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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
drubin
phd
1,332 posts
 
Tbg, I'm not suggesting that buying better gear is a bad thing but as Jmcgrogan2 pointed out, the main theme of this thread is to solicit ideas on how to remove yourself from the merry-go-round, it's contradictive to make posts otherwise.

One must recognize the fact that the pusuit of the perfect system has hurt some audiophiles in many ways where others have used sound judgement.

I can offer an example. Sometime ago I responded to an ad on audiogon via the sellers phone number. I called him and we briefly talked about the condition of the preamp and its sonics. He then told me that he would not be around to ship it. I asked why and he responded that he wanted to kill himself because the wife and kids just left because of his audio hobby. I must of been on the phone with him for an hour. I finally got him to go see his father who was the closest relative.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
PhD in Psychology?
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Pubul57, what I object to is the presumption in Phd's post, "where others have used sound judgement."

I like people with passions and do not find most lack responsibility. There was a time when I did not have the luxury to invest much in my hobbies and I was into racing catamarans, photography, and audio. I am landlocked now and no longer willing to have more than a pocket camera. When our children left the nest, my wife and I agreed that I would take my stereo out of the living room. We bought a house with a game room where I now have my system. She does miss St. Paul Sunday morning, but our home radio is always tuned the NPR.

I don't think getting of the merry-go-round would deal with the guy he mentions.

Were this thread to suggest inexpensive audio products, rather than to suggest that some are merely in the game for impressing others and wasting their money, such as blackwillard says, I probably would have never taken exception.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
03-28-12: Tbg
Forget about the music and just worry about your gizmos.

03-29-12: Pubul57
So you disagree with blackwillard? Owning a $50,000 system, I do think that a well sorted $5,000 system can surprise you with how good it can sound. As good as what I have? I don't think so, but not so much better as the price difference would suggest.

As someone who has owned a system worth over $100,000 and now owning one for less than $20,000, I am surprised at how little I have lost musically. Is my current system as good, I don't think so, but certainly closer than I would have thought possible when I had over $100K in a system.

Certainly gives one reason to pause and wonder what all this time, money and effort was all about chasing this ever elusive "absolute sound".
phd
1,332 posts
 
Pubul57, thanks for you question. You already know that this thread is followed by a great deal of people in the USA and most of the free world since it is kept current by recent posts. You have already reached celebrity status including TBG as well as Drubin for starting this thread. There are folks riding on every word as if its playing out like a soap opera. Maybe you never thought of it that way. I can't give out too much information, maybe someone in Saipan is just waiting on a social security number. I'm relucant to share too much info on the internet but if you read back I have mentioned my occupation.

TBG, its ok, your not being singled out because you spoke your mind. You are acting as if you feel guilty because you choose to ride. There is no shame in it since I mentioned earlier there are resposible people involved in this hobby. Just because I'm satisfied with what I have doesn't mean that I myself am pulling away from this hobby. It means that I will be investing in more music as that is what really matters to me now.
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