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How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

I don’t really have the credentials to be on Audiogon. Kef Q150s and new NAD equipment that replaced my stalwart Arcam Solo. Maybe I can peek over the fence.
So I’ve have a question about the new equipment. I’m browsing the forums, looking for an answer. I know as much as about audio as anyone who isn’t an audiophile. But I was astonished at the number of brands I’d never heard of. And I know the price of the stuff I have heard of.
I’m in NYC. Maybe there’s five high-end dealers here. I’m guessing that number drops off quickly once you cross the Hudson.
This is a long winded way to ask how you live the audiophile life? How do you get access to this stuff? I’d want to hear something before dropping a car-like sum on it. Do you buy blind? Do you travel? Go to the industry shows? Help me, teach me, inform me.
I guess this question applies to speakers as well. Maybe more so. But I was in the amplifier section so . . .
paul6001
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Watch this. Pay attention to the details. Down to varying the amount of silver in the solder from point to point in the component. The point is not to push Raven. The point is to drive home just how very different things have to be in order to make a product and have it compete on its own merits without mass market advertising. At the same time notice that while not cheap this level of quality is real world affordable. This is the real world. Just a different one than you're used to.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gcd76DZmbdY&t=300s
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,393 posts
 
I’m giving up the audiophile life. 
It’s a Pirate’s life for me......


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Captain Pissgums and his perverted pirates?

https://adventures-of-the-blackgang.tumblr.com/post/3474721078/captain-pissgums-and-his-pervert-pira...
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,883 posts
 
Iwin

Precisely. Well stated.

Happy Listening!
soix
9,710 posts
 
I don't have audiophile ambitions. I'm thrilled where I am.
Not sure why you’re here then, but if this is true then just stop — stop right now and enjoy what you have because if you actually care about good sound, once you hear what better systems can offer there’s no going back for you and you’ll become one of “us,” forever.  Because it never goes away, like herpes.

If you doubt the veracity of my words, take a trip out to Verona, NJ with some of your favorite music and go see Johnny Rutan at Audio Connection.  There you can listen to some Vandersteen or ProAc, etc. speakers driven by some Quicksilver, Audio Research, Belles, or other nice electronics.  Then you’ll go home and listen to the same music on your system and “thrilled” will likely no longer apply ever again.  Or you can just stop now and live a happy and content life in a blissful musical ignorance.  If you do decide to ruin your life forever and hit Audio Connection — whenever conditions permit of course — I may meet you there as I’m in Jersey and it’s been almost a decade so I’m well overdue for a visit.  Cheers.
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