I’m 63. I’m not wealthy but I have a tolerant wife and I still love to pursue great sound. But I find myself increasingly reluctant to spend significant amounts on new gear. I know my hearing acuity is not as good as it used to be, but my love of music and good sound is not diminished. When considering a purchase, I find myself factoring in cost versus life expectancy (mine!) and auditory function. I’ll even have some guilt about spending my kid’s inheritance. Is something wrong with me?
As we prepare to sell our house and move I've been keeping my shredder busy lately. I'm only keeping seven years of my tax returns and business receipts, as I was going thru my papers I had memories of all the good fortune I had, in my 21 years of having a very successful consulting business, I worked a lot during those times that so many others were not so fortunate, like the recession of the early 2000's, the "great recession", etc. By the end of 2014 I was pretty much "fully spent", and found that I'd worked and billed out 2882 hours that year!
As a result, I enjoy an audio system that is way more than I ever dreamed of!
We are in the process of building a home in a wonderful neighborhood, and YES, it'll have a "bonus room" for my audio system.
For me the big moves are in the past. For the past ten years (I’m now 65), I’ve shifted mostly to DIY audio in order to side-step upgraditus-- by way of modifications that improve and extend the life of already excellent commercial components that have been in my system since the mid-2000s. The major exception has been upgrades to CPU audio-- a technology that continues to advance rapidly. After thirty-some years of systems evolution, it should certainly be reasonable to be near an end-point. I attend a couple of audio shows each year to remind myself that my system is close enough to SOTA. The virus has added further perspective on consumerism.
When in my mid-40s and in an aggressive systems-building mode-- I recall a wise audio salesman describing the typical arc of many of his customers: constant equipment churn during the high income years between 40-50, followed by increasingly painful addictive purchases as income declines, followed by the big sell-off after penurious retirement or a postmortem fire sale by disinterested spouses or children.
At this point in life I am shifting to projects that more fully involve family. Two-up motorcycling with the wife. Working with my son-in-law on a Renegade Hybrids LS3 V-8 conversion to a mid-’80s Lotus Turbo Esprit. When that car is finished it will be a gift to him.
Some here, and elsewhere, are assuming that we (the people) are being given (by media, etc) full and correct information, and with no addenda to do otherwise.
oregonpapa, I really like that quote, "... discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons." Very good quote! Thank you !
Reminds me of one I committed to memory: Sow a thought, reap an act Sow an act, reap a habit, Sow a habit, reap a lifestyle, Sow a lifestyle, reap a destiny.
I am 64. My hearing is nearly flat to 15khz. As a child/teen, my hearing went out to 20-30Khz, probably due to my asthma (bronchial conditions in children often result in hearing high frequencies). Unfortunately, I also was bothered by buzzing high frequencies in lights that others couldn't hear.
I have found that my left ear lobe at the top has a curl to it which my right ear lobe doesn't have. The left ear hears a less open, darker sound than the right. When I unbend the lobe, sound is identical in both ears (and more open). Plastic surgery would permanently result in more open sound on one side. I don't plan to do that. Similar to my eyesight. My left eye has always had a neutral color rendition. My right eye is my primary vision eye and has a darker color rendition. Together, a nice balance. I would never want to live with the left eye only vision.
That's life. As to equipment, I only want to upgrade my main speakers but they will cost $35K to $75K (Von Schweikert VR6 MKII or VR55s. I can live with my Focus speakers just fine in the meantime. I am satisfied with the rest of my system (but it took a looong time get it and the my room to make me satisfied).
>> I’ll even have some guilt about spending my kid’s inheritance.
Did you work hard, save and invest wisely so that your *children* would be financially comfortable or so that you and your long-suffering better half could be financially comfortable? I hope that the way that you helped your children to be financially comfortable was by educating them, often by example.
I believe that if my children want to be financially comfortable, they ought to do the same things that I did: work hard, save and invest wisely.
>> "Does it ever end?"
Sure, when the coroner zips up the bag and carries me out feet first. Until that time, I recommend that you enjoy life to the fullest.
bloom, I suppose I'll eventually give in to hearing aids. I'm just not there yet. I guess I'm still living in denial (not the river in Egypt). newbee, I think we're on the same wavelength.
FWIW, if you are presently healthy you could easily outlive any components you might now buy. What I would do (and actually have) is to redirect my attention to simplifying my system using quality components to facilitate the ease of use when you start to 'lose' your mind (as well as hearing) in case someone else has to turn it on for you, and I would have a component which has effective tone controls to compensate somewhat for your projected hearing loss (or buy a good quality add-on tone control :-).
I'm a bit older than you and would not consider adding (as in buying) any component of reasonable or greater cost that I could not audition in my system.
jdmccall56, regarding hearing aids ... I'm age 64 and have been using them for about 5 years now. It's one of the best things I've ever done for myself despite the cost. I was professionally measured and found I have significant hearing loss above 3k. The hearing aids brought back great enjoyment of my system and made it much easier to be part of conversations and understanding dialog in movies. For a while I would do A/B comparisons with them in and out, thinking there was no way having them in could provide a realistic sound. I decided I just enjoyed my system so much more with them in and moved forward with this decision. Is it as good as it used to be? Probably not - but I don't care ... what matters is that I get tremendous enjoyment from my system now. I've upgraded speakers during this time (about $8k in Legacy Audio speakers) and happy to still be 'in the game'.
So, I guess actuarial tables get thrown out during pandemics...seriously, though, if you enjoy it and can afford it you don’t need to justify the expenditure to anyone but yourself and your partner. I had a nice system before retirement (Linn Axis turntable, Paradigm Atom speakers and NAD 7020 amp) that was perfect for my mobile AF life (Air Force...). When I retired seven years ago I upgraded and decided to expand my record collection. Then late last year we decided to improve my wife’s commute and downsize. I sold all my records and equipment, and bought a Bluesound PowerNode 2i streamer and ELAC Debut 6.2s. Now that the move is on hold, I spend my days listening to stuff I always meant to listen to but could never find. Do I miss my old system and collection? Not really. I am exploring with the new system and enjoying it. Hearing damage? Yep, too much flight line time and pain meds. To quote someone older and wiser than me, “It’s not the equipment, it’s what you do with it.” BTW, I have lived in a few rough places during serious epidemics: Brazil ‘84 (conjunctivitis), Gabon 2008 (chikungunya), as well as have a mom who contracted polio in her childhood. Epidemics and pandemics need to be taken seriously, because disease doesn't care what you want. It is opportunistic. You don’t give it the opportunity then you survive and it doesn’t. Really basic. Those who complain about social distancing et al exhibit an incredible amount of selfishness, ignorance and entitlement. This is NOT “just the flu”. It is FAR more contagious and deadly, and has far more secondary and term affect THAT WE KNOW OF. Blood clots? Strokes? Brain swelling? You want to take a risk with your loved ones with that? Instead, listen to some great music on your outstanding audio equipment and ride this out. You are already doing MUCH better that 95 percent of the worlds population, so stop being so f***ing ungrateful. How about taking it to the next level. Do you know a COVID-19 survivor? (I know at least three) The family of a fatality? Again, three. Reach out and comfort them. Help them. And do not ignore the real pain happening around you.
A wise man named Jim Rohn once said: "It is good to strive for a disciplined life. Why is that? Because at the end of the road, discipline weighs ounces. Regrets weigh tons."
Ultimately, the only one you need to impress is yourself.
It's pleasant when others are impressed, a nice 'ego-stroke' basically. At this time, anything above and beyond a Walmart gets attention. but most of the systems owned and described here brand one as 'fringe'.
...which, at the end of the day...is Fine....OK...
If looked at as neurosis, at least it's harmless....except perhaps to one's wallet. *g* That, each to one's 'own'....Literally. *L*
Having spent the bulk of my life involved in some fashion in the graphic arts and craft in employment, artist friends at some point have inquired as to Why I haven't 'expressed myself' in some way.
One finally 'got it'....blurting out...
"I now understand....Your Life is Your Art!"
*s* Close enough....
Like most, one doesn't need to totally understand it.
The older and richer I've grown, the more frugal I have become. My car is old. My clothes are threadbare, and I don't want to spend money on expensive kit. I don't even care about not spending the kids' inheritance. What is wrong with me?
If you want to feel good about being old, and glad you won't be here for the near and far future (unless you believe in reincarnation), watch Planet Of The Humans on YouTube.
Dear poster, I have retired twice and will again at the end of this year for good. I have always faced the situation of upgrading my system like all of us have in our years of chasing the unobtainable. My current system is very good with no real weak components. So my next upgrade and possibly last is a serious cartridge upgrade on my turntable. I have a good budget so I can get what I want. Whatever I don't spend will go into our travel fund that my wife will also enjoy.
As far spending my kids inheritance if the whole world doesn't collapse and we all become homeless there will be plenty left for them. Enjoy what you enjoy now and try not to have any regrets.
Maybe Trump will eventually understand and publicly acknowledge that ability to test more including the asymptomatic is the only option to get things back to "normal" other than social distancing. Hunches and wishful thinking will not cut it. Can't BS your way out of this one. Until then....
I predict riots in the streets of Rodney King proportions.
Alas! I think you are right.... And now unprepared for the uncontrolled health crisis, it is too late, and the economical crisis will be apocalyptic...Remember that the economical and financial crisis was already there ready to explode before the virus crisis....
Trump is right about the death toll that will be cause by the economical stop.... But he is completely wrong if he thinks that life in the world can go back to normal now without this health crisis ended and controlled....The geopolitical crisis is not separate from Us crisis in leadership.... This is a world leadership crisis also.... My best to you....
Okay, now they've applied the final straw. Tyson Foods is closing its largest pork processing plant in Iowa.
Closing the beaches? Ok. Tracking citizens via drones? OK. Government edicts to snitch on each other? Ok. BUT ... mess with our bacon and there's gonna be hell to pay.
I predict riots in the streets of Rodney King proportions.
If I want to answer that OP question.... I am old and wiser because I realize how fool I was, how stupid I was, and how inconsiderate I am even now... But the little light there is, illuminate more in these darker days of old age.... :)
Yup this is what happens with dummies in charge. At least dummies in regards to things other than making money. Also dummies who think they know better than experts.
All epidemiologists describe the coronavirus, among others, monster to comes...Not only that was written by one but by many in books or interviews... Be it Dr. Fauci or Dr. Raoult and many less known others... They even gives advice to be cautious for the near future in few years terms....
But who listen to science when we can play Golf or travel.... Ask m. Macron in France. M. T. in US. or Trudeau in Canada....The only place where some brain is at the wheel is in south Korea and few other well prepared places...And guess why the powers that be and will be dont care for a real health care system?
All diseases start somewhere but only this one was allowed to impact us to this degree because someone was asleep at at the wheel and still feeling drowsy months later from the sound of it. Hint: it’s not Sleepy Joe.
Here's a question: If Montana had the number of victims of the Communist Chinese Virus as New York City, and if New York City had the number of victims of the Communist Chinese Virus as Montana ... do you think the governor and mayor of New York City would have locked down the entire state?
Papa, good to hear from you and your unshakable " Communist China Virus " cry. This is one point I agree with. But we should’ve been prepared much better and acted much more quicker and decisively than we did and still do. The virus is going to be slowly suppressed but not eliminated any time soon. You don’t do elimination like that. Look at New Zealand and yes, China. I got tired of this sort of prison too but we got to continue or it will be a disaster. No amount of music can compensate for this unnatural lack of space, both physical and mental. It is getting harder. We just have to hang on. I expect serious improvements soon enough unless they screw it up, but do worry about possible second wave in fall/winter. It might happen, no-one knows for sure.
@oregonpapa , I'm frankly learning to like y'all being confined..
The air's cleaner, it's quieter overall.... One walks into that which is still open and if your timing is 'on', you get instant attention to your quest for whatever.
"Rush hour" has become 'rush minutes'; I haven't had the pleasure of so little highway traffic in so long it's still a novelty.
When we first moved into this area, people would kid us about 'mountain time'; i.e., the pace was 'leisurely'.....not the frantic 'take no prisoners' of Houston, the Bay Area, or the L.A. 'basin' (how apt) I grew up in....
It sped up in the 10+ years we've been here....but now, it's even better than before.
If I need to 'accelerate' to visit Home Despot or Low's to 'do biz', it's easy to fall back 'into groove' and whambamthankuSam....but once out the door....
It's like hitting a Wall of Bliss.....*S*
Business for us is still coming in the door, for now....we've work lined up into 1st quarter '21. We've even had a couple of 'walk-ins', a rarity for us...*G*
So....for the hoards demonstrating that they feel they're being 'held captive' and their right to assemble is keeping them from becoming ill...
Have @ it....I'll keep a safe distance.
Mass graves are disturbing, but I'd rather stay out of one.
Stay sane and Healthy....best I can wish for you...
I retired 2 years ago and am now 66. I found my joy in life, again, is by going back to my roots; I let my hair grow a few inches and completely overhauled my audio system. I sold off all of the old gear and bought new gear, slowly, over 1 1/2 years. Certainly, have to consider budgeting! Each and every upgrade has been an absolute pleasure. And of course, I can't stop now, just slow down on the expenses. I'm about there with the system, so no worry. Enough said about me, I just hope that you can relate. Life is too short. You made it this far so please do enjoy what makes your heart (and ears) feel good. There is absolutely nothing wrong with rewarding yourself with good hi-fi. Your kids will be so happy that you did. I am confident they will want to see you enjoy all that you can, for as long as possible. That's a good family! And if good hi-fi is part of that recipe, then by all means, serve up a good one for yourself. Enjoy the music!
I mentioned redemption once on this forum and got excoriated for it by another member. Bringing anything about faith into the threads is akin to mentioning SR Orange fuses. :-)
By the way, as an old duffer myself, I'm getting mighty tired of being under house arrest because of the Communist Chinese Virus. How about you guys?
I am in no hurry to have my hearing professionally checked. I know they will try to sell me hearing aids. I think I will know when it is time for that. Then, I will go to the doctor. As for new audio puchases, I suppose I'll just do what feels right. What feels right at 63 with three kids just isn't as much as what felt right at 23 and single. But like my oldest son is fond of saying, "It's all good". I'm new to this forum and no, I didn't read the rules. I suppose discussions of politics and religion are verboten, but I also suppose that merely alluding to faith is still allowed. Having said that, here's a bible quote I remind myself of from time to time: "But Godliness, with contentment, is great gain." (1 Timothy, 6:6). I find it healthy to consider that verse when I get upgrade fever, whether it's an amplifier, speakers, a vehicle...whatever.
One thing is sure though, if not now, when? Time's a-wastin'!
OP, there is nothing wrong with what you stated. I personally don't think about equipment resale value when I purchase. My criteria is: 1. Is it better than what I currently own (sound wise) to the extent that it "justifies" purchase/upgrade? 2. Can I afford it? 3. Do I want to upgrade at this time?
I've upgraded many, many times over the years and have never, not once had any trouble selling the replaced equipment. Good quality equipment is just that. There will always be someone just like me that look to the used market to upgrade first. So, me selling my piece means that someone else can "upgrade" their equipment, just like I did.
Some important points have been made here, one that kept getting my attention is hearing loss with age. Sigh!, this really sucks. So I ask, do any of you have your hearing measured and did you add equalizers to your system to adjust for the hearing loss. Or does adding an equalizer to adjust for your hearing loss make your system sound like crap for other's listening?
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