I would have to say that my best mentor is my ears. They are what they are and have guided me to what I like. What I like though, may not be what your ears like. I started collecting right out of high school and haven't stopped. When I went to college I met someone similar to me. We would sit and talk about audio the way most guys talk about girls. Forty years later, we are still talking and comparing. We have developed great respect for one another over the years and don't talk badly of either ones mountain of sound. He currently has 2 different systems in his house, with another on order. I currently have 4 different systems in my house. We have bought things together, swapped things back and forth and bought from one another (at very good pricing to one another and from time to time free). From this I have raised 2 sons and have a nephew that all appreciate high fidelity. I gave both sons a much nicer system than either could afford and sold my nephew one at a extremely cheap price. My nephew has had the system for years and once told that he never turns the volume up higher than 1/3. I said that's great if that's what you want to do. But you have the equivalent of a Ferrari and you are keeping it at 55 mph. Sometimes these things have to opened up let it run, you aren't going to hurt it.
