My off-ramp was to get off where I began! I am completely convinced that audio satisfaction is a state of mind, not material, each one of us holding a different set of qualifiers.
In my case, terminal satisfaction arose when I purchased (at age 68) the first good audio system I ever heard at age 16: original Quad II amps, ls3/5a speakers, passive controller. The story ended where it began. Obviously, my audio taste, both aurally and aesthetically was formed 52 years ago. I enjoy the look, sound, feel and machine-love of these components so much. In the intervening years I've owned modern, high end, new technology, more resolving, more transparent, more impressive 'everything', but it all led me back to the beginning. To be honest, with the right kind of self-reflection, I could have figured out what would be my best choices years ago. I didn't have the self-awareness. I, like so many, swapped components willfully, but somewhat blindly, ever reaching for I don't know what.
In my case, terminal satisfaction arose when I purchased (at age 68) the first good audio system I ever heard at age 16: original Quad II amps, ls3/5a speakers, passive controller. The story ended where it began. Obviously, my audio taste, both aurally and aesthetically was formed 52 years ago. I enjoy the look, sound, feel and machine-love of these components so much. In the intervening years I've owned modern, high end, new technology, more resolving, more transparent, more impressive 'everything', but it all led me back to the beginning. To be honest, with the right kind of self-reflection, I could have figured out what would be my best choices years ago. I didn't have the self-awareness. I, like so many, swapped components willfully, but somewhat blindly, ever reaching for I don't know what.