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Glutton for Punishment?

Good day to the community!  I’m in the middle of a major system overhaul/upgrade.  Last night, an unusual thought occurred to me.  I was standing ankle deep in zip ties, various cables and cords, tubes and a plethora of equipment.  I was in a very uncomfortable position, sweating profusely, starting to cramp up and a bit disoriented and nauseous due to the various solvents and cleaner fumes.  Any sane person would not tolerate such a state.  Then it occurred to me, there was absolutely nothing I had rather been doing at that precise moment!  Masochism?  Stoic?  Insane?

We spend ridiculous amounts of money on this hobby and for me at least, I’m always looking for the next upgrade, the next best thing, the ultimate audio nirvana.  Couple that with the aforementioned discomfort, and I’m left with little doubt that I was born to suffer.  Sound familiar?  

an10490413
9 responses Add your response
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geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
No pain no gain.
rodman99999
6,125 posts
 
"Then it occurred to me, there was absolutely nothing I had rather been doing at that precise moment!"                                   If you’re having fun, while pursuing your hobby; all is well(ENJOY)! btw: Pain is just the weakness, leaving your body.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Addiction is a weird thing. Like in gambling, you can be losing your shirt and still be having a good time. 🤗 It’s called negative reinforcement. 
erik_squires
16,041 posts
 
I'm afraid I've released myself from this, but it took effort.

First, I made my own IC's out of pure silver. A little brittle, but nothing I heard made me want to change.

Then I made my own speakers. I have a long history in audio engineering, so this was probably easier for me than many others.
Then I gave up my monoblocks / pre / processor for an integrated.

Then I made my own power cables.

The argument can be made that my hearing is just not as acute as it was. So be it. I'm happy with what I have, and spend as much as I need, no more.

I need to get rid of more furniture, then buy a nice Butcher Block Acoustics rack, and I'm done. Please bury me in a casket made of the rack. :)


Best,
E
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
Obsessed? Who, me? 
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
Your hearing may not be as acute as when young but your discernment is improved and the distortions that we find fault with are mostly a temporal and harmonic and level phenomena, and have only partial relation with sine frequency.

That’s why an 80 year old with hearing that does not go past 4-5khz in sine tests can tell your tweeter sounds like crap (or not). 

Or hear fuse changes. and so on. The map is not the territory and whatnot.

That part of your hearing never goes away and your discernment powers pretty well always go UP as you age.
boxer12
8,656 posts
 
Yep, funny thing is I'll swear like a sailor while doing it & still enjoy myself. 
rodman99999
6,125 posts
 
@boxer12(et al)- As long as it’s doing you no HARM, it’s still a HOBBY! Have fun & happy listening!
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