The Horror

@roxy54 

I strongly disagree with your opinion of the intent of @audiodidact ’s thread. I think that it was sincere, if a bit tongue in cheek.

Hey Roxy.  That's fine, I'm not the A'gon police at all.  I just ... don't ;like the smell of this thread and won't participate.  Please continue to enjoy this thread and A'gon however you'd like.

This smells even more like a troll cave which upsets me mostly because too many a'goners will try to help out of genuine concern for the OP's post not realizing they are being kited around.

The OP has essentially tied the problem and solution together:  He didn't spend enough money.

Had the OP described his problem around music and it's reproduction there  would be many useful and affordable suggestions possible, but so long as he adheres to framing the question in terms of money spent then there is only one more solution: Spend more money. 

I'll leave you all here to enjoy the ... um, scenery of the OP's mindscape as much as you want.

You’re displeased because I had the sickening realization that there are major differences in what money buys you in this hobby.

Not even a little displeased. More like, surprised that you had any sort of revelation at a trade show. You’ve also come to very different conclusions than I have, so again, surprised, but if you want to be unhappy about your life choices I’m not about to get in your way.

Your original post, and this one, are very emotional but also very generic. What system would you say caused you to have such an epiphany? What speakers and system, how was the room set up, what did you hear and what are the actual sound characteristics you feel now you are missing?

As I read your original post, and the one above, what you seem to most be upset about is not being able to spend as much as you want to.  That's not the same as not being able to have a certain musical experience.

But like I said, I'm not about to get in your way of your tears.  Let them all out.

Honestly it’s hard to tell how much of a troll this is. The number of great systems I’ve heard is about 1 system per show, on average. Usually the rooms are so bad that I can’t tell anything good about what I’m hearing (with Vandersteen and Fritz being consistently above average in terms of show performance).

On the other hand, I’ve seen / heard audiophile systems which go off on their own unique directions and sometimes these unique directions set a trend/fad of sound quality all it’s own. The 1980’s pairing of Audio Research with B&W speakers was one such fad I could never get on board with, but those sound characteristics became what audiophiles wanted MORE of. 🤮

So, is the OP trolling, or has their direction taken them off to a unique set of sound characteristics that they lost track of what a full bodied system sounds like I can’t really tell.

I can say, with little doubt, that hotel rooms and audio shows are usually terrible places to listen to systems, and that aspiring to speakers that are too big for the room in every way is also bad. There’s a great sounding system for every size room.

Just for the record, I'm joking.  I don't actually give a damn how much a system costs as I believe excellent sounding systems are available at many different price points.

The only real audiophiles own Formula 1 teams.