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Why do so many members seem afraid of making an audio decision?

I mean it's a hobby sort of.  It should be fun.  If you cannot hear the difference between two components, cables, or tweaks, then you can't.  It's ok not to.  Honestly, I sometimes think that some mass hysteria hits the audio community over a new product that later doesn't pan out or some (big)scandal, and people get bent out of shape over it. 

    Here in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs I'm fortunate to have a pretty good slice of audio dealers plus having very different opinions on the subject.  That I think is great.  I may not agree with some dealers' tastes or recommendations but that's also ok.  After doing this for a while, you learn from your mistakes and also get a handle on what you, yourself like without having to have someone else always telling you.  What I have learned over decades;  if I like something, I like something, and if I don't like it or hear it, or think it's an improvement, well I pretty much trust my own decision making.  I come to Audiogon hopefully to learn from the more experienced enthusiasts about recent developments and about my own stuff. 

128x128vitussl101

Showing 1 response by danager

danager's avatar
danager
883 posts
 

I started as consumer. Played a musical instrument in the marching band and wanted to be up on the music scene. Would stack up a bunch of records and blast away. At one point I even moved the stereo into a walk in closet in my dorm room and would see how loud I could stand it while studying.

After college I became a salesman for a large electronics chain. As a salesman the goal is to sell what makes you the most money. A spiff is a cash bonus for selling one piece of gear over another. I was also an enthusiast and would constantly be evaluating for my own listening pleasure but also looking for ways to upsell to the more profitable products. I eventually moved to selling computers and finally got out of sales and joined the IT world.

What the heck does this have to do with the topic? I suspect everything. When a piece of wire costs more than my whole system, when people discuss measurements as the end all decision maker, when freezing something to near zero, springs, power conditioners that simply plug into some socket, digital converters, $1000s of dollars worth of network updates etc. I remember working at a shop that I could barely make rent and the lengths I would god to just to be able to eat.

Every manufacture, stereo shop, or advertiser wants to be able to pay the rent and eat. Every salesperson you meet makes something off the sale either directly or indirectly. Unless your mom owns the store you are a source of revenue so everything being said should be looked upon thru that lens. I do fear being bamboozled with every purchase. I personally look to minimize risk by exploring the budget end of the market instead of the boutique and probably am missing out on some options that could increase my enjoyment but then again one of my greatest pleasures in this hobby is is finding the hidden gem that actually makes a difference.

I think the hobby as a whole would be a lot better if we could start a co-op that would allow you to try gear out. Have it be run as a non profit supported by members who are enthusiasts. Everyone could just donate all that gear and accessories that’s stacked to side and if it ended up actually being claimed compensation would be awarded.

In my opinion not enough fear is being generated in this hobby and we the enthusiasts suffer.

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