How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

Many great posts here. First of all know what instruments sound like .Go to a small jazz/folk bar/symphony/opera at the Met. as much live acoustic music as possible, might have to wait until 2021? Know that you can never recreate a live performance regardless of your gear The most difficult(for me) to accept is as audiophiles we are "prisoners" to the recording quality. This may sound like doom and gloom but it"s reality many artists have subpar recordings and we just have to accept this. On the positive side learn as much as possible about each company and then listen to the equipment, you will know what you like(you won't need a sales pitch). Also take extreme care of your gear because in this hobby upgrading is a natural, dont be the guy with the beat up amp that's complaining why he's getting lowball offers. Most importantly don't rush into a purchase take your time and enjoy the music!!!

+1 for Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound.
If you follow his guidance, it will save you years of trial and error frustration...

When I started out 30+ years ago I relied a lot on dealers, and I bought my gear as demo, consignment, and later model pieces. I was a chintzy, budget audiophile. I have learned much, and spent much time and money on the hobby over the years.  :) 

Sites such as this are confusing to newbies, as the budget, experience, preferences and motivations of forum participants is unknown. 

I am a reviewer of 14 years and invite you to read my work at Dagogo.com 

You have a big advantage in having dealers nearby to hear gear. Get to shows if you can - God willing they will start up again soon! 

Give up on the idea of making a "perfect" rig. Think of it as a cross-country journey with a lot of scenery (systems, performance changes, musical experiences) rather than a destination (perfection). 

Decide which gives the most pleasure; saving money, socializing with music, media collecting, or system building - or a particular mix of them. 

Just start with a rig. You won't be remotely near state-of-the-art, even if you spend $20K. There is a shockingly HUGE spectrum of performance, and unless you want to drop $100K for starters, you have lots of room to roam in systems. 

I have no interest in debating my advice. :)

There's a science or art to just about anything.  Including multiple levels of performance.  There is typically a low end, mid level and high end to almost anything.

Somethings are an acquired taste like beer.  Some are just a matter of education and trial.  Some people have opinions about certain things that they have really never tried or (more importantly) put appreciable time into.  So their opinions are just that, and pretty worthless also.

Take wine for instance.  In my youth I grew up in an environment where people were drinking hard alcohol.  Wine was drank at family events and weddings and I really didn't like alcohol or wine.  It wasn't until I went to Napa/Sonoma for the first time and really tasted wine with a good friend that I understood that I really never had a good glass of wine before.  Learning what to taste for in wine, what do I smell, taste in the wine, etc.

Same for music and audio equipment. I consider myself fortunate.  I grew up playing classical violin, sax, oboe, clarinet, etc.  First chair violinist.  I know what instruments actually sound like.  not electronic recreations of them.  So, when listening to recordings and playback equipment, I can tell when something is off.  If it doesn't sound accurate, it drives me out of the room. 

So, my advice to anyone just getting started into the audiophile community is to know what you like first.  Second, know what instruments are supposed to sound like.  Don't fall for the hype.  Look out for and understand the scams and marketing that are intended to separate you from your money.

Based on what you like and what is accurate to you, establish a budget.  Listen intently to equipment within your budget and also listen to equipment well outside (on the higher end) your budget.  If the equipment within your budget gets you "there", then you are good.  If not, well, it's time to make/save up and go through the long upgrade path.  

Used equipment is the best way to do that.  When manufacturers come out with the newest, latest and greatest equipment, that means that many people that are in the amp of the month club have to have the newest equipment and will sell at substantial discounts that piece of equipment that you can now afford that you were waiting for.

I'm an Electrical/Electronics Engineers and also a High School Track and Field Coach.  Been a coach since the early 1980's.  I've leaned long ago and tell my student/athletes that there will always be someone that is faster, can jump further/higher than you.  Don't assume you are the best, because on a particular day, you will run into that person that is better than you. Your goal is the be the best you can be and perform at your best.

Same for audio equipment.  no matter what level you are at, there will be equipment that is more expensive and better than what you have.  But, when you are "there" with regards to the sound quality you want, that is the goal.  Upgrading after that can be fun, but you quickly learn about diminishing returns on the value/sound quality of high end equipment.

My experience, is that when you get to a certain level of being "there", there really isn't jaw dropping differences in sound quality of audio equipment.  differences, yes, but not jaw dropping.

Don't purchase with the mindset of whether equipment retains it value.  purchase based on your own criteria.  Mine, is 1) sound quality (does it improve my listening experience, am I closer to "there"?), 2) costs, 3) manufacturer and difficulty/ease of getting it repaired close to where I live.  Shipping items from the West coast of the USA to the East coast for repair is really a PITA.

Take your time, be open with your significant other.  It does not pay to lie.  Have fun and enjoy the journey and especially the music.

enjoy