting in, and I am for the most part inside most of the time in the evening ....
that here I am again.
It was 30 Celsius outside today - just checking in :^)
Ive learned that even if i spend a million dollars on a system that i probably will not be satisfied. (If i had a million dollars to spend on a system). And always think something is better out there to get me to my live music.
Funniest thread I've read in a while. And I think it's all true. Lol
And I also think we're all nuts. In the best way possible of course. Lol
What have I learned? That it's a good thing, or a bad thing I don't have a wife. Depending on how you look at it. And that we're very similar to crack addicts. I was told once that a crack addict can have a tractor trailer full of crack, and it's still not enough. We're the same way. All the money, and gear in the world doesn't insure our happiness. Only enjoying our little piece of crack (gear) will do so. I think we all have an addictive/impulsive personality. We've just chosen a different drug is all.
Do the research Learn to differentiate between value and hype Enjoy the music Be polite to hi-fi comrades Subjectivity and objectivity are slippery concepts
I eventually learnt not to trust magazine reviews or anyone with a vested interest.
I used to look down on pro/industry gear thinking domestic stuff was better. I tend to feel the opposite nowadays.
I learnt that there is no such thing as a definitive recording. Even if the recording remains the same, it's unlikely that the room and the system will. It's definite that you the listener won't. It just isn't possible to hear records the same way we did originally. Still we keep trying.
I have learnt that Hi-Fi is not everything. Hey, even music is not everything, believe it or not! For me tone is the best drug out there, but there's also a whole world out there too.
I even learnt to love Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, Jazz, Instrumentals, and even Classical. 20 years ago I couldn't imagine such a thing. That kind of stuff just seemed too boring then. I must be slowing down, in a good way.
I was always a lyrics man and music second, now it's 50/50.
One thing hasn't changed, I still love the Beatles.
1) I have listened to very expensive systems up to $1,000,000. I have found that you can spend a very modest amount of money and get really enjoyable system.
2) Always let your wife have the last big purchase.
@elizabeth It is not you. There are people on this site who are often wrong but never uncertain. They are smarter than everyone else, never test there theories and will not let facts interfere with their opinions.
Good points from all. A short story- I once had a friend (soldier buddy) who went to many of the same mobilizations and countries that I did. He had commented on the food, women, houses, clothes behavior of the people from all the places he visited stating America is so much better in all areas. He made very critical judgements, often stating facts. I mentioned he was exeriencing “ethnocentrism” and it was common for soldiers to do this when traveling abroad. I found over the years he was not interested in being introspective or learning much from others. He was sure about everything he knew about himself and the greater, bigger world around him. I often think about him when I read some comments made by audiophiles. We all can grow and learn, if we want to. If we see the education in that process and the benefit it can provide.
@elizabeth I thought your 6/23 8:42AM post one of the more remarkable things I've read here...and I mean that in a good way. Thanks for writing it. Apology accepted! even though I personally haven't felt attacked. Would that other writers practiced a little introspection and self-criticism. On balance, I generally enjoy and benefit from your grounded and unpretentious approach to audio. Yes, the "suffer no fools" attitude is a bit strong at times but not unwarranted in many cases. There are a few consistently solid contributors to these threads. You are definitely one of them (at least in my mind).
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