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Can the need for novelty and change be mitigated by rotation?

There is a not too serious term audiophilia nervosa; it may be a joke, but it builds on a valid observation: there are people who are never content with their equipment in medium term.It is not the initial period, when one does know much about gear and learns; or the question of disposable income, when one gets the best they can afford, and upgrades untill he (or, probably less often, she) buys the dream system. Audiophilia nervosa is a state later on, a plateau, when a desired piece initially gives much satisfaction, yet it wears off, and the person gets uneasy and looks for smth. else.
To give a personal example, I was on a quest for my ultimate power amp. Had to be Pass Aleph; happened to find Aleph 4. Did not suit the speakers (Lowther Fidelio) too well; got other speakers (MBL 101b or c) ; still not there; got ML no. 23. Much better; but still uneasy about Aleph and speakers for it; got Gradient 1.5; fine with ML, Ok with Pass; exploring options, got Parasound 2200 mk2 (and a couple of PA amps). And I needed a preamp. Seller insisted on only trading ML no. 28 together with no. 27, — another power amp.
Now the ML 28 is there to stay; Gradient 1.5 are keepers too; but I’d keep old MBL101 even if they stopped working (I’d probably use them as garden sculptures), so they stay, too. But I have way too many power amps (the listed, and a few more), I would need to sell some.
The trouble is, I cannot decide. So, in order to decide, I rotate them. ML 23 is very good with MBLs, fine with the Gradients. ML 27 is very good with the Gradients. Parasound 2200 2 is very good with the Graients, - but in a different way. So I swap every few weeks, and I still cannot decide.
And after each break I [re-]discover things I like about the particular amp / amp-speaker combination.
Again and again...
Which made me think:
— What if this ‘rotation’ takes good care of my need for change and novelty?
After a while I will decide which one(s) to sell, and later on I will probably want smth. new. But for the time being, keeping and rotating them slows down my pace - and I see it as a good thing, as in the aftermath I do not think my decisions have been sufficiently well informed (for instance, I am getting used to the fact that I actually do not like sound of Pass Alephs as much as I thought I do, and my Aleph 4 may be the first to go).
inefficient
erik_squires
15,643 posts
 
Hey there,

I think there are two kind of related things.  One is a lot of tweaking is really psychosomatic BS. Get a good sounding room and you will quickly get off the merry go round of a lot of snake oil garbage. 

I also agree with you that it is fun to try different things. I saw an Anime where the cover of our superhero was a cafe which had a dozen different small tube amps, and I was really struck by the idea.  Instead of trading big iron every six months, keep a few sweet sounding amps that do not look or sound alike so you can swap them in on a regular basis.  Also, have an espresso machine.

Best,

E
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,830 posts
 
The other option is run different hifis in different rooms. Then take your pick where to listen...different rooms provide different opportunities. Streaming and wireless technology opens up new options not possible in years past. Gotta think out of the box.
inefficient OP
40 posts
 
Thank you, good points!
Once I try a bigger room, I am unwilling to go back to a smaller one. And I would not want equipment to spread too much; also I am unwilling to adapt the room too much. And no caves for me, please!!! Equipment must be neat enough to look acceptable in the living area, preferably good looking. If possible, no MDF paralellepipeds.
I am willing to take sound into account in planning stage (I plan to build a house, land plot is waiting), but first and foremost I want clean architecture and proportionate design. I am willing to plan for appropriate volume and proportions, materials, drapes, carpets, most probably double height or cathedral ceiling, culd live with a huge chandelier or two if they improved dispersion and reflections, but not unsighty panels and traps, at least not from the outset.
As for small amps, so far I like solid state better than tubes (have 300B SET, some older p-p EL84), and do not feel that more powerful amps are loosing smth. tangible compared to smaller amps. My current speakers have low sensitivities, 200W in 4 Ohm works, I do not look at less powerful amps.
ghosthouse's avatar
ghosthouse
4,279 posts
 
Periodically changing out gear (4 amps; 2 different floor standers) works for me too, though I tend to go a few months in between. Keeps the sound fresh with, as you say, each "new" setup having its own virtues.
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