Is it ever enough?


It strikes me that continuing to tinker can be either positive or a negative for a given individual. When I make changes intending them as a remedy for something deficient, I don’t always know if that emerges from an inability to be satisfied and happy with what I have, or as a legitimate process of improvement.
For me, the question of when is my system excellent enough to simply sit back and listen to it for the rest of my life is difficult to ascertain.
Obviously, a lot of people don’t care about this and simply enjoy trying to perfect their sound, independent of any such concerns. And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with that, or it’s opposite, which I would call being satisfied on a budget, or perhaps having the benefit of less discerning ears in terms of budgetary effect.
Anyway, I’m curious, if anyone else is interested in this topic, to hear what they think. If the topic doesn’t interest you, you’re probably better off responding to someone else’s post.
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Ray, I agree. Perhaps it’s because the topic is personal and non-empirical, and therefore doesn’t foster contentiousness. After all, who has an objective reply that they want to stand behind and get others to believe also?
Mike - congrats on thinking about retirement, it’s a transition. I spend wayyyyy more time on music and giving back than gear. I have had a lot of stability in my core reference system. The churn and itch is in another system.

Best to you

Jim
@knotscott,

Ah, the one and only Harvey Rosenberg, or to give him his full title:

Dr. Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg  Guildmeister, The Triode Guild  Thermionic Techno-shaman.

Perhaps the most original writer on audio we have yet seen, and the doyen of the audiophile tinkerers worldwide. However in his case the experimenting was never without a clear purpose or aim.

Harvey had strongly held opinions about audio and he stuck to them.

Harvey probably also did more for the cause of the Tannoy Dual Concentrics in the modern era than anyone else.

Who else but Harvey would dare to mod a Tannoy Westminster?


https://www.meta-gizmo.org/index.html


I do in fact have ceramic buddha sitting just in front of system.While I try to remain ever mindful of negative aspects of desire, audiophile fever brings upgrade hallucinations.
It's a journey not a destination

Perfection and excellence are a pursuit and rarely achieved

All excellent systems have a weakest link, it may be a darn good weakest link but it's still the current shortcoming in the overall landscape

Personally speaking, never being done is part of the appeal for me

Not to mention, tis the nature of technology, better and new things are being brought to market faster and with greater frequency than ever

It's incumbent upon us to evolve at a reasonable rate or get left behind

Just don't let the next step impose on getting maximum enjoyment and pleasure with your current set up

Enjoy the journey