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Is advice from a constant upgrader to be avoided

For a while now I've been reading these forums and to be honest i was thinking of leaving. I felt a bit out of depth given that it seems so many others have had so much experience through owning what seems to be tens of speakers, amplifiers, DACs etc etc and reading people buying and selling piece after piece after piece on the search for some sound.... 

When someone asks advice about a certain item it seems like half the audience have owned it and moved on and have a comment to make. I then read about someone buying an extremely expensive amp and deciding quickly to sell it because it doesn't sound right. Then someone else is on their fourth DAC in a year. 

So all these people have advice to give. What I'm wondering now is, is advice from a person who's never content, constantly changing their system, never living with a system for long enough, and have more money than patience, really the right person to take advice from? .

There seems fewer (maybe they're less vocal) people who buy gear and spend the time to appreciate it, and have maybe only had a very few systems in their lifetime. I think I'd rate their advice higher on the gear they know than the constant flipper/upgrader.

Is the constant flipper/upgrader always going to say that the gear they used to own was no good and they've now got better? Maybe their constant searching is because their ear is no good or they're addicted to the rush of opening a new box. 

Just because person X has owned a lot of equipment doesn't mean their advice is to be sought after, it could mean the exact opposite.

mid-fi-crisis

Showing 1 response by fredapplegate

fredapplegate
108 posts
 

I learned far too late in life that a few weeks spent repositioning our speakers is the most important upgrade you can make. And if you haven’t done that, a new DAC or TT or power cord is really just going to be the answer to an unasked question.

For some people the hobby consists mostly of buying things and that’s fine! It’s a hobby. Go crazy! Buy away, and the economy thanks you. I’ve purchased things for the sole reason that I was finally able to afford them, and did it make me happy? Of course it did! Don’t be silly.

Here’s an interesting look at the maximizer/satisfier dichotomy that relates to your comment. And thanks for contributing the thoughtful topic.

And yes, they use the word "satisficers". Weird.

psychologistworld.com/cognitive/maximizers-satisficers-decision-making

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