Is it worth the trouble?

Evalauting equipment and assessing sound are pleasures distinct (though related) from enjoying the music. I enjoy both. One is focused process (fidelity, reproduction), the other is results (music, listening). Two different forms of entertainment. I don't think the hobby is about simply enjoying what you have.

One thing I've learned from Audiogon is that there is a large contingent of audiophiles who really like evaluating equipment. I've always thought that evaulating and setting up components is the absolute worst part of the hobby, but that's just my opinion. Even now I don't really understand why these people enjoy "critical listening", but I've grown to respect their efforts.

I guess that is true, there are very basically 2 types of people on this forum, the hobbyists, who enjoy revolving equipment in and out of their system, evaluating the gear, and then there are the people who have built a very capable system, and are just "enjoying what they have" i think i fall more into the latter category.

Why listen to music when you can listen to equipment for differences which would elude the "golden eared" in a DBT on their own gear in their own room?

Beautifully put Onhwy61. Sometimes I read threads with members asking questions about burning in IC cables or which 12 gauge power cord they should buy for their cdp and I think what are these people listening for. I want to respond with "time for a reality check." It's nothing to me how people want to spend/waste their time/money so I refrain. I consider myself in the middle leaning more torward less changes. But the bug still bites once in a while and changes must be made, can't help it.
I was going to start a thread titled "is it time for a reality check?" but am too lazy to put my thoughts together. Maybe if I get bored later on.