For the past 30 years or so I've considered myself a die-hard audiophile. I've gone through similar phases and opinions like most of you probably have. I've bought and sold many dozens (if not hundreds) of high end components and cables. Audio research, Linn, audionote, ensemble, synergistic, Zu Audio, PS Audio, Yamamoto, modwright, REL, Klipsch, hafler, CJ, coincident, classe, anthem, oppo, MIT, and many other brands I don't even remember. I've auditioned hundreds more... I'm also an electronic technician so I had my share of experience with DIY. I've gone from tubes and vinyl to digital and SS, and back around. I've owned mini monitors and huge 6' Giants and everything in between. I've heard the most minute differences in sound quality between cables and footers. I've spent way too many dollars on fuses, tweaks and furniture. I read reviews, and swore by specific brands. I've put together systems which I was sure we're the best ever and defended my choices with a passion.
No more.
I'm sitting here right now in my (ex) music room, listening to a system that costs less than $350 total, and enjoying the music as I rarely did with my recent $30K one. Does it sound as good and realistic as the $30K one? No it doesn't. But it sounds damn good. It's musical, engaging, full bodied with a well established sound stage, good detail and tonality, well paced, and I'm having a blast!!! I just don't care no more for the minute differences in sound quality. There is no end to it.
I let go, and oh man it feels good to enjoy music without constantly analyzing and subconsciously looking for imperfection or thinking how much better it will sound with tweak X or cable Y or upgrade Z... This tiny $350 system delivers 80% of the sound quality of the $30K one, and honestly probably better than many $5K ones out there. I mean it... It doesn't make any sense no more!
I have no regrets ... I've had a lot of fun and I met amazing people that I wouldn't have had I not been an audiophile. I've experienced great uplifting monents and great disappointments. I've laughed and cried, was blown away and frustrated... It was a great ride.
I am leaving this hobby behind and not looking back... Damn it feels good. I'll keep enjoying great music and HiFi sound, and will appreciate high quality equipment, but I won't be obsessed with it no more. I still have a very nice system in my living room which is probably worth around $2K and will be more than I'll ever need going forward. This amazing little $350 system is going to my office where I spend most of my week days and I'm excited about it...
I have woken up from the audiophile dream, and what has been seen can't be unseen.
Goodbye and thanks for the fish :-)
PS: Since I know you are very curious, the $350 system consists of a Raspberry Pi as a streamer ($25) with an upgraded DAC ($60), an upgraded power supply ($50), a 20 watt Chinese digital power amplifier ($70), mini monitor speakers I bought as a kit ($100), DIY stands from leftover lumber ($20), and around $20 in cables... I intentionally omit brand names, this post is not about recommending any specific item. It's about what amazing value you can get for ridiculously cheap these days in general.
I promise each and every one of you that if you were sitting in my seat right now, and I would have told you that you are listening to a $5K system, you would not have doubted it for a second. You are probably thinking that I'm crazy, but I am not. I've already tried this trick on a few very experienced audiophile friends this past week. :-)
@ ami: I went and sat down & listened to a system that was a little below 20k for about 15 minutes & I was amazed. For 15 minutes I was in a whole different sphere of sound, as if the universe had been altered irreparably, forever changing the way the things I heard in music. Then I went home to my far inferior system (probably by 18.5k) and I sat down & listened. That day was my "awakening". My system actually, while not fulfilling that sound by any margin, sound quality wise was in the ballpark. So, why do I need to go and spend all that money, remortgage my life & owe money when I owe nobody money now? Instead, I will visit the DIY & AG sites & begin to obtain the knowledge to improve electronically what I already have. That's my 2 cents,
P.S. Most of my system consists of thrift store/flea market finds with some help with second hand shops. My interconnects are more expensive than the units they connect, that's where I succeeded.
I have argued that there are basically 3 types of listeners, those who are happy with virtually anything that puts out sound, then what I call the Vandersteen crowd, they want polite music, then there are detail fanatics. The bottom line is that you are listening for your pleasure, so it doesn't matter which camp you are in as long as you are content, you are content!
Firstnot, Ami, I think you could have 2 levels of "cheap system" competition - one with off-the-shelf components that us mortals could put together, and another with DIY systems. I'll admit the DIY competition would be far more interesting...
@tomic601 I do not have a Miata. I have a 350z, which is less capable than a Miata but faster in the straights of course. I do not race. But all I would need to go there is a cage (rather than the rollbar in it now) and a race suit. I have everything else-HANS, harness, gloves etc.
The cost of racing a 350z would be in tires and brakes. I could race with a Spec e-30, American Iron or a Thunder Roadster for even less.
I think about racing but have decided not to pursue it. More because of all the stuff that goes with it than the cost.
When you run DE-4 with a lot of friends you're about as close to racing as you can get. Plenty of unsanctioned (and unspoken of) competition, balls-to-the-wall wheel-to-wheel, passing in corners, etc......but without all the other stuff. Maybe an occasional reprimand from the track staff.
I'd love to try racing. Even just to say I've done it. Just having too much fun doing what I'm doing and weekends are free since I instruct.
The point of all the car talk is that you can get track level thrills on the cheap just like you can do audio for less. Maybe 80% as the OP says.
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