My costliest mistake was not stopping the purchases before I spent all my disposable income from savings. And, secondly not finding someone locally (maybe a knowledgeable dealer) who new audio (since I was a newbie back when) to help me with system-building instead of the trial and error I went through on my own buying here at the Gon. Couldn’t see that the money was dwindling slowly. Didn’t realize what I had done until it was too late. Burn and churn was what I did. Now the disposable income is spent. I can only afford small purchases - for a couple $hundred here and there. My days of spending several $grand here and there are all over. I have to look to retirement with significantly lowered savings. I spent above my means without understanding it. You newbies in the pursuit of high quality sound reproduction should learn from my experience.
What has been your costliest mistake in this hobby?
For example :I recently learned a hard lesson- I accidentally ran voltage thru my $3000 MC cartridge (kiseki purple heart). I have a TT with 5 prong connector and a phono cable with a 5 prong connector. I accidentally swapped where they plugged into and ran electric thru the tonearm into the cartridge. It was a stupid - not thinking- hasty mistake. When I corrected the problem the cartridge was fried. An avalanche of four letter words followed!
So what has been your biggest and/or costliest mistake?
So what has been your biggest and/or costliest mistake?