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Retired audiophile?

Maybe it comes with age. Fatigue with upgrades. Wisdom and satisfaction with the material world - acceptance of the audio system and a return to enjoyment of music without audio analysis - acceptance of deteriorating hearing and the resultant judgement that "what's the use" in the pursuit better fidelity - more restricted finances of retirement.. a feeling of "done for now" or forever. (Unless something brakes down) After improving and "investing" in my rig for over 30 years, I've come to the realization that I have little interest in the latest/greatest. "Tweaking" has little or no monetarily corresponding reward.
I'll still peruse the web, but the magazine subscriptions have elapsed and I don't miss the self-congratulatory reviews and commentary.
I suspect I'm not alone on this although the Audiogon community by it's very nature, is active in the hobby. Other retired audiophiles out there?
papermill
lak's avatar
lak
4,724 posts
 
I’m retired and in general I agree with your opening post.
I think there comes a time when some of us are happy with what we hear within our system and we don’t have the urge to upgrade and/or try new or different tweaks.
Sometimes that could be because of a lesser income due to retirement or a job change and other times maybe it’s because we have a new or different interest.
I’m happy with my major components however I admit that I do get the itch to experiment with power cords and interconnects, or at least I use to until recently.
Now a days I might try some tweaks that are reasonably priced.
I know of many audiophiles that simply enjoy trying equipment for a few months and then they sell and move onto other components; I say whatever floats your boat ;-)
mesch
3,529 posts
 
I relate with your thinking. I retired a few years ago and decided it was time to replace my system of 25 years. Took me 3+ years to get to where i am now and am happy with the new one. I take my time putting a system together and them focus on the music for which it was developed. I have never been one to fret over tweeks, however do play around with speaker placement and believe in room treatment, good cables, isolation, and chassis dampening. Once I have dealt with these things, many on a DIY basis, I hold tight.
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Dweller, like many who spend many years in the hobby, find that the ultimate component is really the room, not the electronics. Acoustic sound is primarily the function of the design and size of the room, and often who you treat it. So, all you newbies, learn this lesson early and your wallet will be fatter, and your enjoyment greater.
humbuster
15 posts
 
Rapidly approaching this state as well.

Major upgrades a few years ago and now just enjoying the music.
I may try to add a DAC and CD player upgrade before I retire, however not a priority at this time.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,725 posts
 
I'm still about 10 years from retirement more or less.

I always stop once it sounds right to me. It does currently. Hopefully it will stay that way for awhile, but nothing stays the same forever.

I suspect I will downsize at some point, especially if I move into smaller quarters.
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