How do you get Happy as an Audiophile?

There’s an interesting, relatively modern take on mental health called Positive Psychology. While not without it’s faults and detractors, PP has a very interesting approach. Instead of asking questions on the axis of illness and diagnosis PP asks questions on the scale of happiness:

What is it that makes you more or less content with your life and in your pursuits? How can these actions, events or states be codified and applied as general principles?

In the spirit of PP then I ask:

How do you get happy? What advice would you give an audiophile that asks "What is satisfying about being an audiophile, and what are the approaches that get me there? Do you personally know the answers for yourself? "

erik_squires12-17-2021 6:50pm

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mas426 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 16 posts 12-25-2021 at 12:08am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I find that being an Audiophile is a forever journey and not a final destination. You are moving up levels as you pursue better sound, things like, 'sound stage', 'punch' and 'air' start to make sense to you instead of just nodding your head. It is always about the music, the audiophile attribute just enables one to enjoy their music at a more enjoyable level. I always seperat my live for music from my Audiophile quest. The important part is to always enjoy and be satisfied with whatever level you are currently at. There is always more tweaking to do and different speakers to audition, it's all part of the experience. Be content or 'happy' that you can listen to your favorite tunes at a higher level than you did a few months prior. It's never 'over' and most of us would never want it to end. It's all good. Merry Christmas!
raysmtb1 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 802 posts 12-25-2021 at 01:07am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I love the fact that the hobby is always changing. I wish it would change a little more I’ve started to get bored of recent.
jjss49 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 6,612 posts 12-25-2021 at 02:01am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete another take on this question, as i read the entries so far, is the notion of figuring out what you (not the reviewer, not the salesman, not another forum poster) like abd want from your music. your hifi ... it takes some significant experience, some effort, a journey of sorts, a real attraction and interest in the pursuit -- to figure this out -- something akin to the broader notion of each person figuring out what makes him/her happy in life through the journey of life in hifi terms, it has meant, for me, to understand and be honest with myself about, for instance: - the sound, the presentation of my music -- i chased the live. tactile, fast, impactful sound so some years, but over time, felt that that sound could be hard to listen to over long sittings, and while it excited me for a while at the start, i understood i much more often used music to find my inner solace and peace, and thus ’beautifully’ presented music is more important to me than overtly ’live-sounding’ music - how i play music -- i have learned that streaming pleases me greatly - less ritualistic than lp’s, less limiting than cd’s - i enjoy discovering new music as much and as often as playing the old chestnuts, i also enjoy the ability to easily set up music queues and playlists that i especially enjoy - i fuss less, listen more, listen more intently to the music, limit the ocd-ness - make the genres i listen to sound best -- while i have broad tastes in musical genres i listen mostly to vocals, jazz, world music - with some pop rock folk and blues but much less so, so i have tuned my rig to make miles davis, shirley horn, mary stallings, omar sosa, michael franks, charles lloyd, paolo frescu and others sound ’just right’, even if it takes a little of the edge off of steely dan, tower of power, robert cray and such my two cents, my humble contribution to this broad discussion about how one goes about achieving personal happiness in this pursuit wishing all a merry xmas and each of you good health
sbank Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,379 posts 12-25-2021 at 02:54pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete @mapman +1 Amen, brother. Giving is good. Do what you can for good sound not just for yourself but even more with others. Cheers, Spencer
rvpiano Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 2,687 posts 12-27-2021 at 07:31am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I agree with many who have said MUSIC is the primary goal. But first I believe you have to be in a receptive state of mind for the music. If your primary goal is sonic satisfaction, If you want merely to hear how good your system sounds, is that enough? I believe it’s a dead end. It’ provides limited gratification. Whereas music affords an infinite variety of delights.