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Why do so many members seem afraid of making an audio decision?

I mean it's a hobby sort of.  It should be fun.  If you cannot hear the difference between two components, cables, or tweaks, then you can't.  It's ok not to.  Honestly, I sometimes think that some mass hysteria hits the audio community over a new product that later doesn't pan out or some (big)scandal, and people get bent out of shape over it. 

    Here in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs I'm fortunate to have a pretty good slice of audio dealers plus having very different opinions on the subject.  That I think is great.  I may not agree with some dealers' tastes or recommendations but that's also ok.  After doing this for a while, you learn from your mistakes and also get a handle on what you, yourself like without having to have someone else always telling you.  What I have learned over decades;  if I like something, I like something, and if I don't like it or hear it, or think it's an improvement, well I pretty much trust my own decision making.  I come to Audiogon hopefully to learn from the more experienced enthusiasts about recent developments and about my own stuff. 

128x128vitussl101
ghdprentice
6,998 posts
 

Many of us have learned over decades.

Learning to listen is many many layered, the information at every level is contradictory, the investments are substantial, overall sound quality depends on the whole system, many step are counter intuitive, the benefits are frequently not fully realized until hundreds of hours of use, and many folks are not good with complex decision making to start with, at least until they have heard concrete improvements in sound quality as a result of their choices.

It goes on. Decision making in highly uncertain environments takes skill (function of prefrontal cortex) and years of experience really help.

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,585 posts
 

Funny:

This morning I balked @ buying the spring loaded "on sale" footers ($13.45/set of 4/free delivery) noted in a new/recent thread, but this afternoon I purchased my wife a $900 Elsa Peretti necklace without a flinch.

Good question.

 

DeKay

jayctoy's avatar
jayctoy
4,080 posts
 

Iam also close to Chicago area, true OP we are bless to have many audio store here, Music Direct is also here.In my situation it took many years to learn this hobby,Many valid reasons why many audiophile don’t want to make decisions . In my case many yrs ago, I did not have funds , plus I need more experience before I can make those expensive decisions?Once I felt I have accumulated enough experience that’s when I started making big decisions in this hobby.Good thing about this hobby you can buy used  and resell if you don’t like it.

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

One of the blessings of living in a large metropolis is having enough dedicated high-end audio outlets to actually be able to listen to components and systems -- to gain a sense of what is truly excellent, what you truly prefer among those excellent choices, and how much lucre you must be willing to part with to make you happy.

Then again, if you don't have reasonable access to several stores, it's perfectly okay to read the audiophile magazines, hang out on this website, and search out enough live music to be able to get a finger on your particular tastes. Go to a bar with a live act. Go to a C&W venue or the local symphony/chamber music society (if one exists). When you're at the bar, listen to the clink of glassware and people's voices. In other words, develop an ear.

lak's avatar
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lak
4,642 posts
 

+1 vitussl101

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