I lately wonder why I’m an Audiophile.

@ghdprentice 

You are so right. An engaging system is quite desirable to listen to music. Luckily my CJ  preamp provides the warmth that blends with highly revealing other components to produce a very pleasurable result.  Even so, that is not the ultimate goal.of my listening, which is to be fully engaged in the music itself.
 

I got to a point several years ago where two very good, but different, systems have been fully optimized to reach their potential. I spent the last twenty or so years curating a very large record collection, which I found rewarding in several respects: first, I opened my ears to music that would not have crossed my path when I was stuck in listening to audiophile spectaculars; second, I learned a lot about label histories, and the stories behind a lot of records that were not on everyone's radar. And in the process, I learned more about music--not just from a technical or musicological perspective, but what scratches my itch- I can go from free jazz to "proto"-metal to disco to funk and popular music and find threads in all of it that appeal. Yes, there is considerable variation in sonics, but my mainstay is the "common" LP, not some special "audiophile" release. It's been a great learning experience and an adventure-- a process of discovery that no matter how many hours I devote to it, fills me with a sense of wonder -- the musicians, producers, sidemen (and women), the recordists, mixers, mastering engineers and all the people that contribute to these recordings give me a sort of faith in humanity that is restorative and feeds my soul. May you be blessed with the same sense of joy and wonderment at whatever music moves you.

Expense for added fidelity but small gains for much more monies after you  spend over $60 k on up  from my experiences  if  streaming for an extras few grand 

you can even improve so so recordings.

One of the beautiful things about being an audiophile is that, it’s like when you go to Burger King, you get to have it your way.  Happy listening.      

I no longer care about music, but I still like gear. Looking at it when it's just sitting there is enough generally as I like quiet and it really makes the tubes last if you don't use them.