Has it all been worth it?

I hear what you’re saying. I currently own the best system I could put together. I also had a stroke a year ago (definitely causes me frustrations with things, including my hifi daily expectations), some days I love the Hifi some days I think what’s the next step to raise the level. I find some speaker adjustments always get me settled down, a small adjustment changes the sound I’ve become accustomed to. Not sure if it’s better but it is a different sound that reminds me I have a great system. I think I get so accustomed to my set up and sound, I get a little bit bored with it and start thinking what else do I need to buy. I’m retired so the last thing I need is a new piece of equipment, I spent the last 20 years getting my system to its current level, which I know is quite good. Don’t know if this helps you, but it’s what I’ve learned over the last few years. Going to Axpona doesn’t help me either, but it’s a fun time with my hifi buddies. 

The age old question.  For someone my age (68) i remember loving music comin out of little am radio back in the 60's.  However, I also LOVE hearing all these new high res versions of classics on my 35k rig.    To me, the quest was always worth it.  Maybe why my jaw still drops when hearing some 500k system at a show I know I will never own.  

I’ve been at this since I built my first amp from a Dyna Stereo70 kit when I was 14.  That’s 66 years ago. 

Sometimes I say it’s definitely worth it. Sometimes I say meh because it is such a hassle. 

I curse the fact that I have excellent hearing. Bad sound drives me wacko (my wife says it’s something else but let’s not digress). I have cervically-induced tinnitus, but my hearing tested as that of a 40 year old last fall. My ENT guy attributes that in part to having developed good listening skills from being an audiophile. So I have to feed the beast. 

Yes...

Just got back into 2ch 3 years ago. Before that I was a teen working as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. All my disposable income went into my stereo. It made a lot of noise, but not sure it was quality, at the time it didn't matter. 

Went into the Navy, somehow my middle sister owned my system. 

Got into home theater in the late 90's when DVD's came out. Lots of speakers, lots of dvd's. Still had a 200 disk CD changer, still purchased CD's. 

Then iTunes came out, most of my listening was on headphones, or in the car. adapters came out for the home system. 

Fast forward to 3 years ago, got back into vinyl, got a cheap TT, some vintage separates, and some KLH Model 5 speakers. I was hooked!!! The only piece left from that very modest system is my Cambridge Audio streamer. 

It's been fun searching everywhere for that one piece that was missing. Going to every record store in 100miles, my collection has gone from 0-3000 records. Have rebuilt my speakers, did a full restore on my pre & power amps, changed all my cables, got new stylus, new cartridges, done so many tweaks. Moved my speakers around 3000 times. 

Now it's the best sounding system I have ever had, it brings me joy everyday! A lot of time, I just look for a reason to turn it on. Now I'm just focusing on more records, some tweaks here and there. My new search is for a better cable for the TT.