Lay Off the Newbies!

Music evokes the emotions differently for every person, but the commonality is that it always will.  I’m new to this hobby but then again I’m not…

I spent almost 10 years attending audio shows, reading forums like this one, and going to boutique audio shops demoing equipment, listening to different combinations of gear. I was searching for that “perfect” setup. It knew it had to exist right? However technology evolves and I could never quite convince myself to be satisfied, because there was something always better, there had to be. So the search went on and on and on. Unfortunately, I was missing the whole point, which was to enjoy music. 
Just last year I circled back to one of the original shops I found a decade prior and the shop owner remembered me and was like ‘what the hell are you doing, you need to start enjoying your music, you’ve wasted how much time trying to perfect a system?!’ He called me out on my unending search for perfection. I did what he said and I’m loving my music.

To all the “newbies” out there like me (and maybe you’re not really a newbie)…ignore the arguments about what components are better and why you should or shouldn’t buy a piece of gear. Just buy a system that fits your budget, tweak it over time, don’t worry about perfection because it doesn’t exist, and enjoy your music! Best piece of advice I’ve received.

I'm a newbie. Initially I got into trouble with one of your veterans, when in search of the right power cord and an understanding of connectors for 15 amp and 20 amp cords (really basic stuff for me), I pushed back on a suggestion that I install a dedicated 20 amp line to my system in my house.  I didn't want to go to that extra expense but he pushed.  So I pushed gently back but he got insulted  - I apologized  and that was it.  I felt I had intruded into an elite club where I didn't belong.

Since then I passively check the forum everyday for relevant information. The replies often reflect a sharp sense of humor.  But in substance, a lot of it is over my head as the members have equipment I've never heard of.  So I sort out what I find useful - finding out about Benchmark amplifiers, Townshend speaker stands for example - and ignore the rest of the high end chatter. Newbies should just follow this practice - ignore the smartasses on this forum and glean that which is useful in one's circumstance.

@styleman- at the risk of sounding patronizing, when the geezers like me came up, there was no Internet, so what we learned was all a function of reading, meeting with other audiophiles, hanging and listening as a quasi-social event. Even if the get-together had a purpose- to evaluate some piece of equipment or listen to some new material, not all was serious business.
The last part is something that I think is missing today- there are clubs, and there are people who socialize (now that Covid appears to be receding), around hi-fi and music, but I think that’s less common now. Today, I suspect it is more of a solitary pursuit and the Net can yield products, reviews and fora like this one for what can be a worldwide community rather than just a local one. But in many cases, this becomes an isolated pursuit- you listening in your room.
None of us have a "linear" knowledge base- at least for me, it’s pockets of knowledge that have been accumulated over the years. I think that’s true even of trained engineers and other scientists. This is a multi-disciplinary field and no one knows everything.
In almost all cases, for me, the learning came through seat time, backed up with research (not as accessible then as it is now) and comparisons, experimentation, discussion and more listening.
None of that excuses someone being rude to you, or having their ego bent out of shape and taking it out on you. If you are in a town where there are others interested in the pursuit, it’s worth seeking them out and getting to hear some systems in other peoples’ homes. It’s fun, it’s far more instructive than "virtual" interactions and you can develop enduring relationships. In fact, there are several people on this site (and others) with whom I’ve communicated over the years who I would like to visit and finally meet in person. The shared interest in audio/music becomes a bond that is often only part of the relationship.

chayro
It was Sherwood and KLH (when the names meant something) but you got the rest right!
styleman I've been here for years doing just that. Most of the time I will get a laugh, shake my head at the negativity or just learn. Rarely will I post because if I have a question it gets answered sooner or later or I look it up. Since I am the student and the forum is the prof I don't have a lot to contribute, and that is reflected in my minuscule post count.
Having said all that, I read AG every day.

@whart 

Bill - well said brother. We really do need a visit ;-). But don’t expect any quarter on the track, I would still bump ya into the Armco… ( not in an F car