I need help with my Equipment addiction

Mingles,
Thanks!
By the way, I still need to get around to installing those Russian, Teflon capacitors that you sent me, into my Seduction phono preamp! Winter break is my target date! :-)

Excellent post Rebbi.

Macdadtexas,
Hello there. First of all, I offer you a shout out from Austin, Texas!
Beyond that, I'm really glad that you posted this thread. I recognize a lot of the posts are saturated with a heavy dose of irony/sarcasm, nevertheless, I think it raises some good and serious issues.
I sometimes joke with people that being an audiophile is ideal for somebody who loves music, loves gadgets and has a fairly obsessive personality. The thing is, it's not very difficult for the techno-philia and the obsessive-compulsive aspect to overwhelm the musical piece.
Jim Smith, who wrote the book, Get Better Sound, has an interesting insight into the phenomenon of endless tweaking and upgrading. It tells about how he used to live near a higher-end, men's clothing store. Whenever they would run a sale, he would go over there and buy a sportcoat or some ties that were normally very expensive but happened to be on sale. Yet he found, over time, that his wardrobe was never really satisfying and that he ended up not wearing a lot of the stuff that he bought, as nice as it was. He complained about this to the owner of the store, who asked if he could come over to his house and go through his closet with him. The owner of the store, looking over his wardrobe, said to him, “This is all great stuff, but none of it really goes together. You are buying nice stuff because you can get a good price on it on sale, but you have no master plan for your wardrobe.” Anyway, as you can guess, Smith goes on to say that a lot of people approach their audio systems in the same way. We are tempted to try some new piece of equipment that we've heard about through a review or through a friend or because we find it at a good price, not necessarily because it has anything to do with the rest of our system, because we wonder, “Maybe it will sound better than what I already have?” But we often don't really have a larger “vision” for the system.
I fully admit that I still peruse the classified ads here on Audiogon on a regular basis, and that I am often tempted to buy what I see listed. But there are a couple of things that have helped me to not be as tempted as I used to be.
First, pragmatically, there is the recession! Working for a nonprofit that, like all nonprofits in this economy, has been hit really hard, along with having a family to support, means that I have to be extra responsible with our resources. What that has meant, the last couple of times I have swapped out equipment here on Audiogon, has been that I could not afford, for example, to have two pairs of speakers in the house at the same time. If I wanted to try something new, the only way to do it was to sell what I currently had, first, to pay for what I wanted to be able to try out. Sometimes this has worked really well (for example, selling my very fine LSA Statement monitors and buying a new pair of Merlin TSM's) and sometimes, it has not. So until I can actually afford to compare something new with what I currently have, I'm not going to play the swapping game anymore. It's too aggravating, I lose money, and I just can't afford it.
Another thing that is helping me to restrain the “tinkering/upgrading” impulse has been staying in touch with Bobby Palkovic at Merlin, who loves being in touch with his customers and knows just about everything there is to know about getting the most out of his speakers. As much as I would love to try a different power amplifier than the one I currently have, Bobby has me convinced–and I have little doubt that he is correct–that until I get some carpeting on the hardwood floors of my listening room to tame some of the obvious reflections bouncing around in there, I'm not going to have a solid basis for judging what I can get out of my current setup. This also happens to echo what Jim Smith suggests in Get Better Sound: the most important component is the listening room, and proper setup and room treatment will provide a level of improvement that overwhelms, for example, the difference between one set of cables and another, in most cases.
Anyway, when I am sitting and really enjoying wonderful music, I know I have it right. And when I am feeling frustrated, letdown and obsessive about this hobby, I know I'm off track.
For what it's worth… :-)

Marty, you are a very sick individual.

I love wine, but stay away due to lack of funds, although I used to work for Koch Industries, and Charles Koch and his brother, who are both HUGE onephiles(sp)where named the 5th richest men in America, and that's the kind of money it takes to love wine.

BTW, I think they are worth more then twice what Gates is, but since the company is privately held.... Forbes only guesses. No debt, and $100 billion a year in sales.....

You do the math.

I'm pretty sure that you're not obsessing enough over the wine. If you get way deep into Burgundy, you'll have another endless cash drain. If you're already way deep into Burgundy, there's always small batch, late harvest riesling from Germany or 50+ year old Barolo from that small group of traditional producers.

It seems to me that you're not really trying....

Marty

PS Good luck, but this game really is "no win" by its nature.

ALSO, make sure that your system is not overly lean or overly revealing or hot in the treble. These are things that will cause you to miss the joy of a lot of the music - or at least that's how I react - and then I end up thinking about the gear.

The first step to solving a problem, is to realize that you have one. One of the things you must realize; is that even if you have a limitless budget, you do not have a limitless amount of time. One of these days the clock is going to stop.
Although I don't have your budget, I had your problem. When I looked at my clock and realized that there was a last minute on it somewhere, I decided it was time to enjoy my abundant music collection.

I find that the best solution is to remind my self by asking - what percentage of the music that I love is actually recorded so well that a great audiophile system complements it?

Answer: not much.

So my "current playlist" tends to twindle and become stagnant as my system gets better and better.

The only exception has been the introduction of the Squeezebox Touch, which provides such convenient access to my entire collection, that I'm experimenting with long forgotten music. While I am rediscovering some great and well recorded music, alas, much of it is unlistenable on a fine audio system ...

Art

Chayro, I feel like an alcholic who just got a presentation from the Seagrams rep on all of their great new beverages. You my friend are what we call in the addiction business, an "Enabler".

Now, to more important things; what's for sale on here tonight??

Trouble is - you haven't yet spent enough money. If you buy a cartridge for say $4000 and you know the next step up is out of the question, you'll be cured, as anything else you buy will be a downgrade, or at lease a sideways move.

For example - you have that Bryston DAC, so you may be thinking: Hey for a little more I could get an XYZ, which might be better... BUT - If you sprang for ten grand on a Playback Designs or something like that, you'll be thinking: "This is nuts - no way am I going to move up to the next step". Because the next step is like 20K. Believe me, it will help you gain clarity.

Plus- you get a real nice system in the process. I know a lot of people like to say it, but I personally have not found the cheaper stuff to be better than the more expensive stuff. For the most part, anyway. Good luck.

Great thread, I'm in the same boat. I know way more about high end audio (and vintage audio ) then I do about mortgages. That should be an issue, right?

Bummer, your WAF is a serious limiting factor to contend with. Just a thought buy my DIY Skyline diffusors have been called 'art' by many visitors and they work very well acoustically too. Would appealing to her artistic side work? If you want info then ping me and I'll send you a write up I did for them.

There are also some firms that make "pictures" with absorption behind them (I think GIK and ASC offer them) so she can be admiring pictures of the little kiddies whilst you're enjoying the sonic and visual benefits.

thx for the suggestion, but it's in our main great room area, and aesthics (the wife) won't allow any room treatments. I am just happy she lets me have the gear in here.

Equipment addiction you say??? Ever try your hand at room treatments? How good is any equipment if you don't have a room that allows equipment to show its stuff, warts and all? You may find that turning your attention / addiction to treating your room very satisfactory. It'll surely eat up much time trying the endless combinations and permutations of treatment categories (i.e. diffusion, absorption, reflection), various brands, and placement options. Keep good notes, measure, move one thing only and measure again. Have fun!

Hi Macdadtexas,

just to add to your audiophile pain, and as an ex maggie owner and maggie lover who was there too, Audio Research+Magnepan=happiness. Just how long the happiness lasts is another question.

As I said earlier, buy more music as it helps to stop the habit of comparing the same recording from one night to another. A computer does help as a source, as you can have instant access to huge amounts of music with the press of a key. No more searching the shelves for that elusive CD or LP. Your listening habits will change.

Sadly, it does. But I'm working on messing it up so it needs more work.

Macdaddy, ill venture a guess and say that your system probably sounds pretty f*in good right now.

I suggest keep buying stuff. You'll know you've got it right when you're not thinking about your system and listening to the music.

Macdad - Pretty humourous thread but I'll make a serious suggestion. You're obviously a project- and goal-oriented person. Instead of trying to refine your system by a smidgen, why not spend that $800 for an preamp upgrade and buy a bad used piano and start picking out the music on it? That'll intensify your attention and enjoyment of the music way more than some audio tweak.

Or here's another idea: I suspect I have a similar personality as yours (as well as the same speaker brand) and what I do is set active listening projects for myself. A couple of months ago, I decided I had a ridiculously undeveloped knowledge of the Mozart operas. So, over the next 9-12 months, I'm going to listen extensively to many of them and really remedy that. So you don't know enough about 30s Delta Blues? The music of the band Triumph? Jacques Brel? Dive into it in an organized way.

There - two self-help ideas in a single post. Cheers.

Chadeffect pretty much nailed it.

I just spent collectively about a week dialing in speaker positioning, 1/8 of an inch at a time. Luckily the songs I use for reference are ones I still like, but they've pretty much stopped becoming music and more like research material.

Buy more music or spend more time away from the hot seat! Other wise you will ended up listening to the same tracks again and again to hear the difference between this power cable or that.

An obsessive personality is part of being an audiophile I fear. If you cannot escape the cycle, you may as well enjoy it. It could be worse...

I've got a pair of reconditioned Allison Three's that you can buy - I'm sure there are 2 corners of your house that need speakers. Just walk through your house and identify the unspeakered rooms...........

I just beat mine, of course my kit could sound better, the key is to be happy with what you have, not what the man 'better' than you has

Listen to the music, and enjoy it, resist the urge to jump up and re position the speakers,realize that to get the last 10% corresponds to an expnonential $$$ increase in costs.

I also bought a season pass to the local symphony, hey cannot beat the sound of a 40 odd piece band playing 30 feet in front of you!

Pssssst, I'm better now!!!

I thought I was getting sick again when I bought a much desired from my youth, B & O Beogram 8002 a few weeks ago and: even though it worked fine I decided it should go back to Sound Smith for new interconnects, dust cover hinge and a new power cable, also a tune up. Well, while it was there I should just upgrade the cartridge to "The Voice", so I figured I was going to be into a secondary turntable for about $1800, that would sell, under the best of circumstances for about $1100, well, I sold it!!!!!!!

That means I'm better right??

Nothing else going on, so now I'm fine.

Oh, I did buy a Graham Slee Elevator and Grado The Reference 1 LO cartridge, but that was necessary. I'm not counting that as a negative.

You aren't done. Ted Denney is charging $90k for his new speaker cable and two pairs of IC's. If this aquisition doesn't cure you, there's no hope.
You could also spring for the top Caliburn or Clearaudio tables or spend $19k for the Grand Prix Audio offering.

Macdadtexas, since Houstin is known for its strip clubs, & the wine is flowing like water, surely these are the distractions you might need to avoid your addiction.

Phaelon,
you have never been to Houston have you? If you had you would know that sadly we laugh at the Vegas gentlemen's clubs. They seem trite, and downright amatuerish compared to ours'.

As my wife always says, " I'm so proud Houston's not known for energy, medical, technology or NASA. Instead we are the strip club captial of the world."

It's only money. Make sure to keep drinking too. If you're not buying gold, you may as well be buying equipment on a daily basis, since someday soon money won't buy anything good, like booze or equipment. Those who have not saved will have to sell their stuff cheap. They shudda listened.

You know what? After all the years I been on Audiogon I'm proud to say I still have the same speakers, everything else has changed though. Prior to Audiogon it was me and my music, nothing else. I was running Adcom gear back then and I thought it was the best (ignorance is bliss) and looked forward to my next music purchase. Audiogon changed that for the next few years. I started out buying McCormack gear and thought wow this is much better than what I was listening to and as things progressed over time I became more involved with the gear, not the music. I even purhased some test CDs just to make sure everthing was operating as it should. Well the point here is I lost my personal relationship with my music and became obsessed with the gear. I'm happy to report that I have made great progress and have increasingly been more involved listening to my favorite tunes and enjoying them more than ever. Yes I still have purchased & sold some pieces but have slowed down considerably, at least with the more expensive purchases.

I noticed with some long-term Audiogon members they have never been involved in the forums. I think it is important because if were not talking here than your probably browsing & looking to buy. Hint, hint.

I think a little isolation might be the solution.
You need to look with-in and discover why you have not been able to deal with............"Still my temporary rack, 4yrs now." I know, I know it's been difficult to confront this situation but the process is just what you need. A new direction that will improve the current equipment's performance with endless possibilities(tweaks)footers, shelves, etc, etc!!!!
This should allow you to at the least maintain your wine budget, keep your mind occupied for months thus avoiding depression untill your system's ready for new kit.
Then re-post this appeal!!

New tubes. Even more new tubes. Oh and some shiny brass footers. Telling yourself these things are pretty cheap doesn't work when you buy them all at once.

I think this addition only stops when people like myself lost their jobs, enter foreclose, and the pipeline of wealth ceases to flow.
Until this happens we will be always looking to 'reinvent the wheel'.
Terry

Macdadtexas,
I seem to have spaced out on your question about what phono to go with your Ref3. Here is my response from another tread about phono preamps I have tried with my Ref3.

I purchased the VPS. I had the Pass AlphaOno. I listened to the Steelhead & the AR7 also. The stealhead was very good but sounded better by it self than it did going into my AR Ref3, sound best with rock music. The AR7 was too on the lean side for me, not enough bottom end, sounded best with classical music. The VPS had what I wanted, very neutral and has slam when it was needed. Very open and full sound stage with lots of depth. Also it sounds great with all music types I play.
Since then I also listened to the Nagra BPS it sounds very good and more analytical than the VPS and the cost is about half.

Mac,

>>Man, I need help. What would I do if I get a new preamp and don't like it (I won't of course) then try another, and another, and another, until I find one I like.<<

Happiness is an inside job. Always.

It’s possible too. Happiness that is, regardless what you have on hand now. Regardless how expensive or inexpensive the system may be, it is not usually the system. It’s the nut behind the wheel.

When the grass seems greener on the other side, it’s time to water your own lawn. That does not mean to get more grass.

Perception. Changing one’s perspective is the most cost effective way to attain true happiness.

Being restless, irritable and discontent, with whatever, are signs the insides aren’t quite on the beam. Sort of like having an itch you can’t scratch, or one you should not.

It’s not the bling on the ring or the ear on the gear, it’s the ride on the inside. When the insides are at peace, tranquil, not tranquillized everything will fall into place pretty readily.

Seeking out another “who’s it what’s it” is merely treating the symptom, not treating the true problem.

Peace of mind for me is a very high priority. If in my mind I perceive a thing, regardless what it is, as a need, or a ‘must’ rather than a casual desire, many times it can take on the persona of a task, or a chore, or simply put, work.

When a hobby becomes an effort. Utterly involving. Takes higher priorities than it deserves, I am then controlled by it and not it being controlled by me. Consequently, I’m out of control. As much as I feel control is just another illusion, it can be quite an empowering or conversely, a very debilitating thing. Thus consuming more energy than is deserved.. Thereafter the moving of things in my life from a position of balance to one of being out of balance occurs, and the itching, then begins.

Look within, not without. That’s where all our real answers lay.

Of course, if the above insights do not appeal to you, I’ll give you a better deal than Swamp offered up.

In fact I think we should establish a foreign exchange program…. You send me all of your gear, and in exchange, I’ll send you all of my gear. In six months or less we’ll return things to one another. Then repeat that process with some other member. Perhaps living with some foreign gear for a time will help us appreciate our own situation. We’ll call it comparison shopping for happiness. But it will be far less expensive, and may or may not provide happiness after all, as results will vary and are entirely dependant upon the ‘nuts behind the wheel’ perception .

.
System synergy is the key. I've looked over your system components very closely and have done a very thorough analysis. All of your cables and electronics are well matched. The glaring problem you have is that you drink wine when you listen to your system. You should be drinking top-shelf cognac instead....it will consistently get you to audio nirvana if you drink it while listening to your system.
.

By the way are there more than 1% women who are this crazy? I very much doubt it.

You have to be joking. How about every woman from teens into their 40's once a month? I'll take a fairly rational man obsessed with a couple hobbies then try to make sense of an entire gender who are generally ruled more by emotion then logic.

Audio is very much a guy's thing -- it's mechanical and gadget driven. Women aren't drawn to shiny lights and buttons like guys are.

Great response, Phaelon. Just reading these neurotic mea culpas makes you an immediate member, by the way. And me, too. Just venting and free counselling provided - part of the club rules. By the way are there more than 1% women who are this crazy? I very much doubt it. Anybody know % of women who are A'goners? They are far less obsessive about their hobbies. Clothes, perfume, shoes dont count. They are bottom-line creatures; we are the crazies. OP's post proves it.

Don't they have gentlemen's clubs where you guys live?

Macdadtexas, unfortunately most audiophiles do this to a varying degree but you need to recognize that the law of dimenishing returns do apply and realize that many future tweaks can do more harm than good in some cases. This is especially true if you were happy with your system to begin with. Change out the preamp and you can find yourself searching for a more compatible amp plus interconnects, etc.

It is possible to substitute one addiction for another. For example get compulsive about buying music instead of gear. A co-worker told me one time that he don't have any problems because he don't quit nothing but that is a different perspective.

Relocate to he Amazon forest. The only music is the birds. Well, may be you may start collecting birds there too.
Parrots, doves, vultures etc. they all sing different tunes.

I started collecting wrist watches to stop buying-selling audio gear (I regret selling MANY of them) - now I have two monsters to feed!!!!

First step, delete this website from your favorites list!! :)

Hehehe, try to determine how to upgrade the wine, like Italian instead of French or a more vintage one

I got my Pope's! :D

Cheers,
John

I was good for 3 weeks, but I just bought some new tubes for the output stage of my preamp (the Pope Hollands I wanted are no longer available, Darn it!!), and a new sub cable for my Rel. I think I'm like an addict that has been off the stuff for a while and just had a beer.

Hey look, someone's got some 20.1's for sale, and an ARC Ref 5, oh man and there's an ARC Ref2 phono, now I just need to put my gear up for sale. Let's see if I move money from this account to that, the wife will never know how much more I spent.........

Imagine new equipment,research, ponder, shop, decide and then give that amount of money to the charity(s) of your choice. All the fun of dreaming and doing good to boot.

Swampwalker, my comments were also tongue in cheek, well, at least partially.

Go man go!

I hope that comment was also TIC.

"I can't leave well enough alone"

Nor should you. The greatest among us achieve greatness precisely because they can't leave well enough alone. Intrepid souls, often flying into the dark unknown in utter defiance of conventional wisdom, armed only with the courage of an explorer, and that insatiable spirit that took the slowest, weakest species on the planet and gave it lordly dominion over all. Go man go!

Probably the wrong forum to ask this question.