How does one get off the merry-go-round?


I'm interested in hearing from or about music lovers who have dropped out of the audio "hobby." I don't mean you were content with your system for 6 weeks. I mean, you stood pat for a long time, or--even better--you downsized...maybe got rid of your separates and got an integrated.

(I suppose if you did this, you probably aren't reading these forums any more.)

If this sounds like a cry for help, well, I dunno. Not really. I'm just curious. My thoughts have been running to things like integrated amps and small equipment racks and whatnot even as I continue to experiment and upgrade with vigor (I'm taking the room correction plunge, for example.) Just want to hear what people have to say on the subject.

---dan
Ag insider logo xs@2xdrubin
Yes ladies and gentlemen, I actually got out of audio for 4 years. It was the best thing that I ever did. No more scrounging through the latest magazine looking for the latest and greatest. No longer did I look at my depleting bank account, because I had to buy the latest and greatest. In the span of 4 years time I lowered my golf handicap into the single digits, moved into a bigger house, joined a hockey league. Then...I got married.

Now...I love my dedicated audio room. Anyone know where I can get the best bang for the buck on an power cord?
Dgplo, yes you can find your power cord on the merry-go-round. Congradulations on your accomplishments
my answer was a bit of sarcasm...i love to lock myself in the room -- it is the only place i can get some privacy:)
How much is enough? How revealing, how transparent, how deep into the sound stage can one go and feel satisfied? How deep should the bass go, and how extended should the ultra-sonic, high frequencies go?

I know a guy with a stunning system (Avid, Aesthetix, Cary, Ruark), but he has kept on improving it. The Aesthetix Io got upgraded to the Signature Mk ‘something’ version and he went to bi-amping the Ruark Excaliburs instead of a single pair of $40k monoblocks and changed out all the cabling to upper end Nordost, etc. OK, it was the best system I'd heard--including at CES and industry demos at stores--before he did all of that.

Are audio geeks (myself included) like the wealthy: A few million dollars is not enough; once you have acquired or accomplished a certain level, you always want more?

I am still considering my downsize approach (see my earlier comment), but I have ended up upgrading my pre-amp (same manufacturer) and trading up to the latest version of my speakers since I wrote on this thread last. I did not follow through with my own goal.