2. best-of
  3. 1020112517

An unscientific poll: How often are you happy?

What percentage of the time do you just break out in a smile and thoroughly enjoy the music *and* the sound when you fire up your system? 10%? 50%? 99%? (The other times: you hear something wrong, something lacking, needs tweaking, needs upgrading, colorations, distortions, you hear a noise, a tube might be going, not musical enough, can't suspend your disbelief the way you want to, your expectations are disappointed, it doesn't sound like you remember the dealer's system did, doesn't sound like you remember your friend's system did, you made the wrong move with the last upgrade, you doubt the money you recently spent really made a difference, the recording is too flawed, you wonder what it would sound like if you changed this or that, you enjoyed it more in the car, you question whether you've truly got your priorities in perspective, etc...) Give your %, and list the approximate $ investment you have in the system (specify new or used valuation). Mine: happy about 15% of the time, valuation around $17,000 if all bought new. Conclusions - if any - drawn later...
zaikesman

Showing 2 responses by kthomas

kthomas
911 posts
 
Geez, I'd have to say darn close to 100% - my system is off in it's own room and when I'm in there I'm a)not at work, b) not listening to somebody tell me their problems (work, not wife!), and c) often have a beer in my hand. And, oh yeah, the music usually sounds really good too. I often hear the phone ring when I'm in listening to the music with a cold one beside me and I think, "now what's the point of answering that? There is NOBODY that could be calling that would improve my current situation!".

I'm actually happy close to 100% of the time even in the spirit of the question. It almost always puts a smile on my face to listen to my system. Without question, thoughts run through my mind occassionally during any given listening about what might be improved, but it's more intellectual than emotional, hence I remain happy but inquisitive. As stated in some of the other responses, my times of being less than happy are when the music I'm listening to isn't a particularly good recording. If I could get all the music I love to listen to in a recorded form that was equal to the best recordings I have, I'd never be unhappy. Which is not the same as saying I'd never upgrade again.

I have a combination audio / HT system - total cost is probably a bit over $30K retail, a bit under $20K of my $$ actually in it. -Kirk

kthomas
911 posts
 
Six scotches for me and it wouldn't matter what it was sounding like because I'd be unconscious :-)

Zaikesman - even with your clarification, I'd say I'm happy nearly 100% of the time - the two things I can count on being happy about are climbing into my car (I've never been a car hound, but currently drive an M3 and every time I get in it I think "this is nice!", even three years into owning it), and when I turn on the audio system. The % goes down with poorer recordings, which (I agree with the others here) are the source (no pun intended) of most of my dissatisfaction. It's still rare though. -Kirk

More to discover