How does one get off the merry-go-round?

I got off the merry go round after attending a Stereophile show and met some of the circus clowns. Just because so and so uses this or that as a reference or purchased an item means nothing to me now! Most are over obsessed babies when you disagree with them. In ten years time there won't be a high end audio as the hobby does nothing to perpetuate new/younger people to participate. I have more than adequate
high end system (built around Quad ESL'S) but now concentrate on my real passion, record collecting, and, listening. And, having fun!!

Detlof: I don't mean to be pessimistic. My assesment comes from being associated with an audiophile company. I was at the Stereophile show in NY in 1996. Audio is more like a small club with rich members.Very select group.Manufactures have to impress reviewers to build demand.Reviewers are more impressd with themselves. Some reviewers have more fans than many artist. Add to the mix too many companies making software, decline in software quality,magazine distribution etc. The fact that music has been replaced by video games when it comes to young people with discretionary spending (video games are 50-70% higher than the average cd)and it all adds up to certain extinction. But, I enjoy buying music, (records mostly) and do so daily.I haven't had a significant change in my reference system in almost 12 years. Once I found the Quads and an adequate sub woofer system, significant changes are hard to make!! I did get a better listening chair.

Detlof; I do wish I were wrong. I live here in Washington DC. Of the four remaining audio stores in the area (there once were eight) they all consider themselves high end. You can get the best in electronics and turntables. Exactly NONE of them carry any vinyl. Besides the erroding of interest we are also self destructing. Tower Records has six area stores and occaisionally vinyl but not of any quality. Rarely a Classic Record reissue and then only at one outlet. The Wall Street Journal predicted last summer that they might go out of business by April if a lackluster Christmas season materialized and it did. Worst retail season in thirteen years. Used record stores have dwindled to about three or four from a high of ten three years ago. But, if you don't take this stuff too seriously,the merry go round produces a lovely ride! Again, I enjoy my music daily. Hope you do as well.

Sounds to me like people are getting their priorites back in line with what"s important, the music. Wehamilton, I salute your attitude. Mine is very similar. If you enjoy music for it's own sake it doesn't matter what you listen to it on per se. I find many great performances on the radio in my car, hardly an audiophile friendly environment. When I want to critically listen to something in my dedicated listening room, I listen to the state of the art system for me, considerably less than $25K, but I get much more than $25K in enjoyment out of it. Getting off of the merry go round made me realize we now have state of the art equiptment to listen to. It's great but music companies are producing mostly state of the art junk to play on it. I'd rather chase the music than the equiptment at this point. I may have changed from one merry go round to another but this one is a better ride. I enjoy audio but love the pursusit of music much more, (vinyl in particular).