Have you reached your end point with this addictive hobby?

I bought a Transrotor turntable and Acoustic Signature TA-1000 tonearm 10 days ago to avoid tariffs. Or so I told myself and my wife. 

"Are you an audio gear collector or do you get the equipment to enjoy the music?” - both

This discussion is interesting and IMO revealing in some ways. Why? Well the question has been posed many times here in various ways, “Are you an audio gear collector or do you get the equipment to enjoy the music? I would say that it’s a fair question and many of us would be both. In my case, I just try to chill, be one with the music (think 60s and 70s hippy vibe). At times I don’t think we give our gear enough chances to really excel or shine. I have had several recordings through different media that sounded bad or really good. As it has been pointed out time and time again the room makes the difference and also room treatment. Another factor overlooked so much while we gear swap is our own ability to hear well. Many factors and I often believe I have not given my system enough chance to really enjoy the music. Not to mention buying near gear is expensive. I like the answer that “I have a built-in control — lack of money”. Not knocking anyone here who enjoys the ride of buying new gear but for me I like to sit back with a Guinness and enjoy the music.

In the words of the great Bluto, "was it over when the Germans bombed pearl harbor?" 

For those addicted or feel they can give it up.  If you have the space, buy and keep.  I have much. 

If you've lost your spark, you need to bring others into your addiction.  I have given away, loaned out and sold much.  While listening to your music on your perfect system can bring great joy.  Just give someone, who doesn't have the affliction, some of your older dust collectors.  You'd be amazed at how much musical ability you might have, that's just collecting dust.  Music brings so much warmth to the soul.  Share it.  I had a great friend that was in final stages, only a few days.  Also a audio addict.  I took one of his systems and hooked up in the room he was leaving the earth and we cranked some wonderful tunes.  I instructed hospice to play it as loud as they wanted.  He was unconscious, but appeared to smiling.  Now that was a playlist. 

Heading to Axpona this weekend. Just another sign I haven’t reached my end point. 😂 

I could happily upgrade forever, but I have hit some big limitations, mostly in $$$. Upgrading my system would be in the tens of thousands of dollars. And I'm not simply spending my money. I have a wife who wants a new car but will most probably not buy it, especially with the new tariffs. A daughter who is always in financial trouble and granddaughters who need money for college.

Then energy comes into the equation. I'm 78. Not an old 78, but I  no longer have the energy or interest to haunt stereo shops all over Los Angeles. I've done that for years and no longer want to listen to systems I can't afford.

When my friends, who are not poor, hear how much I spent on my new speakers or turntable, they already think I've blown a gasket. How much would it cost to improve on my VPI Prime Signature 21? Would I hear the difference if I spent $20 or $30K on a new turntable? It would all be insane in the world I live in.

How much happier would I be if I sold my ARC PH-7 and spent $20K plus on ARC's latest Reference 3 SE? I would be very unhappy because I would have to do it without my wife's agreement. In other words, it's not happening.

If I were alone and rich and could buy any piece of equipment my heart desired, would I be happier? We all know the answer. No. I want good audio, but I also want a life. End of the audiophile story,

Some great comments here. I'm probably a classic case of always wondering if there's (significantly) more. The only cure is to turn the system on and play some well-recorded vinyl to remind myself that my system is more than okay.

Yes.  I don't think I am a true addict.  Enthusiast, yes, but not addicted.  I liken it to the difference between folks who regularly drink too much but are not addicted to alcohol and folks who are true alcoholics.  There is a difference, as I am sure many of you know.  I am in a very happy place with my current system, however the reliance on electronics technology just to get the right signals to the right places, does make me a little uneasy that my system may not be robust with respect to non-audio matters that could render the whole thing unusable with the next change of data format, etc.

Back in the day, I could hook everything up and take it apart, and now, that is no longer true.  I love the functionality, but miss the ability to take the jalopy apart onto the garage floor and put it all back together again.  Yes, there is certainly an automotive analogy here as well.

Analogously yours,

linvolk

I’ve been in the hobby a long time and there are many reasons why people continue upgrading and seem to never be content with where they are at. Everyone is different. Some people believe that the newer components will give them a better sound. Some people upgrade because they want new, state of the art components. Some people upgrade because they get bored of their system and want change just like we do with furniture. There are so many reasons why people why many audiophiles constantly are moving their gear. I think the most important reason why is that they/we are looking for improvement in sound. Even if just minor improvement, it’s still something we will be interested in. But an important thing to know is that when we get our systems sounding very good to excellent, do we leave it alone and just enjoy music or are we still on that quest for more improvement. I have 2 buddies of mine that are both approaching 70yrs and they are both diehard audiophiles but very different. Both of them have a lot of components in their homes but one is constantly purchasing new speakers, amps, preamps, cables, transports, and the other is very content with assembling a system with his stuff and enjoying music. So everyone is different. I think that many people in this hobby that upgrade a lot do it because this is a big thing in their life. I myself have a lot of very fine expensive amps, preamps, cables, etc. and I’ve assembled 3 systems in my house that I enjoy very much. Honestly, I still do make slight tweaks and adjustments to these systems but I do not drastically change them. I am a diehard audiophile but I also have a life in which I enjoy other things. I live in NYC but presently out of the country on vacation and get back home in 2 days. I will admit I’m looking forward to playing around with my audio stuff and turning on my system and listening to music when I return home. I think this is what audiophiles do but in my case, I’ve been pretty content with my setups and I don’t have a strong desire to change them. So I do believe everyone is different and there are many out there that will constantly be m  as king changes and upgrading their systems but likewise there are also many out there that are happy and content with where they are at.  Things will never be perfect, it’s only what perfect for you or what’s good enough for you. 

Yup, agree with you completely.  I am on my final final up grade, to my home theater/music system.  Bought a NITB Mcintosh MX-160, and a used

MC 501 amp for the center speaker.  Adding front high speakers to the mix.  Building a custom cherry shelf unit out of 2” thick cherry.  The mill where I had the shelves built, promised me that the would handle the amps weight easily.  My only problem is finding someone to run the Mcintosh Room Perfect system for me, doing all the speaker and sub set up, without asking for several thousand dollars!!  The shops think since you have Mcintosh you can surely afford a few thousand more to set it up.  Has really taken the fun out of my quest.   Poor me- LOL.

I fully understand the addictive aspect of this hobby and, "maybe", the need for there to be an end point. However this thought also leads to considering other hobbies and the question then comes up - what or where is the end point for these other hobbies? I can't think of any other hobby where the hobbiest declares that -whatever that is- to be the end. Isn't it almost necessarily a quality of any hobby- in order to qualify as a hobby- that you keep working at it? How do you stay interested in anything if it is always the same and you have no interest in doing or having anything different? At one time a friend of mine was considering audio as a hobby and we discussed this choice. I remember telling my friend about how I and my father before me enjoyed this hobby. I also advised him if he decided to move forward with this as a hobby to photograph his money because it will make a nice memory.

I agree with some of the points above that the synergy of the room has a huge effect on the quality of your listening experience.  Over the years I have made numerous improvements and I am currently content with my system.  I frequently visit retail stores, high-end club meetings, and as many high-end setups as I can and I keep trying to find one that sounds better than mine and I can't.  My system is relatively modest compared to some of the systems I listen to, but for me it works.  I get almost equal gratification from knowing that I bought every piece I own as lightly used, second hand equipment - and for me, that makes it sounds even better. 

I suppose I may upgrade something at some point down the road, but at this point I am 100% happy with my system and I love listening to it.

Depends upon what your goal was at the beginning.  For me, it's a journey to better musical enjoyment, and the spirit of continuous improvement on the gear side has collaterally opened my ears to music I'd never heard before.  The classic rock I grew up with is now the occasional listen, while I explore the endless caverns and forms of jazz and international music with a splash of classical thrown in here and there.  When I upgrade a piece in the system, it's driven more now by soft features (convenience) or curiosity (single ended amps), or the desire to compare (recently bought a little 832A Nobsound amp just to hear how ChiFi compared with my better amps.  It was a good value for $50, but not a player).  I don't really want to arrive at the destination just yet, but could easily live with what I've got for the rest of my days.

Since of January 2024, I reached my endpoint with near SOTA equipment=

Von Schweikert VR9 SE MK2 new foundation sub amps and Masterbuilt wire

Westminster Labs REI mono block amps

Lampizator Poseidon DAC (pre-amp everyone says could be even better but it sounds fabulous with my analog set up)

Westminster Labs power cables and XLR interconnects 

Jay’s Audio CD transport CDt3 Mk3

Those are the majority of my listening room equipment which I won’t have to change for the next 25 years (I’m 69).  

I’m done.  Really!  Mainly because I’m 86 years old and my ears, while still fine without hearing aids, realistically cannot appreciate music details the way 20 year old ears can.  But also because I splurged a lot to make my system complete in 2024.  I bought a Luxman CL-38uC tube preamp and a Luxman MQ-88uC tube amplifier to become the perfect match for my Quad ESL-63 US Monitor electrostatic speakers.  I bought an  Ayre DX-5 DSD SACD player.  I had my Bang & Olufsen Beogram 4004 turntable completely restored.  I had my Nakamichi Dr-1 cassette deck completely restored.   I bought Iconoclast power cables to replace my stock power cables so that all my power cables are precisely produced to a length that will keep them off the floor and from crossing one another.  If I were so inclined to spend more money, which I am not, I would buy some sort of power conditioner, but I really don’t feel the need to do more.  For the curious, my other sources are all dedicated to streaming, a Roon Nucleus, an Audio Alchemy DMP-1 Media Player Roon Ready and a Berkeley Audio DAC Reference Series 2 (I do wish I could afford to go to the Series 3.)
 

 My system sounds great to me and I don’t feel the need to do more except to sit back and listen.  And enjoy, of course!

I’m pretty much done, out of money but also because I’m as satisfied with the sound of my system as I have been in 30+ years.  Over the last 2 years I’ve put together an all Audio Note UK (level 2/3) system.  The synergy, as expected is wonderful. Only the cabling is non-AN. But my Allnic cables are very neutral. 

I have essentially the same system today that I did when I was 14, but upgraded. 

I just finished what I think will be my final round of upgrades/repairs. They happen every 15 years or so.  I’m 70 years old. 
 

see the bottom of 

theaudioatticvinylsundays.com/about

If you don't inhale, you shouldn't have any problems. I'm just getting started, anyone want to join me.

I am done and enjoying the music.  I used to spend 1 hour every day on Audiogon and 2 hours on WBF, scouring all of the information I could find.  I have gone from a $10k system to an all-Aries Cerat sytem ( Essentia, Ageto, Kassandra, and Aurora speakers). I have all QSA cords and Cables, the Lucas Audio Music server and Inakustic 4500 power conditioner.  Many thanks to my wife, who has allowed me to finance this journey, although it has cost me tons of money in reciprocity jewelry.  

I rarely spend time on audio sites.  I am done.  

I'm not interested in buying more gear, even if I could afford it. I have 4 pairs of speakers, smoke damaged from a fire I had 4 years ago, just sitting in my basement - since. JBL 1400's - fortunately undamaged, a pair of JBL 250ti's and 2 pairs of vintage Yamaha's. And several power and preamps. The Yamaha's cabinets need a lot of work.

 Restoring them would be more rewarding than buying new stuff, IMO. Fixing grills, new caps, cleaning and re-finishing. Perhaps its nostalgia but for me there is satisfaction in fixing the old.

The problem for me is that with every improvement my ability to hear differences gets better. So while I'm happy with what I'm hearing on my current system, it becomes the new baseline for imagining even better. 

Yup! Done....not that I want to be done, because I can no longer afford to do so. What I got is what I got, and I'm ok with that. You can certaiy spiral out of control if not careful. Got myself in a situation with the plastic. No more....

Step One:  I have admitted that I am powerless over my Woofer—that my tweeter has became unmanageable.

Many Times ...

I started to see the light when every year companies are raising the prices on the same components by 15-20%. This is much higher than 5-7% inflation rate we have seen in the past 4 years. What gives? Greed!

Tariffs and general state of world economies may have finally cured me, we'll see how long this insanity lasts.

Trying to expand business and kids going to college, coming up on 52 I am content. I found what draws me into the music after too many years of poking around. Part of my fun was trial and error and what helped was having a dealer/friend in the business when I really started putting things together, and occasionally stumbling upon a great deals, typically local pickup, and the person just wants in gone.

I'm not done and still check the classified's because occasionally something makes "sense." I just know I wouldn't want to be unloading gear in this environment unless it's something with a 6 plus month waitlist new. 

Watching from the side of the merry go round but still feeling the breeze of it moving.

Anyone who is active on Audiogon is far from done. I tell myself I'm done but oh man! AXPONA is coming and I just need to go and have fun.

Do y'all remember why we bought all this gear in the first place?  Try to enjoy the music again!

@troustreamnm I agree, if you shop smart, i.e., good brands with great reputations that can be serviced if needed, you can pick up some great gear on the cheap and put together a great system. Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, Cary Audio, Klipsch, vintage Crown, vintage Infinity, Focal, and Vienna Acoustics to name a few that  I’ve acquired along the way.

And no, apparently I’m not done, just bought a pair of Klipsch Heresy II in great shape for $750, my eighth pair of speakers to pair with a used Cary 300SEI in my fifth set up! If anyone has the contact info for Audiophiles Anonymous, I’d appreciate it. 😇

Mitch they are pretty nice the 2026 model I think a redesign ,if so I am all in .

@audioman58 - I have been over here in Japan the past two weeks and seeing Crowns everywhere.  I don’t remember seeing any back in Michigan. They are so sweet!

I'm not sure--maybe? I love my gear but I also like window shopping and tweaking them every now and then. I'm going to Axpona for the first time next week so I'm sure I'm going to find some interesting new gear to investigate. But knowing the prices will probably be going up soon, I may need to buy sooner. Who knows?

Yes  when the Mrs see $4 figure deductions and my hobby she can’t justify when she feels it’s unimportant , for the short term ,She just bought a New Toyota Crown 

so for me game back on , and when funds runout ,and forced to make more money and save .. it truly never ends , speaking for myself at almost 67 I am starting to build a end game system ,I have 2 + Audio systems one is the wife’s ,-mine to switch gear around . After throwing my back out with a 100 lb amp went out has to be fixed ,then I am selling it .

I may get away from separates my brother has a Gryphon Diablo I have wanted 

and I have a Accuphase 4000 integrated  just put it in place and leave it ,

will 

mitch2 “I don’t understand why this stuff happens”. I fell off my chair laughing when I read that. Everyone here on the gone should have that sentence scribed on a marble plaque above their listening area.

I certainly could be, and probably should be, but for some reason I have a new DAC on the way. I don’t understand why this stuff happens.

Same here, I've had excellent luck with SACD player 306 Cary Professional, used, McIntosh Amp used, Marantz Receiver open box, AV123 LS6 GR Research Speakers used, Empire 598 turntable used, OPPO 203 DVD Player used, All JBL speakers I have for surround sound system were used, as is my wiring for the entire system, If I had bought everything new, my system would have cost me around $43,ooo, as is used $19,ooo, and it sounds great, I go to audio shows, listen to the newest stuff, then come home and play my system and am perfectly happy with what I got, I highly recommend get everything you can used, you save so much that way.  

Downsizing my gear (large standmounts, big amp) and  went through some trial periods with various equipment.  Was perfectly happy downsizing to Opticon 1 on a Keces E40 using a Topping D70s with a small sub.  All worked well. In fact the little Keces played everything well I had put on it.

But along came a Van Alstine CA-1 that I started lusting over from the user opinions.   I would not have bought new at full retail but someone gave a great price for a few months old unit.  That worked well with the Dalis as well but I was back going up in size again.  Still half the weight of my big amp.

Then November fever struck and I was on a speaker high.  There were a few models I really wanted to pursue with some not available here in the States.  Was seriously considering the Fritz Carbon 7se as it was deemed easy to drive with a really great SQ and figured even the Keces could drive it, but a bit bigger than I wanted.  Looked at various models from Audio Craftsman (fairly new company), Xavian and the new Revival Atalante 3 used on USAM but none available at the time.  Also considered the Closer Ogy as I liked the birch cabinet and single driver intrigued but thought it might not be as versatile as I needed re music and movies.

Then out of the blue came a speaker and brand I had never heard of, the Audel Magika II which had a birch plywood cabinet, similar woofer but smaller as the AC Laval and a nice tweeter at closeout matching the Laval's price but in a slightly smaller box compared to the rest.  So I bought that.

Now, I am selling off the gear I do not need, keeping the Keces for desktop with whatever small speaker doesn't sell.  It turns out the high impedance of the Audel and softer dynamics required a bit more power than what the Keces was capable of and so the CA-1 fit the need also having a bit more of a lively presence versus the warmth of the Keces.  Probably should hace stopped buying, but.

The combo of the CA-1 and Audel works well for a variety of my listening needs and matches if not betters my previous gear for my current preferences in a small space and they don't need a sub.  I think we end up with what works best overall for our needs if we go with our gut feeling.  

So, while I would still like to hear other gear, I am set for now as to purchases.  Probably for a very long time and I am just past 60...so it could be the end.  Just want to kick back and listen.   If anything, perhaps a dac down the road but my current dacs seem like they will last a long, long time.

Simple systems, musical pleasures.  For lower SPL listening sessions, I don't need to pursue expensive equipment.  Down the road if I have to buy, it will probably be a class D amp for compactness and relative light weight, but expect the current gear to last many years. 

For those of you looking at changing gear though, it is a buyer's market for now. 

This never ends, now changing the M2 NVME disk on my server, because I installed an old one (WD 550) that sounds much better than a latest generation WD Black, I don't know what it is, but the improvement is very evident...

I have a built-in control — lack of money.  There is only so much chasing you can do when your money doesn’t give you legs.  I already have more equipment than anyone I could leave it to would appreciate — to them it’s just heavy lumps of metal or wood that they don’t want to look at in their home, and if they sold it they would probably do so on Craigslist or Facebook and not get much for it.  So, for many reasons I have just said, “Good enough” and made my peace with it.  It also “helps” that I don’t know anyone personally that sees a purpose in anything more than an all-in-one kit. 

@carlso63    +1    Well said.

I refer to this point in time not as 'the end point' or 'endgame' but as 'hobbyist maturity', as this can happen with other hobbies as well...

Basically, it's the realization of 3 key facts all coming together at the same time:

1) There will ALWAYS be something 'better' out there... it's just a question of having the (financial) resources and the desire / time / effort to continuously upgrade;

2) You have reached the point in the hobby where the improvements achieved by  an upgrade or change are growing smaller and smaller in terms of measurable / listenable improvements... while simultaneously growing exponentially more expensive and / or difficult / time consuming to implement;

3) The blissful acknowledgement that "what I have now is really pretty damn good!" 

A little bittersweet, as that dopamine rush you used to get when you scored a great piece of gear is now gone... but, if you embrace #3... you replace it with contentment and actual ENJOYMENT of your system in ways not experienced before...

That sucks!

I always seem to screw things up by upgrading when I have my system sounding the best. 

@drrsutliff   it sounds like you’ve had a great ride in this enjoyable hobby!

Yes, we are likely close in age. I turned 65 this past summer and enjoy music more now than I ever have; even if my hearing is no longer what it once was. 

Every once in awhile i’ll find an old ad or a two sided  brochure from companies like Tech Hi-Fi,  with color pictures of a typical audio system of the time; a turntable, receiver, cassette deck, reel to reel and a pair of speakers. 

All those colorful lights were a visual feast for the eyes, and of course these audio systems offered us a gateway into what would eventuallly become the wonderful memories of first discovering music!

@barts +1 "Any "upgrade" could easily be a downgrade.” -so true! 

Never say never. Never mind.

Yes, I'm done. I will continue to support the hobby by attending some of the Audio shows, but my days of spending money on this hobby are over.

I have two systems I'm extremely pleased with.  One is my studio set up for my work (EDM producer,audio engineer, mastering engineer), and for my mains, I continue to find improvements.  Just recently went from an Odyssey Kismet amp to a Pass labs XA30.8 and I gotta say what a fascinating change.

Odyssey was so warm and full bodied but the pass labs just seems to sound so realistic from a tonal and soundstage perspective.  But I also see how the Odyssey had some extra warmth that was nice for listening, but for work I think the Pass let's me see in to the mix more.  You guys think it's bad when it's just your hobby.  When it's your profession and you are trying to use the equipment to help find a sonic neutrality to help your mixes translate to other systems.  Now I have to readjust my hearing for the new amp.  Will be a while before I can trust my mix decisions again most likely.  But it's so fun to see your music in a new light even if there is an adjustment period.

But after this I have to be done for a while.  Budget is screaming at me but I am super happy with my system right now.  But maybe these interconnects need upgrading hmm...

I started my latest system in 2013 - committing to tubes and all separate components.  I just finished a major upgrade to it - speakers, isolators, rack, conditioner, duplex socket, power cords, & new transport (CD, SACD, Memory Stick).  I like the way it sounds now, especially better at low volume.  I buy everything used (except the rack, IPAD), so, that really helps the pocket book.  Since I am committed to tubes, I doubt I will upgrade much in the coming decade.  If I decide to pay for true high res steaming instead of exclusively using my transport for my many personal high res songs, I may upgrade the DAC and my IPAD streaming setup.  As the streaming technology continues to improve, that is where I see my future money going...  Currently, I am only streaming "low/medium" res.