AA for us

On the wagon, off the wagon, put on repeat endlessly. The 'other' AA would be seriously frustrated or done with me.

Should the AA include counseling and support groups based on the specific affliction, i.e.:

• excessive system cost to income ratio
• tweaks and cables infatuation
• flavor of the day compulsion
• connection cleaning mania
• golden ears delusion
• fear of missing out phobia
• audio gear hoarding disorder
• fear of leaving the basement
• repetitive music track syndrome
• on-line forum obsession
• others?

yes, added more @mitch2 and I added X that applies to me

Good ones, you might including something on 

• pervasive misrepresentation of prices paid
• irrational perceived impunity from WAF

asvjerry:

Thought I would experiment with spicing up the pegboard (tried and true) by adding a mattress and some Texas hot sauce.

I'm quickly running out of new ideas @ my age.

DeKay

@mitch2 added those too

I have tamed my obsessive/compulsive hobby proclivities by re-framing what I wish to accomplish. Stated simply, I aspire to be content versus happy. I also strive to be wise versus omniscient in my decisions.

The consumer market and advertising is geared toward "You can never be happy unless ... (fill in the blanks)." I certainly benefit from the experiences of fellow music enthusiasts. However, I stop reading when perceiving hubris or people asserting anything other than their equipment or experience is inferior.

The foregoing perspective allows me to keep an open mind, evaluate alternatives, and take my time in making decisions. Also, I keep in mind that all material items are a limited edition.  If a desired item goes out of production or is sold out, one can be assured that -- at some point -- it will be upgraded, replaced, or available in the used market place.  In the interim, count your blessings and enjoy the music.

@rock-on you have an approach, discipline and not a flawed OCD personality like mine. Still, your suggestions are golden and I will heed as much as I can!

One note: I am not affected by marketing. HOWEVER, I am sucker for aesthetics so in a way that is marketing too, and in that sense, I am swayed - I am a collector of beautiful objects.

@grislybutter 

"it's about the feeling of wanting more and something different, and not being able to stop."

That impulse has been selectively baked into us for hundreds of thousands of years. It is what has kept us alive - for better and for worse.

@dekay ....*!*

My imagination just imploded.....*sigh*
Well, at least it's not dangerous stimuli and stimulettes.....

....or?  *lacivious L* ;)

@bolong

Yes. And, some individuals display a significantly stronger drive to experience novelty than others.

This isn’t limited to audio or even material objects.

@maxwave 

"We should consider our gears as music instrument .        

Once we buy a piano or a violon ; we keep it a very long time . We don't sell theme  after two years , just because there are new ones on the market ."

I don't have my 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, or full violins anymore. Those were starter instruments. I still have my viola from high school, and bought one/commissioned two violas d'amore, and certainly still have those. 
My starter audio gear is gone, but will keep most of my current stuff for a long time. Only looking for a phono stage commensurate with the Rega Naia/Aphelion2. 

Rega Naia

bastard!

@oberoniaomnia 

"We keep it for a very long time"

I'm like you but in my experience, this isn't always the case.

Laughing...great thread.

Happy Listening!

@grislybutter 

One cure is "buy once - cry once".

- it takes longer to get to a decision.

- that decision is better founded.

- no second guessing/FOMO anymore.

I also like Haroun - A British Audiophile's rule of thumb when upgrading: UPGRADE. Spend >3x as much, otherwise it is just shuffling deck chair on the Titanic.

That is why I treated myself to a Rega Naia for early retirement after about 2 years of looking around. It's an endgame component. If you are curious what else is in my system, I posted in the "System" section. https://www.audiogon.com/systems/users/oberoniaomnia 

Has a picture of the Naia with DIY leveling base :-)

Being mindful that every marriage and committed relationship is a personal choice, I have concluded it would not be wise to conceal my audio or sports memorabilia acquisitions or liquidations from my wife. Early in our marriage, we realized a joint bank account and open dialog was best for us. Our respective daily work schedules and family responsibilities were stressful enough without worrying if clandestine purchases could be orchestrated to avoid detection. 

Please understand I am not passing judgment. Conceding my wife of over 50 years does not share my enthusiasm for audio and seldom ventures into my dedicated music listening area, my enjoyment is enhanced by knowing she has given her seal of approval. Plus, she can read me like a book and has the art of internet research perfected.         

@oberoniaomnia again, you are treating me as if I were normal, without serious issues  One must show up for the intervention and be talked to, as a patient, to start the healing.

BTW British Audiophile is wicked awesome. 

You have an incredible system. 

@grislybutter 

sorry to hear that audio has become an obsession for you and that the fun factor has been replaced by fallout from that.

  I think travel is great.  I am in Europe now and for the last week my internet reception was terrible.  It’s liberating, really; I’ve been taking in new experiences and purging my mind of mental clutter.

@mahler123 yes, Europe is (mostly) great! Avoid Hungary :)

Thank you for your kind note,

I also like Haroun - A British Audiophile's rule of thumb when upgradi

It's TARUN (not Haroun or Heroin)...I understand it's not as common as BillyBob or Cheesyslob, but, it's a rather easy name to say. Simply add a TA in front of a RUN, not too hard, right??

@deep_333 can we all name our kids Taylor not have this problem?

                                       *** Introducing the world premier ***

                                                "The 80 percent rule"

I improved my OCD with a hot new concept I like to call "The 80 percent rule"

If I may, ghdprentice is a good example of this. Perfecting the last 20% when the first 80% is messed up. All too often, you optimize a fundamentally flawed system. This is common in HEA where "it’s all about that last 2%."

IME, get the basics right and the other stuff doesn’t matter that much. It puts things in perspective: 2%, or even 20%, is not much compared to 80%.

I usually get the first 20% completely messed up and then it's all downhill from there. 

@grislybutter Not to worry friend. At some point the earth will twitch again on its axis and we will be in another ice age. The polar bears will laugh as we get buried under a mile of ice.  

@mijostyn oh, cool. What's the bad news then? 

OP…. “I usually get the first 20% completely messed up and then it's all downhill from there.“. 😂🤣😂

@grislybutter The earth will forget to twitch.

Go Single driver

@grislybutter If this is really more serious, then there are shopping addiction programs; audio GAS is just a variation on shopping addiction. The extreme case would be to go the Brittney route, getting a court appointed guardian for your financial matters. 

Glad you like my system. Most of it is one purchase after starter system.

Speakers B&W CM6S2 -> Sibelius SG (single driver Voight tube: hi @cdc  ): Very happy no need to change. (also a REL T9 sub)

Integrated Rotel RA 1572 -> PrimaLuna EVO 300 Pre with Pass XA25 [no need to change, maybe a bit of tube rolling; might want to try do do two XA25 as monoblocks]

TT: a bit longer train from Pro-ject 6.1 to bad HiEnd store recommended "upgrade" Thorens TD203 [POS] to VPI super prime scout [intermediate] to Rega Naia [endgame]

PS from no name box to Vincent PHO 701 (ok) to EAT eglow petite [better] to ???? [endgame]

[A Zesto SUT is on order]

DAC: built-in Rotel integrated to HoloAudio May L2 [endgamish]

Room treatment with furniture, books, plus home made stuff; all a no to low cost.

Just to illustrate the path of UPGRADING when upgrading, and taking my time to do it. 

P.S. Tarun vs Haroun: did that from vague auditory memory. Got the vowels right at least. LOL. Haroun was the name of one of my TAs and later invited me to contribute a chapter to a book.

@oberoniaomnia 

court appointed guardian

wife does a good job :)

Your system is epic! To put it lightly. Thanks for the evolution story...

I pulled out those Tang-Band recently and for the first time in a LONG, LONG time actually enjoyed listening to MUSIC on the real stereo.

With all due respect to those who say to listen to the music, I would submit that is not possible with many stereos. Not for me anyhow.

Funny at least you know you have a problem, lol.

@grislybutter 

Make sure you don’t isolate aka get some regular social contacts in your life.

Mental health is important especially when we get older. 

@kennyc did you REALLY have to bring up my other problem??? 

I usually get the first 20% completely messed up and then it's all downhill from there. 

As the saying goes, if you can't get all the components together right, might as well be listening to a boombox.

@cdc

+1 Unfortunately you are correct. I have a friend that just chooses components individually… and doesn’t get the concept of synergy, and is stubborn, not listening to advice. He has a +$50K system that literally does not sound as good as a boom box. Absolutely no bass, lifeless. He occasionally buys another $10K piece and is disheartened all over again and just lets it sit in the living room unused. I could fix it in a day by swapping two components.

@ghdprentice 

You have interesting stories. I guess everyone has to find their own way. As someone said hi-end audio is 90% BS. You just have to find the 10% that isn't to you.

Yeah last month $625 in cds and albums...then this month $677 albums n cds...that's a,problem. 

I can help @limomangus - as soon as I find my own sponsor 

* snooze brake*

.... still alive from the Disaster Zone/Helene Redux..

The quaint joy of being Uphill Enough to watch the

Biltmore Village turn into muddy trash... being on the

'wrong side of the tracks '   can be advantageous 🤙

No power or water, gas was on then off back on...

Grace 'midst chaos J

I hope you are ok @asvjerry 

We're kinda stunned.....

Ringside seats to the Disaster next to us,

slept through the night, the rain and wind

drowning out the Swananoa River, having destroyed 

the town named the same, took that downhill and 

bulldozed the Village with it...

Too much to tell 

T'aint over, either 

More later likely 

J

@asvjerry I have watched videos of the area, surreal...

That surrealism doesn't fade much, nor is it expected 

to for quite a while  Finally got to drive over the large

bridge you've likely seen in the videos.

The bulk of the visible damage is South/East quadrant

of the bridge to the river...

We lived through that on the North/West quad,

near the edge of that mud field.

Grateful that we're pretty much unscathed with

just the rigors of water for months being a daily chore.

One could live in Gaza and really have a rational to bitch..

"SURVIVOR: ASHEVILLE"

Dazed and bemused, J

Going to start a forum to get off an audio repartee discussion 

It's bound to be obvious in it's title... ;)

I really haven't bought any audio equipment in a few,years .But yesterday and today I bought Cyndi Lauper a cd set of 5 albums ,a best of double cd .Today I bought a,lot of 7 of her cds ....yeah I'm a wacko...

Take your pick audiophiles. It's kind of the same thing.

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