What's your biggest surprise in hifi?


After being in this hobby since the 70's, my own 2 biggest surprises are: [1] records sound better than cds. [2] More expensive isn't necessarily better. [for example, I once paid well over $10,000 for a set of separate components which were bettered by a $1500 integrated amp....What were your biggest surprises?
boofer

Biggest surprise? How many new players enter the market every year.

After all, this is a "dying hobby" right? So why so many new entries?

1. Never expected analog to be sooooo good.                                                         2. Tubes...really?  Ohhhh yeah!