Changing audio beliefs

Current beliefs - and since I started with this hobby just more than a year ago. Once decided on the electronic components (amp/pre-amp/DAC), I stayed within the specific ecosystem. All components and interconnects including speaker cables, provided by the same manufacturer or cables recommended. 

The front end components - streamer and turntable - are the only variables for upgrade in the future.

Audio beliefs, like many other beliefs I held as a young man have changed. 

I am less susceptible to advertising claims, peer pressure, and the need to please any man. 

Like my progression in understanding wine my audio tastes went from Bartles and James to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti over 50 years.

@zavato 

"Are there any audio beliefs you once held to firmly that you no longer subscribe to? 
I was an ardent believer in cables. I still believe cables matter but now not so much. Beyond a basic level of competence in the cable and connector, in my opinion, the rest is smoke and mirrors."

Most individuals in this and other forums simply parrot marketing hype and desperately want to believe it when they shell out hard currency based on these superfluous claims without ever doing any substantive discovery to dispel as you said, the "smoke and mirrors".

I am not sure on the topic of Audio Belief, but when I was a child I watched my Father alter our domestic ring main by making all the wire run twisted pairs and replacing them in the sockets.  As an Engineer I follow his example and the difference is astonishing. So the Belief is that wiremen do the best job possible, when in actuality they do not. Sort of beliefs we are given which are false.

This may seem offensive to some but audio or rather being an audiophile must have it’s place. In my world, it’s not that important. It’s a hobby and I don’t make it more than that. I have other interests as well. But when it comes to my time with friends, family or even my dogs, my audio room will take the back seat. Where this really becomes a factor one can see is when another audiophile sees the hobby as competition. If one has bought a new set of speakers that may sound better than his buddy, he must purchase replacement speakers that sound even better. I don’t do this because it’s not ever going to be that important to me and that is silly. I like to keep this hobby enjoyable to me and don’t worry about impressing others. This keeps it cool and fun.