un-becoming an audiophile

Why spend hundreds of thousands on an audio system or a car when you can invest the money and make money, then use the money you make to buy your desired audio equipment, car, and house with cash

not to be argumentative, but just to offer a contrary point of view on this statement above...

because life is short, money isn’t everything, you can’t take it with you... investing money has its risks too... and most importantly, a good life lived is about creating wonderful experiences, memories and good feelings that money well spent can afford us...

My impression of many of the contributors to Audiogon is best described by the word "addiction".  I have been monitoring this forum for over three years now - and  sense a prevailing "dissatisfaction" amongst the members here. This is particularly evident when comparing Audiogon to forums like Audiokarma,, Vinyl Engine, and HiFi Engine - where maintenance, repair, and upgrade of beloved components are fully addressed.

I must admit that I have been involved with this hobby for over 65 years - and thus  have a special interest in "vintage" components and recordings.  Please note that the greatest advances in high fidelity recording and component audio engineering occurred in the 1950's and 1960"s.  Early stereo recordings made by RCA and Mercury still "hold their own" compared to the prevailing "digital" techniques used today!

Also note that monophonic LP's comprise some of the most treasured items in my extensive vinyl collection. The music itself is of primary importance; as some of the contributors to this thread have emphasized.  Let us not be turned away from the music in a desperate search for the latest $5000 power cable that will not produce an iota of true satisfaction.when listening to a reference recording!

@vinylguy2016 I think there are two types: the high rollers with money no object and the hobbyists here. When the two mix (hobbyist ask a question, high rollers make costly suggestions/suggestions down a spending path or hobbyists comment on a "which one of my 55 cartridges, or do I need a 56th") - there is friction. 

I find it awesome to learn from people with a lot of gear and experience, but I still am in a completely different, removed world, 

I guess I've always thought the this whole thing was about the music. It is for me. I grew up in a musical family, listened to lots of music, played music and a youth and at age 72 am constantly seeking out new music to listen to.

I would rather listen to good music badly reproduced than bad music played on the world's finest system. That said, hearing as much as possible of a piece of music as close as possible to the way it was performed is great. More to hear, more to learn more to love.

There are certainly more than the two extreme types @grislybutter refers to. I think a larger (probably the largest) group are people looking to get the most bang for the audio buck somewhere in between the cost no object @mikelavignes of the world (if there are any more) who is extremely knowledgeable and invests time and funds and is generous with his experience, and the extreme tinkers/hobbyists/tube rollers like @millercarbon and misers like @mahgister(although haven't seen their posts lately) looking for any, even the most questionable tweaks that can make the most minimal of differences, if any, on a "highly resolving" system, whatever that means (expensive?).

There are the prove it to me on paper ones, who if they can't measure it say it doesn't sound like anything or of it is measurable it sounds like something. There are the close to cost no object ones that share their sometimes biased or myopic opinions which may nonetheless be of value, and lastly the ones just here to read the humorous comments.

So that's at least 6 types. You can also add the vinyl only, tube only (who frequently intersect), digital only, electrostatics only, McIntosh lovers and haters, etc. etc. And don't forget the trolls.