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What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?

So that is the question, "What has your audiophile experience taught you about yourself?" I would think it interesting to know what others have found in an introspective way. This is what I have found.

1. At first I believed in the hype created by over-enthusiastic new gear owners. Most often I made mistakes in buying gear other people liked rather than listening to audio components and picking the pieces I enjoyed.
2. I found more actual enjoyment in listening to my music and my equipment rather than lust after better equipment, much of which is out of my financial reach.
3. I can learn from others on audio sites like audiogon.com. Some other sites are much more geared toward advertising than exchange of ideas and/or opinions.
4. It is ok to want a Bose Wave radio. I once owned Bose 901 speakers in the 80's.
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amb3cog
21 posts
 
Funniest thread I've read in a while. And I think it's all true. Lol

And I also think we're all nuts. In the best way possible of course. Lol

What have I learned? That it's a good thing, or a bad thing I don't have a wife. Depending on how you look at it. And that we're very similar to crack addicts. I was told once that a crack addict can have a tractor trailer full of crack, and it's still not enough. We're the same way. All the money, and gear in the world doesn't insure our happiness. Only enjoying our little piece of crack (gear) will do so. I think we all have an addictive/impulsive personality. We've just chosen a different drug is all. 
craigl59
307 posts
 
Trust your ears...
Keep an open mind...
Insist on return privileges!
jburidan
803 posts
 
Do the research
Learn to differentiate between value and hype
Enjoy the music
Be polite to hi-fi comrades
Subjectivity and objectivity are slippery concepts


timlub
2,041 posts
 
I've been at this a very long time, but it took me much too long to trust my own ears.  
An upgrade isn't necessarily an upgrade... 

A Ton of great people who know their stuff
A ton of know it alls that know very little

My 3 best friends are audiophiles,  Audiophiles make great friends. 
cd318
2,636 posts
 
Great question.

I eventually learnt not to trust magazine reviews or anyone with a vested interest.

I used to look down on pro/industry gear thinking domestic stuff was better. I tend to feel the opposite nowadays.

I learnt that there is no such thing as a definitive recording. Even if the recording remains the same, it's unlikely that the room and the system will. It's definite that you the listener won't. It just isn't possible to hear records the same way we did originally. Still we keep trying.

I have learnt that Hi-Fi is not everything. Hey, even music is not everything, believe it or not!  For me tone is the best drug out there, but there's also a whole world out there too.

I even learnt to love Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bill Evans, Jazz, Instrumentals, and even Classical. 20 years ago I couldn't imagine such a thing. That kind of stuff just seemed too boring then.
I must be slowing down, in a good way.

I was always a lyrics man and music second, now it's 50/50.

One thing hasn't changed, I still love the Beatles.

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