You can't audition components on Youtube or in dealer showrooms. And it's fun to go crazy at an audio conference having heard that next, great thing that whets your appetite. But you're right--all of our systems are snowflakes, each different. Add the same component to each of our systems and it'll typically be a different experience. So, we buy and we try and sometimes we return. But it's not like we try every amp or interconnect or DAC and then make a choice. Round trip shipping plus 5% restocking fee on thousands of dollars--it adds up. If it were only as easy as going to car dealers and test-driving all the mini SUVs and then making an educated choice. Instead, we research, listen to friends, listen to folks on here and then maybe try one or three amps/speakers/interconnects in our system. No wonder we wonder if cryogenically freezing wire makes a difference. Or maybe cryogenically freezing THAT cable is really what I want. Does it come in silver? I guess it leaves me in a state of not really knowing...I love my system but had I test-driven the Hegel or the Wilson Maxx or the Classe or the Chord, would I have loved them more? I don't know. I never will. If I had millions I might know better but never conclusively. All of our systems are snowflakes and we're in this game because it's fun to research, to tweak, to upgrade, and most of all to listen to the music. I just bought an amazing power amp--it's so much
better than my previous amp. I'm truly enjoying it. And I'm also thinking, is there something I'm missing even with this? Probably, and I'm exhausted! :-)
As much as I try, I just don't get it........
A few YouTubers are always making changes to their systems, and having their audience listen ( I imagine you all know the few posters I am speaking about ). The show reviewers are posting some audio samples, and having their audience listen. I can go on and on. Honestly, however I try, I cannot determine what the big deal is, as these videos, with the " audio presentations ", are weak, poor, and tell me nothing. I listen to a lot of YT videos of my favorite artists, videos from some of my favorite recordings, some studio and some live, and many sound quite good.....but nothing from these others I speak about, do anything for me. This is why I admire Steve, at his Audiophiliac channel, Sean at his Zero Fidelity channel, and Paul McGowan at his Ask Paul ( from PS Audio ) channel ( and others ), who speak, and know, listening in this context, is useless. Am I alone in this finding ? Does anyone actually feel listening to some of these posters, with their " audio presentations ", get the impact, or " lack of ", of what they are hearing ? I am in no way demeaning these folks, but my audio and listening background, does not allow me to make good judgements in this way, unless I am in the actual room of the demo. Enjoy, be well and stay safe. Always, MrD.