the process is more challenging than the result

I agree with the last paragraph that many are chasing sonic utopia rather than listening to music. However, I do not agree with the comment in the first paragraph that the process is more challenging and enjoyable than the result. This is a generalization that assumes all people are motivated by the same thing.

I am reminded of the existentialist philosopher Kierkegaard, who categorized people into two groups. One group consists of people who are never satisifed in life. They are always on a journey. They have no use for material objects as an indicator of success because it implies that they have found what they are looking for, which they never do. Life is a lifelong journey, a never ending search.

The second group is people who view the accumulation of assets as a measure of success. These people can be fulfilled in life as they have a benchmark for success and happiness. Or something like that anyways. It's been a long time since I read anything like this. In view of your hypothesis, you might find Kierkegaard interesting reading in refining your ideas.

As for myself, I haven't figured it all out.

When it comes to my stereo, I'm a music person. I have no interest in the constant equipment swapping and component matching. That's one reason why I'm more of a single brand person. I'll let somebody else figure out what goes well together. I'll then go with it. If it sounds good, it is. And I'm happy.

On the other hand, there are other things in life where the journey is more important than the destination. For example, I like to putter around the house and do home renovation projects. I enjoy the construction. It's almost disappointing to complete something because the fun is now over. Other people ask me why I don't hire somebody. Why?, I say. This is my fun. I would no more hire somebody to finish my basement or build a deck than I would hire somebody to go to a ball game or go to a concert on my behalf so that I don't have to go.

Vacationing is another example. Some people take pleasue in the amenities of the destination. Others want an expedition where the journey is more enjoyable than the arrival.

So yes, the process is more challenging, but only for people who are motivated by this. For others, the process is not important.

there have been two classic studeis in stereophile, years ago, which indicated that sound quality and musical enjoyment were not highly correlated. the second part of the study appeared in the february 200 issue of stereophile.

it is my hypothesis that the enjoyment attained when listening to music is independent of the medium which delivers it. speaking for myself, i can gain the same benefits from listening to music in my car as i can from any stereo system.

as far as the quest and the result, we are all "wired" differently. i enjoy listening to different components and observing the affects upon the sound of a stereo system. it is an intellectual pursuit, in the same vein as doing a crossword puzzle.

Changelings are prone,its true, to try something different every chance we get on all levels especially the pleasurable ones.Even the androids now among us,are being influenced by our insatiable moods.And they have no feelings or physical sensations that I'm aware of which would account for their despicable behaviour.Like comparing a Mcintosh to a Levinson!Whats to come can only be best described as what Hunter Thompson would say if he could.Even he needed a vacation from this type of cyber-ranting and celebration,cheers,Bob

Enjoyment of music being independent of the medium is absolutely correct. There's no reason why they have to be correlated. You don't have to be a mechanic to enjoy a car ride. You don't have to be a chef to enjoy dinner.

When you read the interviews in Stereophile of well known people in the music industry, either performers or production people, it is notable how many of them do not have audiophile systems as we might describe it. This happens frequently enough that I remember one interviewer specifically commenting on it to the interviewee. I don't remember who it was, but I believe it was some venerable old blues musician whose system wasn't much more than a boom box that played cassettes.

If the choice were vast amounts of music on a table radio or limited amounts of music on my "system", I'd gladly choose the table radio. I definetly believe that the music is more important than the medium or hardware...

However, I find my system adds greatly to the experience - so much so, that I'll often forgo listening to a new album until I have the time to savor it on that system.

I've also spend multiple thousands on my car sytem and though significantly better than stock, I find I rarely turn it on. I can enjoy it, but I'm never as satified.

Tone, timbre, sounstaging, etc....when these are right, the result is truly thrilling!