What do you care about in this hobby?

They all matter to me. I really only care that I get transported to a wonderful place which includes all the factors listed in varying degrees of importance depending on where the listener takes off from. 

The question for me is always how do I decide when making my purchasing decisions towards that end.  Thats where things can start to get complicated.  The easy way out is just listen to the options and decide.  But how much must it really cost? 

It’s not so simple.

It’s common to derive value by “cost + a reasonable (subjective) markup”.  But that usually applies to higher volume larger markets with higher competition (which drives prices down).  Our high-end audio is a small niche market with much smaller quantities of the costlier components.

What’s really describes our open market is supply and demand.  Learned this in college economics, took me awhile to get curve shifting.  Could I sell an ordinary pencil for $1000? Sure, if it was chewed on by Taylor Swift (maybe not a good example, but was fun to say ;) )

Usually, we strive for sonic uptick.  Evaluating a sonic uptick then being told what it costs would be ideal - “is this sonic uptick worth $?”. We’d be saving loads of money but unfortunately this doesn’t exists.

We also don’t rate sonic upticks the same between different component classes.  I splurged on a Koetsu stone cart fearing it’s my last chance to hear a Corralstone, but I’ve plenty of carts so the money could have been spent elsewhere.

Finally, many outside our hobby would question the price/performance value of our components.  Not a need, but subjective wants.

Bottom line - we earn and spend for our enjoyment, as it should be 

1. Sound quality.  It has to sound good to me in my room with my equipment.

2. Looks.  It has to look cool and blend in with the other gear.

3. Cost.  I only buy it if I can afford it.

4. Customer Service.  More important than ever in my experience.  

With over fifty years of putting together hi and lo-fi audio recording playback systems I’ve enjoyed two distinct endeavors of this crazy hobby. The first is the research and deal making that comes with finding the proper equipment for my needs. In college it was all about getting the best speakers and a good stereo or quad receiver to drive them with. Four track recordings were a huge thing back back In the seventies where everyone had a turntable, and decent reel to reel tape deck recorders were plentiful and not that expensive. The artists and their music were far more important than the gear that played the music. 
 

 Now it seems to me that the acquisition of higher and higher end gear has defined the landscape of what used to be music enjoyment for its own sake. Yes sound quality is very important in its own right. But I can enjoy good music listening through a crappy car radio or in a dedicated listening room or home theatre. 

Sweet, reserved, delightful You. @erik_squires ?! 👀🤦‍♂️✨*BOOM!*

"E's off his meds again....*sigh*  Bring out the net and the long-sleeved canvas coat...."  

Shark glove time....😏