How Do You Live The Audiophile Life

Visit living stereo in NYC....mike is a great guy! 

I'm not sure there is any secret to the "audiophile life" other than to create a sound that pleases you. Many people strive to reach what the music would sound like live but for me at least that is a difficult standard to reach. I have been to numerous concerts involving well established artists and I have never found a constant sound since all music environments are different, the sound equipment at each concert is always adjusted to the taste of the sound engineer and the instruments can themselves sound different based on the brand, age, speakers and amplifiers used, etc.  The result of all of this is that I don't really know what certain instruments SHOULD  sound like since there just isn't a constant sound for any instrument to emulate. Strive for what you imagine the sound would be like and what pleases you. Quite frankly, I believe some of our music systems could easily sound better than a live performance of that same material by that same artist given all of the vagaries mentioned above. I have walked out of concerts based on poor sound - there just isn't any reason to think that live sound is always perfect and recorded music necessarily always inferior.

I'm not sure there is any secret to the "audiophile life" other than to create a sound that pleases you. Many people strive to reach what the music would sound like live but for me at least that is a difficult standard to reach. I have been to numerous concerts involving well established artists and I have never found a constant sound since all music environments are different, the sound equipment at each concert is always adjusted to the taste of the sound engineer and the instruments can themselves sound different based on the brand, age, speakers and amplifiers used, etc. The result of all of this is that I don't really know what certain instruments SHOULD sound like since there just isn't a constant sound for any instrument to emulate. Strive for what you imagine the sound would be like and what pleases you. Quite frankly, I believe some of our music systems could easily sound better than a live performance of that same material by that same artist given all of the vagaries mentioned above. I have walked out of concerts based on poor sound - there just isn't any reason to think that live sound is always perfect and recorded music necessarily always inferior.

‘Audiophile life’. Probably akin to going down a rabbit hole and doomed to audiophilia nervosa . Yet some have been successful and happy. Please forget about audiophile equipment , otherwise you could end up playing the same 12 tracks all your life on equipment demos. Rather enjoy the music. I remember enjoying music off a budget 2 speaker, all in one record player system in my high school days. Still trying to better that sound . Some could claim age related hearing loss . Well one could age a lot and still be chasing equipment, power supply, cables, tweaks , equipment racks , room treatment , the latest digital equiment, Uber expensive vinyl, endless sleepless nights , countless hours poring over the net , comparing your kit to others/ Hifi stores ,neglecting important aspects of life and health etc. Not to mention losing money better spent elsewhere. I have done all this and years since starting I’ve got it right , well just about. But listening to other simple inexpensive systems give me as much joy and maybe more considering the small cost. I’ve come to believe the follliwing. 1. Set a moderate budget. 2 .Go to a reputable dealer who sells reliable stuff known for excellent after sales service. Listen to what’s on offer. 3.Compare to another dealer if possible.4. When you like something insist on home demo. 5. Buy and forget about it totally. I mean totally. Do not compare to others. You could find better. But never perfect.6.  DO NOT UPGRADE. JUST ENJOY THE MUSIC.                  I’m expecting a lot of comments for my views , hopefully in a friendly spirit.

@alfa100 , sounds like a well balanced and thoughtful approach....*S*

I guess the 20 step program and the electroshocks worked....;)

" I have done all this and years since starting I’ve got it right , well just about."

*G* Nobody gets it completely 'right', mho.....  After awhile, chasing the carrot just gets to  you...