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The awakening...

For the past 30 years or so I've considered myself a die-hard audiophile.
I've gone through similar phases and opinions like most of you probably have.
I've bought and sold many dozens (if not hundreds) of high end components and cables.
Audio research, Linn, audionote, ensemble, synergistic, Zu Audio, PS Audio, Yamamoto, modwright, REL, Klipsch, hafler, CJ, coincident, classe, anthem,  oppo, MIT, and many other brands I don't even remember. I've auditioned hundreds more...
I'm also an electronic technician so I had my share of experience with DIY.
I've gone from tubes and vinyl to digital and SS, and back around.
I've owned mini monitors and huge 6' Giants and everything in between.
I've heard the most minute differences in sound quality between cables and footers.
I've spent way too many dollars on fuses, tweaks and furniture.
I read reviews, and swore by specific brands.
I've put together systems which I was sure we're the best ever and defended my choices with a passion.

No more.

I'm sitting here right now in my (ex) music room, listening to a system that costs less than $350 total, and enjoying the music as I rarely did with my recent $30K one.
Does it sound as good and realistic as the $30K one? No it doesn't.
But it sounds damn good. It's musical, engaging, full bodied with a well established sound stage, good detail and tonality, well paced, and I'm having a blast!!!
I just don't care no more for the minute differences in sound quality.
There is no end to it.

I let go, and oh man it feels good to enjoy music without constantly analyzing and subconsciously looking for imperfection or thinking how much better it will sound with tweak X or cable Y or upgrade Z...
This tiny $350 system delivers 80% of the sound quality of the $30K one, and honestly probably better than many $5K ones out there. I mean it...
It doesn't make any sense no more!

I have no regrets ...
I've had a lot of fun and I met amazing people that I wouldn't have had I not been an audiophile.
I've experienced great uplifting monents and great disappointments.
I've laughed and cried, was blown away and frustrated... It was a great ride.

I am leaving this hobby behind and not looking back...
Damn it feels good.
I'll keep enjoying great music and HiFi sound, and will appreciate high quality equipment, but I won't be obsessed with it no more.
I still have a very nice system in my living room which is probably worth around $2K and will be more than I'll ever need going forward.
This amazing little $350 system is going to my office where I spend most of my week days and I'm excited about it...

I have woken up from the audiophile dream, and what has been seen can't be unseen.

Goodbye and thanks for the fish :-)

PS:
Since I know you are very curious, the $350 system consists of a Raspberry Pi as a streamer ($25) with an upgraded DAC ($60), an upgraded power supply ($50), a 20 watt Chinese digital power amplifier ($70), mini monitor speakers I bought as a kit ($100), DIY stands from leftover lumber ($20), and around $20 in cables...
I intentionally omit brand names, this post is not about recommending any specific item. It's about what amazing value you can get for ridiculously cheap these days in general.

I promise each and every one of you that if you were sitting in my seat right now, and I would have told you that you are listening to a $5K system, you would not have doubted it for a second. You are probably thinking that I'm crazy, but I am not. 
I've already tried this trick on a few very experienced audiophile friends this past week. :-)
128x128ami
ami's avatar
ami OP
63 posts
 
@n80 + @tomic601
I thought some more on your comparison of the cheap vs expensive thrill, and maybe there is another aspect here at play.
Driving a 1990 Miata might even be more fun that driving a 2018 Agera...
With the latter, any squeek or out-of-place noise, a late shift or delayed power transfer will immediately grab your attention and think "hmmm ... what is wrong?" For a car with that price tag, you will be expecting nothing but perfection, and anything that may seem less than perfect, will be disappointing.
With the former, you don't expect perfection. Some quirks, noises, and inconsistencies are part of the deal, and for the price tag, you don't really care. That leaves you with just pure fun, even though the performance level is not the same.
I also suspect that you will be willing to test the limits of the Miata more than you will the Agera, for fear of damaging it.
Does that make sense?

Same with a $30K system vs. a $0.3K one... I enjoy and appreciate it for what it is, and the amazing value it provides. Absolute performance is less of a factor.

Cheers and a merry christmas everybody!

desktopguy
383 posts
 
Interesting post: an "audiophile conversion/epiphany" narrative. I can relate (sort of).

Nearly 30 years ago I had my dream audiophile system set up in my 1st house: big Vandersteen 4s, tube amps, tube preamp, top notch tuner, TT, a couple modded early digital front ends. It sounded like heaven.

Moved to the 2nd house, much larger but (cue dark irony) with no really suitable place for that big system. So the system went into storage in my home office, where it remains to this day.

Late in the '90s I did all that was really left to me & started a desktop audio system. I've continually refined & expanded that. It's now near-audiophile. But it has the very considerable advantages of being headphone-capable: I own 6 solid state headphone amplifiers, 3 of which can also be used (very effectively) as a system preamp; + an OTL tube amp for headphones. And 10 headphones. 2nd advantage is a NOS DAC that has really changed how I regard digital.

Maybe I'm must "making do," but I'm also keep the audiophile flame alive. Some of these headphones are deeply involving and accomplished sonically.
tomic601's avatar
tomic601
12,989 posts
 
@desktop guy. set free the model 4, somebody out there needs them or the drivers, which are now unobtainable...just my two cents. good on you for seeking headphone nirvana, I surely enjoy the transparency of my STAX which i use in live recording

Ami, ignore spelling, grammar advice but do check out the band London Grammar, it is the internet after all....

i benefited greatly in life having rather extensive Kaizen schooling, including beatings, so my mindset is perfection should be sought but is rarelt obtainable...even a $200 M jet is designed to a price point and might not be perfect...YMMV

so yes, some of my high end toys are not messed with and others modified and thrashed to within inches of doom ( mine and the toy )
interesting why I view some differently.....will think on that...

i will most likely attend burningamp2019 in your neighborhood, buy you a cold one then ! hear your $300 marvel !!!!

ami's avatar
ami OP
63 posts
 
@tomic601 
Cool!
PM me and we'll exchange Email addresses.
I will be at Burningamp 2019 for sure.

n80
2,128 posts
 
@tomic601 "so yes, some of my high end toys are not messed with and others modified and thrashed to within inches of doom ( mine and the toy )"

I don’t have any high end toys at all, but my 350Z is now pure track car. I’ve been off roading more times than I can count. Crashed it once in the rain at VIR(no injuries...to me anyway). Rebuilt it. Put a roll bar in. Now it is worth almost nothing....and that is liberating on track.

One of the nice things about our audio toys is in general there isn’t much way to trash them.......I’ll never know if my Proceed will damage my Aerials.

Edit: I actually do have one high end toy and its the reason I don't have any other high end toys. 250 acres of woodland in prime hunting country with a cabin and 10 acre lake. Been paying on it for 17 years.
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