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Hi Fi burnout.

Are you a victim of Hi-Fi burnout? A friend of mine who is "Into hi fi" recently called me to tell me he was selling all of his high end audio equipment! He was simply tired of keeping up with all the latest and greatest equipment trends. In his quest for the "Ultimate sound" he had upgraded several times at great expense. Sales people were only to happy to sell him what he "Needed" to "Really" improve his system. I think all told he accumulated some 150k in equipment!! What he forgot and lost sight of in his quest for the ultimate stereo, was to listen to the music!! Instead he would take pride in how great his speakers tweeter's sounded, and the the pages clipped out of various audio magazines that showed charts on his equipment and it's performance. He now owns a little Sony do it all portable stereo, and says he's happier for it because he's not so stressed about keeping up with all the new equipment. It's easy to see how this could happen. I look at my stereo equipment as a tool made for the extraction of music from vinyl or cd or tape. The music IS what matters and shall remain with us forever. In this day of hi tech accomplishments and super materials, you have to be very careful not to get sucked into the equipment junkie bottomless pit. Otherwise you could be spending some time at the Betty Ford Centre for recovering Audiophiles. What say you?
nocaster
tomryan
797 posts
 
I have an all tube rig and for years was afraid to use it as a music system because of tube degradation, burn out, etc. Then about 4-5 years ago I realized I'm wasting life time and started just popping it on for use anytime I want. I've replaced tubes a couple of times but get much more enjoyment out of everything. I'm no longer afraid!
statman's avatar
statman
285 posts
 
I'm in a simlar position as EVO8. Between riding trackdays on my sportbike(where it should be in the first place) and other outside activities I then can come back and listen to my system for the music and not how it sounds that day! I once sold all my gear except the speakers which I kept,but eventually replaced them with a newer/better model. I'll never make that mistake again. I believe you can achieve the same affect by disconnecting your system,box it up, and don't listen to it for several months,after that re-connect it and discover what you were missing?
bigjoe's avatar
bigjoe
693 posts
 
statman,how correct you are,you really dont know what your missin till its gone.

every so often i get a job that requires me to live in another state away from my home,my family & my rig & i can tell ya that after 6 months of hotel clock radios my rig sounds like heaven when i get back home.

same deal with the harley's i ride,its like antartica right now here in michigan with the snow & cold & i cant wait till spring,i get so bad i have dreams about kickin my bike over & just going for a cruise.

mike.
the_kid's avatar
the_kid
465 posts
 
Yes, I have been there as well. I did not pick up an issue of Stereophile for years and sold all of my equipment and settled for listening to a receiver and a pair of Signet SL-260s and was very happy. But slowly, I began picking up issues of Stereophile at the newstand and had an opportunity for a dedicated listening room and I was into it again.

However, my present system is much more simple. A tube integrated with a decent source but nothing extreme. Cables are all Audience. No more thousand dollar interconnects or power cords for me. Also, I have really taken a liking to Sonus Faber Speakers. I have owned the Concertinos, the Concertos, and next week will get my new pair of Grand Pianos as we have just moved and I have a larger room and hate using a subwoofer.

Anyway, I think High End is a great hobby but it definately can get outta hand with ease! My wife calls it my "Sickness". Anyway, good thread!

Chris
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