I find myself "tuning out" anymore.....is the magic fading?


I think I might have hit a plateau in my audiophile/hi-fi journey.

I'm not saying that I don't enjoy listening to my system and music, I certainly do.

However, (and not trying to turn this into a b*tch session), I am REALLY tired of a lot of things that go along with this hobby.

It dawned on me when I received (unsolicited, mind you) a copy of Stereophile and a MusicDirect catalog the other day in the mail.

I can't find a single thing in either magazine that I actually want. Nothing. Even the pretty ad pictures just don't do it for me.

I used to subscribe to several YouTube audio influencer channels. I can't hardly sit through any of them anymore without grimacing. Everything is the "latest/greatest/gotta have it" product. Not only do I just not really trust you any more, but I find myself simply not interested in what you are peddling. 

How many different speakers are you going to audition? Jeez.....buy a set and enjoy them. They can't ALL be the speakers you've ever heard.

Even on here, I find discussions of whether or not some tweak works or doesn't work (cables/fuses/magic rocks, whatever....) to be boring and not worth the time to respond. They might work for you, might not work, I don't care.

Any discussions using the term "Snake Oil" will be summarily dismissed from any future consideration of thought.

Which DAC is the best? How come I still listen to CDs when you can rip all your music to a HD? You NEED a turntable! Your amp is old and sucks. Buy some new speaker cables. Double blind test your interconnects and you'll see.... The Pink Panther brigade says if I measure it, it must be true. (Your ears be d*mned!) You NEED to do this/that or the other thing....because I said so.

Maybe some day I'll get the "upgrade-itis" bug again, but at this point, I'm just not interested. Jaded might be a good word, I don't know....burnt out? Overload?

Anyway, rant over. Was just wondering if anyone else ever got to this point.

 

 

 

 

128x128coralkong

I absolutely get it. I’m retired and rarely even turn on my system. And I’ve got about $15k in gear. But my priorities have changed. And I’m probably spending too much time on the internet and YouTube!

The thrill of the hunt can be a powerful thing and when it's gone things can seem empty. Since I've put the finishing touches on my system-which I think sounds great-I don't feel the need to find the next best thing.  I think, as others have said, you just need a break.  Throw the magazines out, turn off the internet and don't worry.  You're normal.  I think it's a great time to listen to all the music you pass by on your way to your favorites.  And take a good daily walks.  Walking is the best exercise to relax your brain. Hopefully you have already disengaged and aren't reading this...

I didn't turn on my system for about a month or so.  Just wasn't interested in listening in the sweet spot.  Still listened to lots of music, but not in my listening room.

The thought of it bored me.  Everything audiophile related just made me yawn.

I'm listening to it now, but mainly to see if the items I'm planning on selling work.

 

 

 

This may be the time to drop the audiophile purity listening (Diana Krall on repeat @ 55 db) and go watch live shows....Orchestra, dance companies (ballet, modern, jazz dancin),  rock bands, night clubs..watch that dj do you with some Chicago house, etc, etc.