Have you reached your end point with this addictive hobby?
I wonder if out there somewhere there’s a support group called Audiophile Anonymous 😂 that addresses Audiophiles constant need for perfection. For my self I would probably benefit from a couple of these group sessions. Putting humor aside there’s some truth to this hobby being addictive and at some point there has to be an end point where you are there and the need to upgrade serves no useful purpose. I can’t say I’m 100% there yet, but something inside me tells me I’m getting close to hitting rock bottom and when I do maybe I’ll see the light, or maybe not 😂!
The hard part is being satisfied with the sound you hear. Am I being entertained? The grass is always greener on the other side of the road is a real phenomenon. I am going to audition a new DAC in coming weeks. Truly going to have to be a major upgrade in sonics or it will go back. Actually coming to accept my system is pretty awesome for what I have.
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I know that my current system is capable of reproducing 98% of what my 61 year old ears (with tinnitus) are capable of hearing. Does that mean I’m done? For the moment, yes. But never say never. Though with the rapidly increasing prices, I find myself constantly asking “Is $xx,xxx really worth another .5% improvement?”. |
+1 @jimmyblues1959 My system is fairly mature after years of buying, enjoying, and then selling, to afford the next perceived step up the ladder. Now large purchases are probably in the rear view as retirement is approaching (though these darn cartridges believe they are large purchases 😬…) |
@drrsutliff Chasing gear has always been a large part of the Hi-End audio hobby. Why? IMHO, because it’s just an incredible amount of fun. There’s also the aesthetic component to this hobby which increases exponentially the further up the price ladder you go. A lot of Hi-End audio gear (Dan D’agostino Audio comes to mind here) is as much art as it is an electronic sound reproduction system. Dan’s gear, at least to my eyes, is absolutely gorgeous; and comes with a price tag to match. Does it sound that much better than a nice system that could be built for say $30,000? (not an inconsiderable sum to say the least). I think that’s a matter of subjective opinion. As I’ve gotten older, perhaps the greatest irony that I have noticed in this hobby, is how many enthusiasts, as they age, have more disposable income in which to spend on more expensive audio gear, while their hearing capacity diminishes to some degree each year. And since the primary reason for spending astrobucks on the best audio gear available is to be able to hear the most subtle differences in the music we listen to, I decided long ago to enjoy the gear I have, since I listen to the same music, whether it's through my audio system or a mega buck system that would require most people to take out a second mortgage on their home. Anyway, this is just my humble opinion and as such should be taken with a grain of salt. 👍
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