Room vs. Gear vs. time of life, ...and you?


This may hit home with a few that are of the "Boomer Generation"

Of all the very good to "state-of-the-art"(or near) systems I have had, I did have one I remember most fondly.  My thoughts on that system over time I have realized was most likely impacted by what was likely my best time of life. 
This is not crying in my soup, just my reality.  My three very best friends have all died, two from cancer.  I had my best house and room at that time and set the room up with a system based on the Magneplaner MG-20 speakers.  Other items in that system varied a bit except for the Conrad Johnson ART pre-amplifier.   My best of times listening to that system were with my best friend and some of the best wines from Bordeaux and California.  In retrospect those were not the good old days, simply hitting a high point, much like my physical health, cars, mates, travel and other parts of life can have moments that in retrospect become those "fond memories".   Part of my success in life has been having moments that do become fond memories. 
                                                                                     
jusam

Showing 1 response by mike_in_nc

@jusam--I’m 72, and my most memorable system is the one I have now. Finally, I’ve got a good quiet room . . . not ideally sized, but constructed for the purpose and better acoustically than most I’ve had or heard. I’m reasonably happy with the gear, too. I’m still perfecting around the edges, perhaps will add a fourth sub and a few more acoustic treatments.

But I now suffer from tinnitus and hyperacusis, so I’m listening less. Also, as my wife’s tinnitus is worse than mine, she can’t listen often at all, so time in the audio room is always time away from her. Sometimes we both appreciate that, but life is short.

At 72, I know that a single-family house won’t be doable for us forever. So as I think about adding a sub, I consider that within 10 years, I’ll probably be selling it. One more piece of stuff to deal with.

And I have no more friends who enjoy an evening of simply listening together. It seems those experiences were in my 20s and 30s, before we all got families, promotions, houses, pets, and so on. Though, come to think of it, I hosted musicians after a chamber concert in my 60s, and they stayed, listening, until 2:00 a.m. A cellist became a bit of an audiophile from that experience.

Life goes on -- if we are lucky -- nothing lasts forever, and at different life stages, we have different resources. Energy abounds when we’re young, and hopefully we have better finances as we age. As the energy declines, the fond memories, as you put it, become more important.