All my life I suppose my own audio journey has been more defined by my own lack of funds at almost any point along the way. Not that it bothered me all that much. To pass the time when saving up for this or that piece of gear, I read. Actually, I read and then read and then read some more. I was financially never in a position to develope any of the attitudes or sensibilities of the self-described "insane box swappers" out there, but wound up crossing scores of would-be system solutions that I'd dreamed up off the list I'd been making ever since I'd first bought my speakers for my current system back in 1990. But, to me it's always been a matter of reaching certain sonic goals - once I can say to myself that's been to done to the degree I've been missing for so long, I aparently just don't see all that much reason to go very much further with it. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I've since married and have a son to raise, but I'd managed to have gotten far enough along gear-wise before all that happened that I didn't even feel all that compromised on that front, really.
But, for example, I recently had enough money to throw at my system to have the opportunity to replace my $1200 amps with $2200 amps, and you know what?? While going through the motions, I realized that all of my amp goals were so effectively being met with the ones I have, that I really just didn't want to mess with success - something that, perhaps for the first time with me, was just a little different than the usual 'but-will-it-rilly-sound-any-better' angst that goes along with upgrading.
I'm all for system improvement. And my system is not yet complete in my eyes. But, I DO forsee a day in which it effectively WILL be (and no one will be happier for me to turn in my HiFi-nut badge and to go back to being just another music lover - but, with a huge grin plastered on my face - than me...unless it's my wife, of course).
At what point did it all turn into perfectionism? Dunno exactly, but I'm betting that the combination of marketing trends over the last couple of decades or so and the reliance by all on the internet have conspired to make for audiophiles who are either less willing, or less likely, to be as decisive about their overall pursuit any more - the internet never sleeps. I guess the pursuit of perfectionist audio, for those who have the time and money for it, is ok...I guess. But, in the end, it's as alien to my sensibilities as I suppose it is to yours - but, a sign of the times, it looks like. Regards. John
But, for example, I recently had enough money to throw at my system to have the opportunity to replace my $1200 amps with $2200 amps, and you know what?? While going through the motions, I realized that all of my amp goals were so effectively being met with the ones I have, that I really just didn't want to mess with success - something that, perhaps for the first time with me, was just a little different than the usual 'but-will-it-rilly-sound-any-better' angst that goes along with upgrading.
I'm all for system improvement. And my system is not yet complete in my eyes. But, I DO forsee a day in which it effectively WILL be (and no one will be happier for me to turn in my HiFi-nut badge and to go back to being just another music lover - but, with a huge grin plastered on my face - than me...unless it's my wife, of course).
At what point did it all turn into perfectionism? Dunno exactly, but I'm betting that the combination of marketing trends over the last couple of decades or so and the reliance by all on the internet have conspired to make for audiophiles who are either less willing, or less likely, to be as decisive about their overall pursuit any more - the internet never sleeps. I guess the pursuit of perfectionist audio, for those who have the time and money for it, is ok...I guess. But, in the end, it's as alien to my sensibilities as I suppose it is to yours - but, a sign of the times, it looks like. Regards. John