Validation

Like you I have no external validation, barring my own enjoyment and remembering the journey -- research, listen, purchase, listen, return/exchange, or keep and repeat.  Though, I was very pleased when one my music loving friends remarked that his favorite album sounded "wonderful" on my streaming system.

Mostly, I benefit from the discussions here on what component/configuration/tweak (within my reach) may be best to investigate and try.

No, and it’s a rather silly thing to be competitive about! I’m not traditionally competitive anyways - mostly concerned with my own solitary pursuits of knowledge, skill, and self-satisfaction. I guess a "lone wolf" kind. All systems I’ve heard fall into 2 major categories: ones I like, and ones I don’t like. That’s the major demarcation. Getting good feedback can be OK in the moment, but it’s not meaningful nor necessary to me in the long run. I listen to much different material and SPLs than most audiophiles anyways. I am the sole arbiter of my audio pursuits!

The most incompatible guys with me are the ones who have this innate drive to feel like they’ve achieved "better sound" (whatever that means) than someome else while spending less money. Such a very foreign mindset to mine! This for me is a highly subjective pursuit of passion; money (within reason) and competition (mixing subjectivities) does not matter.

Don't need validation. All I need is the buzz that I get from enjoying listening to music on a good system.

The smile on my face when I crank it up is all I need.   

My son and son in law were over the other day .  They have heard my main system a number of times in its different incarnations over the years .  

They haven't heard my second system since new speakers and amp.  When they heard that tiny system come to life they were quite surprised.   It was fun watching their reaction.

While there are opinions I value, and it's always great to have their approval, no one's preferences are identical to mine, and no validation is necessary...

What’s the latest change(s) in the system @rvpiano 

did you get a new DAC?

No I spend 95% of my system time as a solo listener. I do have a small group of audio friends all about an hour drive from each other that when we do get a chance to have visits, eat good food, and listen to each others systems I believe the smiles seen on faces and some occasional toe tapping motion does make the day a little more special.

@audphile1 

My latest acquisition is the Aurender N200 streamer.
 Changed my listening habits. I still have the Benchmark DAC.

Seeking validation from others is setting one up for disappointment when they don’t approve.  High-end audio is supposed to be a subjective personal journey, tailoring the sound to each of our own satisfaction.  We don’t subsequently look to others outside our hobby for their approval

As of today no one has heard my new system.
I’m happy. And in the end that is all that matters. 

Almost all my listening is alone and while we all probably enjoy affirmation, it is neither necessary nor available. I have a good idea of the sound I want and I’m closing in on it. I’m very happy with my system although I know there is always better. I’m not jealous of those who have achieved it. I am quite skeptical of those who think they have assembled the “best”, there is no best in this stuff, at least that’s what I think 
 

My Own System is used Socially not Panel Judged, even though a Visitor to a Room at a Public Attended Venue or to my Home, might have a Judgemental Side to their character, the Spirit behind the attendance is purely Social, Meet &Greet.

My System is able to be described as a Socially Attractive System, able to hold visitors in a Space.

When at a Audio Event interfacing with Public Paying Visitors who are attending, these individuals are free to move through exhibits, my own exhibit space has been full for most of the Open Time of the Event, and some Visitors have returned to the space and remained for the bulk of the Events Opening Time. The Odd Whisper is passed on that the Exhibit is being heard discussed around the show and that it looks like the system is best in the Show.   

At the Home Front, Invites are regularly accepted, or devices are requested to be added and head through the system. System Devices are also regularly requested to be brought along to be added to other systems.

I enjoy the occasional sit down in front of the system to listen to recorded music on a dedicated audio system and am pleased with how the system has developed into what it is today.

It seems that sentiment is extended to others that encounter the audio system, if met in a Space purposely produced to use the audio system in, or in a space that is only temporary and not ideally optimised for managing End Sound.       

@rvpiano glad you’re still enjoying the N200. Great streamer. And glad you’re enjoying the music!

It’s fun to have someone over to see what they think of my system but I don’t need any validation. I completely enjoy it all by myself 

This is a pretty solitary  hobby.   I really don't show off my hardware ,  I know people think it's nuts to have big stereos anyways.  I really don't care, and at the risk of sounding selfish it's completely for my enjoyment..  

The best validation that a system sounds good is that you don't listen for flaws and just enjoy the music 

+1 Mulveling

To me these kinds of questions are silly. But I will play along. No I don’t need any kind of validation. I do feel bad for anyone who does.

hmmm quite the loaded question here.... But I will bite.   I think there is no harm in comparing systems In the proper context.   How much did person A spend to get the sound reproduction that they wanted?   I have heard systems that retailed for hundreds of thousands of dollars and sounded tonally incorrect to me.  I have also heard systems that were only a few thousand dollars that sounded tonally correct.  Everyone here values something a bit different in their audio reproduction.  If you read carefully you will find those who seek similar traits in the hobby.   But to start comparisons are silly.  You can have the exact same gear as someone but your room could make the equipment sound totally different!!  Buy what you want and enjoy!!   Happy Listening!!!

Let's have a different perspective here.  If someone asks me over and plays his rig for me I always find something positive to say about at least one thing [or more].  This always brings a smile.  Negative feedback is just that.  They can get that anywhere, including this blog.

To me, enjoying music and understanding system integration and synergy are two different things. I like both. I often tune my room with House Curve, through speaker placement, sub (pair) settings and acoustic treatment.  I appreciate getting someone else’s perspective as they may hear or have experience listening to things that I have yet to uncover or focus on.  I wonder sometimes if the bass could integrate better etc.  I like forums like this because people share knowledge that can help others get closer to their sound.  At the end of the day though, I’ll put on a record and enjoy it as I’m pretty damn close.  Other’s perspective have helped me get there - but I know what I like. Also, the journey is pretty great.  Help along the way is awesome as long as you stay true to your ears.

Sometimes it's the journey.i went all over America and picked up audio equipment.now setting it up. What therapy.enjoy the music and the therapy.met alot of nice audiophile with projects. Always had pic sent to verify. Not one scam but there were some if I could not get a Pic with a specific item no deal.

 Of course, compliments are always appreciated, but it’s not about ego, validation, or anything like that. If you don’t want any critical input, it’s your loss.

  A friend came over, so I played his favorite record (Santana’s first album).  He complained that, “he couldn’t understand the lyrics”.  My equipment is thoughtfully matched and fine (no one needs to tell me this) but it confirmed my suspicion that my room needs a lot of acoustic treatment.  Maybe my lp is suboptimal.  Whatever. I wouldn’t be much of an audiophile if I weren’t seeking higher fidelity.  
   My all-tube system is optimized for tonality, flow, etc. My friend, who is a music publisher, hears $.  I enjoy live recordings (among other things) with all their inevitable flaws.  My friend hears production values, more than anything, and can not get past the limitations inherent in live recordings.   I respect his “ears”, but he doesn’t kmow what he is missing.
   We all have different ears and focus.  Someone telling you what they hear is a just a different perspective.  

 I love my Livingroom system and consider it my end game done system. However, I had a friend who is a musician and audio hardware vendor come over to listen. His hearing ability was written up on 6moons.com and I had also noticed the same genius when I was discussing audio gear with him in the past. He told me that the Livingroom system, which cost me about $20k and is rather simple was the 3rd best system he had ever heard. The other 2 costing close to a million.

He was not a SS fan and likes vinyl and tubes the most. My setup was a SS Benchmark LA4 preamp and SS amp. I remember telling him before he came over that my setup was something me may not like but I loved it. 

If it was anyone else, I really would not have paid too much mind to the feedback but coming from someone who knows so much about audio made me convinced not to ever touch this system. I did do one upgrade, but only because the speakers were scratching the floor. I got the Townsend Audio Platforms and there was an improvement in the sound (especially the bass).

BTW - I have received a lot of negative feedback from my friend in the past. I can remember 3 pieces of gear that he told me were not good. I ended up selling them.

Not necessarily validation, but I do enjoy reading good reviews of items that I already own. 

As long as my German Shepard Bruno likes it, I am good. 

@jmalen123 

Thats the best validation!

No validation for me--just proud of myself for saving and working hard to get the system I have now.

I refer to the used Audio System as my System, but many of the devices within the assembly are Bespoke, Unique and not in use by any other.

Then there are Devices that are used by others but in the guise that I own them with substantial design changes and modifications, these are Bespoke but used by a selection of owners having relied on the same service to attain the device.

My Audio System is not really my own, it is the Brainchild of other's.

I do own the credit for the bringing together the devices, the thought gone into how the system is propped up / supported, the thought gone into how the Space the End Sound is heard in, is formed to be a betterment for the sound produced, Source Material Recordings that are used to produce an End Sound, Cleanliness of a Source Material and the Critical Ancillaries used to interface with a Source Material.

Disciplines developed I am happy to be the adopter of the methodologies.

Validation? Most folks I know don't relate. A few online pals get it. My kids don't even think I'm a hipster despite having three turntables, many tube amps, speakers like radiators, and a relatively large record collection. 

A longtime friend invited me over for Mojitos and to audition his upgraded system. I was quite impressed with the SQ and told him so. A couple of months later he mentioned that he was considering an upgrade. I told him his system was great as-is, and suggested that he spend the money on a vacation with his wife. That's what friends are for.