Any other lone audiophiles here?

For twenty years I had no local audio buddies, but now have five who have materialized over the past ten years. It has been a very nice fraternity, with good conversation on many topics and great insight into the systems we hear and the hobby in general. I think we would all say we benefitted each other, as we all now have much better systems and enjoyment than ten years ago. In fact, I think we have all assisted the others to achieve better than they had expected on their own. I don't know that I could have picked a better group of guys to share it with. 

Does the OP know that there is an audio club forum here? He could advertise his general vicinity to source audio friends. 

I only have one audio buddy - my own brother living about an hour away.Still,we only get together a couple of times a year to listen and critique each other's systems.I agree it would be easier to put together a system if there was a shop nearby or a few friends to swap equipment with.The few times I've been able to listen to systems in shops in the last 20years or so I came away feeling very good about what I already own.The latest and greatest equipment rarely lives up to expectations.

@noromance , now that's funny.

I have several audio friends--one I grew up with, my brothers, my former roommate in college who taught me a lot about good music and how to keep records in good shape, along with a couple good buddies now that either bought something from me or I bought from and live pretty close to me.  We get together every now and then about once a month or so.  We have a great time and we use the extra sets of ears to help evaluate any decisions we are trying to make on equipment.  CAN be very helpful.  I know what they like and they know my preferences too.  It's good fun and no one gets arrested so far.

Bob

Last thing I need is someone hogging my head in a vice spot or laughing at my musical taste. Would be nice to have a friend though. As for sharing music with the wife, she can hear it through the floor.

Art....if you live in Arizona, you can stop by for a listen.

You can relax and stop worrying. There is always something you are missing. Always some upgrade that will make everything better. Always. So relax.

Also in my experience audio buddies are absolutely no good whatsoever. At least not in terms of helping you build a better system. At least not in the sense of better meaning what you call better. Whatever that is. Because only you know what that is. So no one else can ever help you with it.

Still, it can be good if you can find a few. Listening to their systems you can always feel just absolutely wonderful about not having wasted your precious time and money on the crap they have. Or, you might look at it the other way, find yourself thoroughly enjoying something completely different, and realize there’s a lot more than one way to skin this cat. Which there is.

About the worst that might happen is you find someone with like ten or twenty times your budget and a to die for dedicated room, professionally designed and acoustically treated, and he (its always a he) by some stroke of luck actually did something right and it sounds so good you can hardly believe it.

And this is the worst that might happen, and it will still be good. Because then when you get over the initial shock and stop drooling you’ll realize it really is only a little better in certain areas, in this way or that, and for all that money you could have had a whole new house, and Porsche (or whatever car you consider the very best, although if it isn’t a 911 then maybe a little less time on stereo, little more on cars until you get it) and shoot probably trophy wife and/or girlfriend (or both) as well, and again that is the worst that can happen.

Personally I find it a whole lot easier to just visit Definitive Audio every once in a while. Few minutes being barraged by $1.3M worth of dreck and I saunter out with a whole new spring in my step.

Although, come to think of it, trophy girlfriend would sure be nice....