The Psychology of Constant (Equipment) Change


Anybody have an answer?

I have a decent selection of preamps, amps, integrateds and speakers to choose from and I find myself swapping out gear constantly.  And it's not because anything sounds bad.  Quite contrary, really.

After most swapping sessions, I'm generally really satisfied and quite enjoy the sound quality.  But within a few weeks I'm swapping stuff out again.

What would be the diagnosis for my condition?

 

128x128audiodwebe

Showing 4 responses by hilde45

The same diagnosis that keeps you from going to the same restaurant every time. 

Try to listen to THE music and not the equipment and that will resolve your disease

Yeah, this hobby is not just about the music or no one would be here.

I swap out gear all the time. I have several pairs of speakers that all sound good, but different.

Exactly. It's about changing things, noticing differences, enjoying differences -- and also hearing the differences through the music. It's a both/and hobby. Accusations that this form of enjoyment is a disease are, themselves, pathological. Even, puritanical.

When we are not satisfied with a system there is two possible reason:

Frustration...
Boredom...

Ok those are two reasons. Are there only two? How about:

It’s fun to mix and match and do all the connections...

Fun. Fun is a reason.

So now it looks like three possible reasons.

Maybe there is even a fourth! Or a fifth!

About immersiveness (or "immersion" I would call it):

A high end system in a dedicated room will do better with an improved immersiveness for sure than my low cost one. But trust me we can live with minimal immersiveness.

There is what "you" can (or have to) live with and then there is "we." I can speak for "me" and some of my audio friends. What one can "live with" is not the end point with me (or us). And many others here would probably agree that they would rather seek better sound than "live with" the minimum. To each his own but that’s my two cents.

Once I identified how to achieve immersion and excellent sound qualities, I began to hear these aspects in other sound systems. In some cases, the gear was the difference which made a difference.

To be clear, I know this is a high-priced hobby sometimes. But it doesn’t have to be. But while very expensive gear is not a magic solution to getting better sound better gear is a very important element. And long posts about acoustics and the brain don’t justify ignoring the gear factor. If I cannot afford better gear, I just admit it or try to find something used or in kit form. But gear matters when all other factors are nearly optimal.

That’s why I don’t want to settle for "minimal" satisfaction. I find it an enjoyable part of the hobby to seek better sound.

 

 

Hilde45 ?

He hate my posts and even quitted a thread about A. I. because i gave too much information and he was unable or unwilling to discuss 

"Hate" your posts? No, not hate. But they go on and on and barely make sense. And you repeat again and again, the same points.

Anyone here for more than a couple years can just search for your posts and see how you make the same point over and over. Often, you don't get replies. Why? Because you say something with 1000 words when you could say it with 100.

You're a time-waster. You're too old to learn self-control. Pity.