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

There is a not too serious term audiophilia nervosa; it may be a joke, but it builds on a valid observation: there are people who are never content with their equipment in medium term.It is not the initial period, when one does know much about gear and learns; or the question of disposable income, when one gets the best they can afford, and upgrades untill he (or, probably less often, she) buys the dream system. Audiophilia nervosa is a state later on, a plateau, when a desired piece initially gives much satisfaction, yet it wears off, and the person gets uneasy and looks for smth. else.
To give a personal example, I was on a quest for my ultimate power amp. Had to be Pass Aleph; happened to find Aleph 4. Did not suit the speakers (Lowther Fidelio) too well; got other speakers (MBL 101b or c) ; still not there; got ML no. 23. Much better; but still uneasy about Aleph and speakers for it; got Gradient 1.5; fine with ML, Ok with Pass; exploring options, got Parasound 2200 mk2 (and a couple of PA amps). And I needed a preamp. Seller insisted on only trading ML no. 28 together with no. 27, — another power amp.
Now the ML 28 is there to stay; Gradient 1.5 are keepers too; but I’d keep old MBL101 even if they stopped working (I’d probably use them as garden sculptures), so they stay, too. But I have way too many power amps (the listed, and a few more), I would need to sell some.
The trouble is, I cannot decide. So, in order to decide, I rotate them. ML 23 is very good with MBLs, fine with the Gradients. ML 27 is very good with the Gradients. Parasound 2200 2 is very good with the Graients, - but in a different way. So I swap every few weeks, and I still cannot decide.
And after each break I [re-]discover things I like about the particular amp / amp-speaker combination.
Again and again...
Which made me think:
— What if this ‘rotation’ takes good care of my need for change and novelty?
After a while I will decide which one(s) to sell, and later on I will probably want smth. new. But for the time being, keeping and rotating them slows down my pace - and I see it as a good thing, as in the aftermath I do not think my decisions have been sufficiently well informed (for instance, I am getting used to the fact that I actually do not like sound of Pass Alephs as much as I thought I do, and my Aleph 4 may be the first to go).
inefficient
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,011 posts
 
Hell, despite my years at this, I need access to info and support. Nobody knows everything.
But, it’s fun learning, isn’t it?
Your post are wiser because for sure you are right...

Too many tastes,ears and variables...

But when this is said...

My point about what are the 3 problems someone must adress to increase the S.Q. of any audio system before UPGRADING anything is always valid...

Without adressing mechanical vibrations controls, electrical noise floor controls and especially passive acoustic treatment and active acoustic control nobody knows what the gear he already own is able to achieve on S.Q. level...

And these embeddings controls on all three dimensions will need to be implemented one way or another...

This is my only discovery in audio....

And these necessary controls are valid nevermind the pieces of gear or the musical taste...

All system and ears are different but the ways to controls vibrations and acoustical settings are INDEPENDANT of our chosen gear and particular taste...

It is possible for example to tune a speakers/room system to any liking....introducing more dynamic or less etc...

But anyway i speak here because the pandemic and my retirement let me alone.... I dont want to convince anyone and only hope to be helpful to at least one...

Your post is wise and tactful and very interesting...

I thank you very much and give to you my utmost respect...
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Let's rap mitigation.
recluse
270 posts
 
I think there is truth in the OP and Mahgister.

Rotation is effective since our ears can be trained to decrease or eliminate repetitive sounds. It works on me from time to time.

Mahgister is also correct, not to mention the bravest one here on Audiogon. My take is that mood plays a role in the enjoyment of music. How do you choose what clothes your wear or what music you listen to everyday. Do you decorate your house or would you leave it gray and looking like cinderblocks. Hence, the pride in building an audiophile room, or its effect on mood, or just its basic appearance of how well your system is "embedded". Ever notice that often the effort and time put into cooking a meal makes it taste better and in turn you feel better. Analogous to the time it takes to prepare your turntable and vinyl disc. I will also add for those that require measurements, cluttering and crowding the room with furniture and decorations improves the sound by eliminating unwanted reflections.
unreceivedogma's avatar
unreceivedogma
979 posts
 
Maybe you should direct that nervous energy instead into the exploration of genres of music and the wide range of artists and performances within each? That could take a lifetime and yet you would only be scratching the surface.

For example, I have 12 different interpretations of Giovanni Batista Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater”, etc.
stuartk
2,768 posts
 
"I believe that "audio nervosa" is real and plagues hobbyists to the extent that it robs them of the ability to enjoy what the machinery they own can reproduce".

"What is this need for novelty and change? The need for better I can understand. The need for change however, to be changing things just for the sake of change strikes me as so.... inefficient."

Sounds like a seratonin issue. . . 
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