How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

I find that making as many audiophile friends as possible and listen to their systems. And sharing your experiences with them too.  Sometimes letting each other borrow gear to try. I used to belong to a club that met every weekend. Heard a lot of systems back then. Once you listen to a lot of gear, when you read reviews and forums you get a better understanding of what people are talking about. Then these forums become a great source of info.

@tooblue  

Yes, I know.  I'm just humoring him.

For the record this is me, playing Jeff Bridges playing the Dude, a character  based on me, driving my actual car. What happened was when they asked about the possibility of using my car I said sure, but only if I get to drive it. Because its a very special car. I didn't cut my hair for three months, kind of like now, and this being Hollyweird a few special effects makeup hours and ... this is me.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo11SqLmuGc   This post really ties the thread together.

I am in NYC.  I started in 2008, after a few years at my first corporate job, had some cash, and was always into music and gear. I went to In Living Stereo, demoed a pair of Dynaudios and liked them a lot. Prior to that I listed to a pair of Totem Model 1 Sigs at Stereo Exchange. As good as the Dyns were, they didn't quite sound like the Totems. But I was talked into buying them anyway and paired them up with a Peachtree Decco which was an wonderful integrated under $1K. But quickly realized it ran out of steam driving the Dyns at moderate levels.

Then bought a 250 WPC McIntosh power amp, using the Decco as a pre, which improved the sound significantly. There has been many changes after that, but I like minimal, urban setups, so I really like high end integrated amps.

My view is, you should really audition speakers and buy based on the size of your room. With dacs and amps, there not much option to listen, so you have to take some chances.

There are decent dealers where you can go and demo equipment. 

Bright Home Theater is a very small cozy store, friendly. Audio Doctor in Jersey City, he has a lot of equipment, and you can take your time.  And there's one in upper east side, may be Park Ave Audio, which is pretty good as well.

There are some high end dealers in NYC where you have to make appointments and the attitude is geared towards a very wealthy clientele only, I would skip those.

You were recommended to subscribe to TAS and Stereophile and go to some high end shops. I read both magazines and went to high end shops when I could get around well enough. I have never or will never want to be considered an "Audiophile". Most of the ones I have talked to in person were busy listening to equipment and not music. Now I don't know  very many "Audiophiles" but the ones who told me they were never talked about the music just their equipment and how much they paid for it. As for me, I had to listen to tube equipment to find out what it was all about and fell in love with the sound. In the past I had to sell my Integrated amp built by Paul Grebeck (hope the spelling is correct) at Tube Audio Design outside of Chicago to help a friends mother with paying for her cancer tests. Just an amazing piece of equipment. I'm hoping to get back into tubes again.  This just what I found out about Audiophiles myself.Ron