Are there any absolute truths???

*A bird in hand is worth 2 in the bush.* Don't fret over the fact that what you have isn't good enough until you explore all the options that will make it as good as it can be. So often we give up and move on to the next "improvement" without realizing the full potential of what we have.

"Keep your connections clean for good sound." To further expand on that excellent advice by Detlof the following is offered, if you are a tube groover, don't forget to clean those tube pins! A dremel tool, polishing pad and a wee bit of compound is all it takes. It's cheap, will make a dramatic difference especially with those NOS tubes that have been sitting in the box for the past 30 years.

Another audio truth, the amount of money spent does not necessarily correlate with greater enjoyment of listening to reproduced music.

Albert, you speak only too true. I've had all of this happen. As well as guests worried about "electro-smog" and complaining that the system does not sound like a radio and hence is scary, because there are no musicians the eyes could latch onto....

Great responses from Tubegroover, Albert, Detlof, Garfish, and the one and only Redkiwi. The only absolute truth I know, at least for me, is it will not be long till I have something new in my system. Probably a mental thing. Must be a mental thing. There are absolute truths.

" The more you know, the more you know you don't know. "
--Aristotle

I know so much, I don't know anything at all....

Or maybe I just don't know anything, and I know it.

Or maybe nobody knows nothing. Yeah, that's it! And let's all try and keep it that way!

-Mike.

In response to CDC:

"Absolute truth:
No matter how much you spend or what you buy you will never be satisfied."

I had a system 5+ years back in the UK (now in SF, Cal.) that cost minimal money but I had a fabulous room for it:

High ceilings
Brick walls (double thick)
About 20' x 16'
System was in a steel 2 shelf frame bolted to solid end wall

and no complaining neighbors!

System consisted of ($$ are very aprox and $=UK pounds)

Pioneer A400 integrated - Giant killer($120 used)
(I have never heard anything as satisfying since http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_116076_1583crx.aspx)

Pioneer stable platter CD used as transport ($200~)

Cabletalk speaker cable ($3 meter)
Unknown IC's

Cambridge DAC? (about $150-200)

Turntable Dual?? (made in Germany)

B&W P4's slim floorstanders - another Giant Killer (about $400 used)
http://www.audioreview.com/PRD_119142_1594crx.aspx

If I could have that system again I would be happy for life!
(the only thing stopping me is the voltage difference!)

Total cost about $1000 UK pounds, nirvana
...but do need the suitable environment too :)