Can an “audiophile” ever be satisfied with a system?

@aubreybobb,

Those sounds like my experiences too. 

That bliss of getting some new component, especially a turntable or a cartridge, would brilliantly exciting for a week or two. Then the lustre would wear off and my mind began to crave that sensation again.

I have also seen people enjoying systems that were distorting like crazy - bass, treble, everything - and they didn't seem to notice.

Somehow they must have been able to filter out all that sonic garbage and concentrate on their drinking and dancing.

'Chasing excellence is the very essence of the human spirit.'

Now that what's also keeps me going!

@rvpiano,

’So, I believe it all comes down to your mental state, rather than the quality of your equipment. If you’re bored you look for something new, whether it warrants it or not. In other words, you create a problem where there isn’t any. That’s the nature of “ audiophilia.” 


I would tend to agree.

One half, the fun half of the journey is discovering what you want, and then finding it. The other half is often a problem of obsession that’s self created.

’Comparison is the thief of joy’ (Teddy Roosevelt) is one troubling quote that I recently can’t quite get out of my head.

Is life really like that scene out of ’Oliver’ where Fagin trips and watches as the contents of his jewel box slowly disappear into the muddy waters?

All about getting, but never fully enjoying?

Might be worth remembering that most audiophiles already have systems far superior to what the other 99% of the world’s population are using.

Perhaps a satisfied audiophile is really a contradiction in terms? With so much to love about this hobby, perhaps it’s also a difficult question to fully answer.

If we ever do.