How do you get Happy as an Audiophile?


There’s an interesting, relatively modern take on mental health called Positive Psychology. While not without it’s faults and detractors, PP has a very interesting approach. Instead of asking questions on the axis of illness and diagnosis PP asks questions on the scale of happiness:

What is it that makes you more or less content with your life and in your pursuits? How can these actions, events or states be codified and applied as general principles?

In the spirit of PP then I ask:

How do you get happy? What advice would you give an audiophile that asks "What is satisfying about being an audiophile, and what are the approaches that get me there? Do you personally know the answers for yourself? "

erik_squires

Great question. As a trained physician I appreciate very much this small, but important tweak in the psychological approach. For sure it makes big difference.

To your question - for me usually the first few minutes when I start listening late night are the nirvana. Starting with some favorites like Tord Gostavsen trio or Patricia Barber and I feel mostly concentrated on what I hear and feel. Great moments, endorphins come to play :)

bjesien

My room measures 12.2' x 18'.  I have hardwood floors with a 9 x 12 Persian rug. Systems consists of ARCAM AVR550, Paradigm Prestige 85F towers, two Rell S2 SHO subwoofers, BlueSound Node 2i and OPPO 105 blue ray player.  I just spent about $4,000 on Synergistic speaker wires, Synergistic power cable, power cable for BlueSound and digital cable between the BlueSound and my ARCAM.  I am sitting about 15 feet from my speakers.  My Harman Kardon sound system in my cars sounds way better.  Maybe I should add the rear left and right surround systems and listen in surround sound.