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Dream Amps I Could Not Afford 20 Years Ago Now Undesirable

As a young audio enthusiast I used to lust for the high-end Audio Research LS25Mk2 and Reference Two preamps but couldn’t afford them during that time. Today at their used prices they are much more affordable now but I no longer find them appealing.

Does anyone here have such similar experiences? Stuff that you dream of owning 20 or 30 years ago do not appeal to you anymore and considered as junk (as an exaggeration).

Another one is Focal JM Labs Mezzo Utopia as the high price made it look unattainable 30 years ago. Now when I look at it in the For Sale ads mostly in poor condition with worn cabinet, the aspiration of owning a seemingly unattainable high-end gear from the past seems to be a thing of the past. The new Focal Utopia speakers are another story though..

ryder

Showing 1 response by fsonicsmith

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fsonicsmith
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The converse of this oft-experienced scenario is lusting after "this year's model". 9.9 times out of 10, "this year's model" will become the old has-been you can not believe you once lusted over. Krell was once CH Precision. CH Precision will become the next Krell. And on it goes. 

The solution is simple-stick with the classics-the audio equivalent of Brooks Brothers/Armani-and unless you have more money than you can burn and no desire to support others, avoid audio-nervosa. 

Being a jaded audiophile is not particularly fun but it does provide a sense of secure, confident wisdom. 

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