Jay's "Ugly Truth" video

@hilde45 

Excellent point.

Ironically, this is often used as a warning, as in "don't buy X -- it'll just sound different, not better". 

@rsf507 , @cleeds

With all due respect, aversion to Jay’s personality is not the point. I’ve never found him appealing. Nevertheless, I think the topic he raises is a worthwhile one.

For certain personality types, the pursuit of the "Absolute Sound", "Audio Nirvana", or whatever you want to call it can quickly devolve into an all-consuming perfectionism. 

@tomcy6

Thanks for sticking to the topic. I haven’t know enough audiophiles to have an opinion re: it’s common or uncommon but I’ve found myself straying into the "obsession zone" and have known others who have as well.

While I agree with @bigtwin and @mfili35 that if one has a tendency towards OCD, any hobby can bring this out, I don’t agree that every hobby emphasizes "upgrading" or "taking things to the nth degree" to the same extent as audio.

Furthermore, it’s simply not true that one is either a full-blown OCD case or entirely free from any vulnerability to being overtaken by consumerism. Such black and white thinking does not describe reality.

Focusing upon Jay himself is a handy way to 1) avoid actually looking at the issue, (as is lumping all you tubers into one basket and rejecting them) and 2) assert one’s own perceived immunity from psychological issues. And while I'll agree that Jay can come across as self-important, his demeanor in this video is quite different. 

In retrospect, I shouldn’t have mentioned Jay at all, as it proves an "easy out" for those who do not want to actually engage with the topic.  "Live and learn" as the saying goes.

@pindac

Again each individual will have to be honest with themselves on the harm a obsessional and uncontrolled spending regime is having on their security and mental health.

Exactly. You hit the nail on the head in a few well chosen words. I salute your honesty and self-awareness.

And as I see it, this is exactly what Jay is underscoring.

@mahgister 

Call this an "error" caused by a slight OCD in audio.... The same obsession that guided me through one year full time acoustic experiments ... 

Yes. The same faculty can serve a discriminative or obsessive function, as is true with so many human faculties. As others have said, it's a matter of balance and maintaining perspective. 

@mahgister

Upgrading really my actual system will cost me too much from 700 bucks to at least 10,000..

I’m in a similar situation. To meaningfully upgrade my system I’d have to spend more than I can afford. Good thing I’m happy with it, as is!

@vitussl101

I couldn’t watch 60 seconds of this doofus.

Yeah and in your knee-jerk rush to judge Jay, you managed to completely miss the point of this thread! 

How does discounting someone without even bothering to consider what they have to say contribute to "discourse" ? 

@thyname

Serious question for some of the posters in this thread: did you actually watch the video?

I suspect not