@surfcat Wow, what reactionary comments to my post, can't even discern my agreement that experienced may in fact be trusted advisors. I simply pointed out two local flippers I wouldn't trust giving me advice. Are you making the argument that all flippers are trusted advisors?
Now as to why its important to understand what you don't like before you can determine your preferences for sound quality. I'd like to think that most of us have a destination in mind when we took up this hobby/obsession. I assume this destination is to have a wonderful at home music listening experience. Certainly most have to experience much equipment to reach this goal, equipment comes, equipment goes, the equipment that goes is what you DIDN'T like. You may also end up at a destination you discover doesn't satisfy in the long run, that may be a system that's excessively analytical or romantic, at this point you've discovered you DON"T like that particular overall sound quality.
And so, you say we don't need to learn what we dislike, so the question becomes, is there anything you dislike? Why did you change out equipment if you did in fact like what you just got rid of? For no reason? You either found that piece of equipment lacking in some manner or you're just churning equipment. The churner has no destination I can discern, or at least the same destination that I and many others have.
Also, I can't trust the churner's opinion about any piece of equipment they're selling or reviewing since they can't say they DIDN'T like it, remember not liking equipment or particular sound qualities is of no consequence in discovering what you do like. This is an attitude that permeates professional reviews, virtually nothing is bad here, have to read between the lines in order to discern the barrest minimum of contextual perceptions.
When purchasing used equipment one of my first questions is, why are you selling this piece? Churners never tell me anything of consequence, they'll just tell you they're moving on, the honest person will tell you what they didn't like about how piece fit in their system. I certainly have no issue with churners telling me nothing, with so many constantly changing variables (the constant churn) what else could they say. I've had churners buy equipment from me as well, saw the piece I just sold them up for sale a day or two later. Not flipping to make profit, I guess they determined after one or two listening sessions piece not good. Seems to me they could have done some due diligence and researched sound qualities of this particular piece prior to purchase and the churn. In this case I suspect addiction to the churn. This type of churner has nothing of consequence to say in reason for sale, just as they don't in giving advice.
On the other hand, the former churner has reached their destination, that destination being the enjoyment of music played on that particular collection of equipment. Certainly, they may over the long run continue to change out a piece here and there, but that doesn't mean their unhappy with the present destination, rather its like visiting a formerly unknown place of interest within lived in town.
After nearly thirty years at this I'm so happy I've reached my destination, yes, there are some unknown places of interest in my town, but I sure love my town.
In conclusion, I have no problem with churners with a destination in mind, at least this person can tell you specific issues they had with equipment, they gave it a fair shake. The other kind of churner simply changes out equipment because they're moving on, what does this tell me, nothing of consequence, without a fair shake they'll tell you whatever you want to hear, or criticism that may have no merit. I also think its fair to question the credentials of those whith very limited experience with variety of equipment, they lack the contextual knowledge.
