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.
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? "
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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 |
@mapman +1 Amen, brother. Giving is good.
Cheers, Spencer |
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.
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The 2 goal music and sound satisfaction are attainable at low cost but and there is a BUT, you must learn to controls mechanical, electrical and acoustical working dimensions... Is it only my opinion ? No it is my experience... Is my audio system perfect ? Not at all... But it is enough good to make me smiling at any COSTLY upgrade.... Diminishing return law exist... Especially if you use acoustic but also psycho-acoustic control to optimize your gear/room/ears relation... i say that to give hope... I never want to live with music in an unsatisfied sonic clothes...I only had the time to solve this problem after my retirement... i will never upgrade nor be envious again ....Think acoustic to begin with at least... |
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