I’m not surprised ghosthouse, you’re one hip music lover! Hanging around hi-fi stores as I have since discovering component audio when I was 18 (I met a guy who had a Rek-O-Kut transcription table with a Shure M44 cartridge, H. H. Scott integrated amp and 2-way bookshelf speakers. I put together an AR table with M91e cartridge, Fisher X-100 integrated amp, and AR 4X speaker system), I soon realized that though I shared a passion for the high quality reproduction of music, my taste in music didn’t much align with many of the guys I met in hi-shops. My taste was that of a musician, and none of the players I knew/know gave/give a damn about hi-fi.
For me, the greatest thing about AudiogoN is that it’s participants are not just passionate about the high quality reproduction of music, but also very sophisticated and informed about music itself. I don’t like to see audiophilia referred to as a hobby; high performance gear is---for me at least, the means to an end. The deeper, more profound connection with and appreciation of music, not toys to play with.