Can the need for novelty and change be mitigated by rotation?

OP -- love this thread.  I hear you, big time.  I think rotating cartridges is one way to do it; I have a lot of fun with that.  


I do believe there is such a thing as "better," I believe in some degree of objectivity, and I totally reject the notion that the difference between a $5k system and a $300k [well-balanced, well-chosen] system comes down to bling and casework (that's just demonstrably wrong).  But two different high end, well-chosen, well-balanced systems in two different, acoustically-friendly rooms?  Well, one's preference could come down to listening mood, chosen recordings, what you had for lunch, etc.  And that's where I think a ton of fun can be had.  But if I inventoried my purchases, sales, detours, and mistakes, I'd be forever-considered an idiot on these pages.  So, I won't. 


Sleeping princesses come in different guises.  Also, I prefer princesses who are awake, enjoy a nice walk around the palace grounds, with a sense of humor, who are really comfortable with and unapologetic about the fact that -- by virtue of their royalty -- they kinda own me and the other dwarves.

If you’re not changing something, or planning to change something, or thinking about changing something, you’re not in the hobby, you’re just listening to music.

Of course, that "something" can be components, accessories, tweaks, room treatment, positioning, etc.

I am in this hobby...

I bought basically good piece of gear....It takes me many trials and errors in a 7 years period...

I stop buying when the chosen pieces were demonstratively and proved good basic audio gear...

I begun then to think and stop reading reviews....And i discovered that the rightfully working embeddings dimensions where operate any pieces of gear are at the number of three: mechanical, electrical and acoustical...

I devised at very low cost, and at sometimes no cost at all, my own devices and methods to adress these problems of embeddings controls...

Now my system is done.... Any upgrading of it, to be worthy, will cost me around 15,000 dollars.... It is a big difference between my 500 bucks system and this not so much appealing upgrade because my S.Q. is the best i listen to compared to what i ever listen to in my life...( i speak about mid fi ) Not 50,000 bucks and more....Is it possible that i create some other devices to improve? Yes but i dont think about that now...

And you said that i am not in this hobby if i think with my brain and dont throw money in the marketing elerctronic consumerism that consist in buying and plugging and dreaming to a future upgrade because some are unable to INSTALL their piece of gear in the mechanical,electrical and acoustical dimension and are always in frustration at some point even after buying the "best"?

Are you kidding me or are you serious?

If you are serious you have a problem, not me...

I will stay in this hobby on the side where are those  totally satisfied who listen to music, not so much now to the sound.... My job is done and very well done at peanuts costs...

If i read your post, only those who upgrade frantically like a chicken turning around without head are in this hobby ?

Sorry but in this hobby some are not lost at all....

Rotation or even better more than one system and music in multiple rooms.

Rotation or even better more than one system and music in multiple rooms.

I can understand the NEED to listen music in different room with different systems if someone can afford it...

But it is not AUDIOPHILE MATTER basic... Only a luxury...

Audiophile basic is : how could i manage to make at least ONE audio system with the goal set toward his optimal working S.Q. ?

Confusing this problem with the urgency to upgrade or to the need by frustration to have many "not so well "rightfully embed audio system and moving the problem with our frustration around, is not an audiophile method...It is a chicken walking without head....Sorry....

It is one thing to own many audio systems because we can afford them and another one to learn and know how to rightfully embed each one of them and each specific room...

When all this will be done anyway for each system someone own, in many rooms, there will be AT THE END a better one, linked to the quality of the gear and the way it is possible to control the corresponding acoustic relation to this one specific system to one specific room.... Then the others system will be of no more great sex appeal sonically or only less appealing appendices...

One system rightfully done is enough....The luxury to own many systems is not an audiophile matters but only an economical one...And also a practical one, a bedroom or a bathroom or a living room cannot be dedicated audio room by definition, and music quality there will exist with heavy acoustical compromises...

Having music in all rooms is great but had nothing to do with audiophile ideal goal and endeavour...The reason is manifest and simple: ALL ROOMS CANNOT BE ACOUSTICALLY CONTROLLED....This will be absurd and preposterous...

I can connect my actual system to other pairs of speakers in all rooms of my house, but none will compare to the sound of my DEDICATED audio room....

All these thinking about "upgrading" urges and " rotating" or creating many systems, most of the times reflect our own impotence to create only one which will be very good and which will crush anyway all the others speakers in all the others non dedicated room...

Speaking like that reveal that some people have never own or listen to a rightfully embed audio system S.Q.

This is not a question of money first, but of knowledge first and last....

😊😁😊

The "need for novelty and change" which the OP spoke about  must be someday  no more about sound but  when thing are done right  about music listening choices....

Otherwise there are laid before us the road to conditioned  frustrated consumerism by ignorance of electrical, mechanical and acoustical basic embeddings controls of the gear we already own... Plain and simple....

If your gear is already well chosen to begin with for sure....

Mature audiophile listen music itself  through  sounds, not to sound itself through any music like immature one....

Hmm well I am blessed and able to choose any of 6 rooms to listen in. Each has its own charms. But there is only one best sounding system, though a second is arguably pretty close. It does give me 6 different “labs” to experiment with and build and learn as I choose. Lots of flexibility. One is even outdoors. Plus each room sounds different not to mention pretty good. So sometimes you just never know until you try. There is always something there somewhere that can be improved if one so chooses. But most of the time I just pick my place, listen and enjoy. Your surroundings that you are embedded in while you listen can indeed greatly affect ones mood and perceptions.