Is This the Essence of "The Audiophile Dilemma?

@audition__audio +1

Some people treat a journey as something negative.

Others see it as the thing worth valuing.

The idea that my system is not where it could be is not a negative -- it's a positive. As Browning said, "a man's reach should exceed his grasp, Or what's a heaven for?"

Live music is your guide, and patience your friend.

Ok, perhaps. For some music. Sitting...7th row center? Further up? Back? Ok, we can just rough it out.

Dark Side of the Moon and everything else multi-tracked, mixed, tweaked, etc. -- live music is not a guide.

Electronic music, made with synthesizers, computers, etc.? Live is not a guide.

Take a look at Jays Audio Lab on FB! He's gone through over 60 amps in his search for perfection! IMO this is certifiable behavior - time to call the men in white coats!

Agree. Has his room changed in that time? Have speakers, DACs, other things changed? Has his preferences changed during his auditions? What keeps his compass pointed at the north star and his variables stable? Or is this more of a kind of performance -- something like one would see at a carnival. "Watch the spinning plates, kids."

@mijostyn Thanks. You state, "Many concerts have terrible sound quality. You have to pick your venues for the best sound."

That's exactly right. What is constantly misunderstood in this hobby is the notion of "truth" or, if you prefer, "real." @mahler123 says, ""Therefore since there is no way of getting “The Truth” I have to settle for an illusion of it."

That statement indicates that what he is settling for just IS reality. There is no reality/illusion dichotomy. There is experience and then the question returns to us, "Is this something I like?" There is no metaphysical issue between reality and illusion. It's all real.

If I am sitting in a practice room an a cellist is playing, where should I sit for the "true" sound? Right next to her? Behind her? 10 feet away? What if I'm 100 feet away? One might say that all these sounds are "true" because I am in the room with her. But if I'm 100 feet away and the room acoustics are poor, how will that match up to my sitting in my listening room, 8 feet away from a stereo playing a recording of her that sounds delightful? Won't that sound more "true"? But, someone will say, it's not "live" any more. Fair enough, but if the criteria is "acoustical enjoyment" and not "simultaneity with the event of her playing" then "truth" is different.

If the above made sense, it should be clear that "truth" depends on the "criterion." But for audiophiles, there is often NO dilemma because the criterion is pre-determined to be subjective musical enjoyment.