Are you a recovering audiophile? What does being an audiophile in general mean to you in 2020? COMMENT AND POSTING RULES: (Please read before commenting) Please remember to be kind and courteous to one another in the comments. It's okay to disagree just keep things civil. Harassment will not be tolerated. WORRIED YOUR COMMENT WAS DELETED? Comments containing profanity are automatically flagged and deleted by RUclips. Comments containing links of any kind to outside URLs (including RUclips links) are automatically flagged and deleted. If you aren't seeing your comment, please make sure you didn't accidentally leave out a space before or after a period your sentence. RUclips sees this as a URL link. Since we cannot edit your comments, any of the above violations will result in your comment not be visible.
If I get it right, and I've seen both the videos you referenced, you define an audiophile as someone on a continuing search for and purchasing hyped high end audio equipment in the ever elusive quest for a "perfect" sound machine. I would label myself as an "inquiring" audiophile because, as mentioned in my previous comments, I'm extremely happy with the system I built and have had for neigh on forty years. Your channel, and a few others keep me abreast of the new technology. It's like the difference between an alcoholic and a casual drinker. Carry on, Andrew, a great discussion. A suggestion, if I may, it might be nice to get a "layperson's" review from Kristi at some time.
I just sparked a fire for a comment I made on another channel for this,i said it's cheaper to get car audio speaker's and put them in a build for home audio than to spend thousands on a bunch of overpriced "home audio" speaker's 🤣🤣
I recovered from being an Audiophile when I earned my AA degree in electronics in 1994 and discovered that a lot of what audiophile enthusiast believed was not supported by what I had learned and gained since in experience dealing with electronics. Especially in the realm of cables. The other thing that I discovered is that there appeared to be the requirement to spend thousands and thousands on equipment for a marginal gain in performance. I'll admit that in the real high end of audio there are amazing designs and awesome equipment in all categories. But, when you can achieve 70 to 90% of performance of that type of gear with a tiny fraction of the cost, then why spend that kind of money if you really can't afford it. If you can and want to, by all means go for it.
Once you learn how the gear works and learn how to properly check power output, frequency responses, Harmonic distortion, etc, you realize that good equipment does not necessarily need to cost much at all. Congrats on getting your AA.
Definitely food for thought. I recently sold my record collection and most of my stereo equipment due to an impending move to a smaller place. I kept my bookshelf speakers and bought a PowerNode 2i streamer. Where I spent all my free time searching for, buying, cleaning and organizing records and upgrading my system, now all I do now is...listen to music. More music. Different music. And I am much happier and financially stable. Everyone finds their own path to contentment, whether it be focused on music or equipment. Sometimes we get enticed, but we find our way back to our true love (ourselves). And we appreciate it more, I hope.
After watching this I’ve come to the conclusion that Andrew Robinson is as Zen to the world of Audio gear as Bob Ross was (and still is) to the world of painting. And that’s a good thing...
This is about so much more than audio. Good life stuff. I've gone too far down the rabbit hole on too many hobbies - audio/video, cars, collecting things - and realized at some point, this is too much, I'm not enjoying this anymore. Gotta learn to let yourself be happy. I have a 7 year old Toyota Corolla and I don't care to have anything "better," I have a 30-year-old Yamaha stack and I abuse the tone controls to make it sound like I want it to sound, and I don't need anything better. I don't have to impress anybody. It's just something that comes from age or experience I guess.
A lot of people have just confused the feeling of a dopamine hit after buying something new with it sounding better. After a certain point there is no better, just different and all you are doing is buying yourself a drug through your attachment to equipment. If you see this in yourself and you are having trouble getting off the wheel, a good place to start is by gradually delaying gratification more and more until it no longer feels like a requirement. Delaying gratification is not "wait until I can afford it", It's "wait after I can afford it".
What it means to me is that I can finally move beyond that neverending quest for perfection and focus on what is important, which is enjoying the music. :)
Hey Andrew, based on your last video I went out and purchased myself a Pioneer SA 7800 vintage amplifier and a TX vintage Pioneer receiver. Saved a boatload of money and it sounds better than anything else that I've had and I've had some fairly expensive equipment. The reason I bought it is because I'm 53 years old and the look of it makes me happy. Thank you
Man! Do I need to put this into my head as a newcomer to this. I suffer of this "problem" with photo gear and the last thing I need is this new obsession to throw money away. Good points, mate.
You are right. I am not an audiophile, but I recognize the problem with being happy with for instance my earbuds, until I read a review that is negative about the product. Then I start to doubt myself. This combined with being unrealistic: I will sit in a silent room, listen to the sound from the earbuds, and listen to every small detail, totally forgetting what I bought them for: for running and cycling. And it is never that quite when running and cycling. This video made me realize I should enjoy rather than worry. Thanks.
your candor keeps me coming back. thank you for sharing so much of yourself. i always scroll your comments and enjoy seeing others who genuinely appreciate you and your messages.
Could be the best episode I ever watched from your channel. IMHO being an audiophile is just a state of mind. I hope my so called 'audiophile' friends could see this. Some colleagues keep on bugging me to upgrade my equipment but I had always choose to spend my money on physical media, and services instead to enrich my experience since I feel my gear is still more than ample for my needs. Cheers!
Thank you for making me appreciate what I have. I started watching your channel a few days ago with your vid about beginners hifi then I watched your vids (including this one) about your experience and mistakes and what you learned over your time as an audiophile. I got a new sense of appreciation for my own setup that's from a pair of car speakers put inside speaker enclosures of old broken boomboxes my family had + an amp I got about 3~4 years ago. It didn't sound that great, because of the amp until I thought of replacing the power supply lately and the output improved significantly. Aside from the speaker setup I felt more of appreciation for other things I own and that was nice and made me rethink about how I should spend money in the future. I dunno if you are gonna see this Andrew, but Thank You.
I like trying new components but if they don’t provide a significant upgrade then I sell. I generally won’t upgrade anything unless I can sell something to pay for it. But occasionally I get the itch and want to hear how tubes sound in my system, or a different turntable or pre-amp. Sometimes it’s fun to have a secondary system to experiment with. Being a recovered audiophile means “I know I can do better, but I’m satisfied with what I have.”
This video really resonates with me. I've been the person who spent thousands on B&W speakers and told my neighbors that their Bose system sucked and as I've matured I realized I was wrong. I've scaled way back and although I still love great sounding speakers I'm not going to spend my entire bank account chasing that perfect sound. I paid $40 for a used pair of Klipsch 2.1 computer speakers and I actually love the way they sound. Being happy with what you have is a very important lesson that I'm learning way too late in life.
At this time in your life, you have learned the basics in audio and what makes good audio. You have made it to the pentacle of what audio can sound like You have re-analyzed your audio priorities and came to a conclusion that you can live with without feeling cheated. What is the real difference between real good audio and great audio? You! I am recovering right along with you brother!
Ive recently discovered your channel Andrew and enjoy your reviews. This is your best work - it's rings so true for me. There nas been so much FOMO and need for valiadation for me in my Hi Fi journey and I am so over it! Every thing you say hit's home. All I ever wanted was to maximise my joy of listening to music but somewhere along the way it became about the equipment and Hi Fi jewellery. Video's like this one offer a great dose of perspective about this hobby.
Hey Andrew! Just purchased a Crown XLS 2502. Thanks for sharing your experiences with this amp. I have always had a fascination with Class D. Now, I am ready to embrace it! Thanks! I will never buy into audio gear ever again beyond the point of diminishing returns. With today's audio technologies, it allows the audience to spend most of their time enjoying the music and less time being concerned with things that should not matter...Not in 2020! I gave away an A/V Receiver that put out real 140 watt per channel to 7 channels. This amp weighed close to 50 lbs. It really heated up. Got tired of feeling the need to place small fans over the vents of the unit. I loved the sound of the unit, but hated that it could turn any room into an oven, unless you had air conditioning. I got the Crown so I would not have to be concerned with power, weight, heat, and it could drive most speakers with ease. How can you beat that? Plus the quality of the Crown experience within the amp. My wallet loves it!
I've never had the kind of money to purchase true first rate audio gear. As a kid growing up in the local audio shops I was able to hear some audio gear that sounded magical to me. I also heard gear that sounded "good" but was affordable to me or at least I was able to acquire in relative short order. I chose products by KEF, Denon, Harman, Kardon, AIWA, etc. And one day I realised that I was spending more and more money on a product I already had, like a cassette deck or a turntable, but I was always hearing the same thing. It suddenly made no sense to continue down that path. I learned to spend on music to listen to rather than a constant change of gear and I was happy.
It took me 42 years of being completly satisfied with the gear i have today. Kef ls50, exposure 2010 amp, bluesound streamer NAD cd player and Rega p5. It is not top of the World equipment. But i am 60 years old now and this will be it. Enough is enough and enyoy what you have and accept that music is not always perfect recorded or whatsoever. It is what it is and thank you Andrew and Kristi for making this kind of video's to keep us with both feed on the ground. I don 't want to be a recovering audiophile i simply want to be happy with the things i have and enjoy music at times when i am in the mood for it. Greetings from the Netherlands
Recovering audiophile…such a well turned phrase. Personally I can "personally see" it, and I PERSONALLY, understand it. Many great personal pursuits, or hobbies with MONEY..(in my life)..I’ve had to back away from. And as I do, I grow, once again. It’s all good, a good part of the best of living, and learning about life. It’s "a" (honest) looking for "truth". Reminds me of Bob Dylan quote… "When lightness was a virtue, and the road was full of mud". Love your channel Andrew.
I really enjoy hearing you speak about being true to yourself regarding this hobby and I know how easily it can turn into just "stressful madness and loose the whole point along the way." I've been watching your videos for the past few months and really take a lot away from them that helps me stay connected to the real meaning of being an enthusiast. Thank you and keep the great videos coming.
Couldn't agree with this video more. I was listening to 3 other channels about audio and receivers with huge followers and literally felt like i had to keep up with all of the latest or the models that they felt was the best. And all 3 channels said it never ends on the upgrades. One channel the person did a walkthrough to his house and he had 3 home theaters and different fancy equipment in each room and was still stating that mire needed to be acquired. That's when it hit me that's not what i want. I like listening to music and a good movie watching experience. Being happy is the key. Well said Andrew!
An audiophile is some one who can appreciate music but not enjoy it. I'm not being witty. Before being an audiophile I either liked a track or didn't. As an audiophile you're constantly thinking about the sound, is it right, can it be better, blah blah. Somebody else once said "a listener uses speakers to hear the music. An audiophile uses music to hear the speakers".
I was in the Hifi business many years ago. I worked in a small family run shop. A lot of the gear we had was unattainable to me financially but I still enjoyed listening to it. Occasionally I was allowed to take various components home too. Over the years since I've found that there are two ways of listening. You can listen to the music OR you can listen to the Hifi. The former gives the greatest pleasure for me as it gives me the freedom to enjoy what I hear artistically. The latter is the way of the audiophile though. The way to dissatisfaction. Being on the wagon as a recovering audiophile means simply enjoying your music and gives the freedom to discover and embrace new music too. Falling off the wagon though means trying to hear the tiniest nuance, the smallest improvement from often an expensive "upgrade". A path littered with dissatisfaction and want. It also means that your music collection is hampered by selecting only recordings which have the highest production quality. In fact, an audiophile may often dismiss much of what's available because high quality expensive equipment is often highly critical of recording quality and a huge void can open up in between what's listenable and what has to be discarded. I've been on and off the wagon so many times over the years. It's a problem. And you're never ever cured. You can only truly be "in recovery" ❤️
I had my heavy ‘audiophilia nervosa’ phase in the early 2000s. Subscribed to Stereophile, visited big audio shows and even got into credit debt to purchase the system I still use to this day. Then a series of events happened; my dad passed away, my debts were out of control and once I dealt with these two things my interests began to shift towards traveling, getting to know a little more of this world. While traveling I often realized how little I was actually needing in material terms to be happy in that moment. I attended concerts at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, also realizing there’s no way I could mimic that level of acoustics at home without spending insane amounts of money. Today I’m still as passionate for music as ever, but I no longer keep chasing the next big thing. We come to this world with no possesions and those we get to have we can’t take with us in the afterlife. So I’ve learned to be happy with what I have, and if I feel I ever want to make some upgrade to my gear... well things will always come in its due time.
I did this back in 2002 when I moved into a new house. I basically moved to a Home Cinema set up that's good with music. Settled on a Marantz 5.1 and that remains the heart of my system 18 years later. JBL Sub Sat to get rid of big boxes...Panasonic Blu Ray for Movies / CD. Mostly when pottering round the house I stream to that system via Spotify / Amazon HD Music. Back in the 90's...I was forever changing gear...and had a excellent set up...but was never happy. So.....back in 2002 I got off that wheel. The secret?.....don't compare componants....research, buy and be happy.
WAOWWW!!!! You voiced the voice of reason and what should be the obvious!!! Being an Audiophile is learning to enjoy music and be passionate about it! The Music! I'm lucky enough to be a music freak and to fret on anything from jazz to classic to punk to indie to rap, depending on my days! It's such a joy. But I was almost caught in that loop of gear cycle, but lucky me I was able to listen to one day the system of a friend who dropped 30K on his setup that looked gigantic and uggly! The sound left me COLD. I then worked my way by small steps always small amounts to improve my modest setup but reached a point where I was blown away!!! My biggest contributors : - Audioengine Bluetooth streamer (a gem) - Tidal Hi-fi - klipsh RP600M All that driven by my $300 Onkyo 2 ch receiver. I'm blown away everytime I fire it up. I have an Orbit turntable for vinyl as my 2nd passion, and keep switching back and forth depending on the mood of what I want to listen to. And that makes me freaking Happy!!! Thanks for sharing the obvious, and I wish our hobbyist world was more about common sense and respect of the other's taste and desire and budget. Cheers!! 🍻
Sadly, audiophiles can never enjoy the music. They keep finding flaws in their equipment that the next upgrade is going to magically fix, so they never enjoy the music, because that next most expensive thing that they don't own yet is what is really going to allow them to enjoy the music.
@@AndyP126 there's two population who call themselves audiophile and the term is used for both. A true Audiophile should be all about enjoying the music. If your system looks good then it's a plus. But gear freak who think they can slap this label and flash their insane system as a badge of respect and have very narrow taste of music or tolerance for other styles, then sorry but no. You're not an Audiophile! You're a snob. You can be of the 1st type and pursuing perfection in your system though. But as Andrew says it well, the main piece is just, sit and enjoy!
David Muller It’s the classic battle of audiophiles versus gear collectors. Audiophilez just want enough gear to make the music sound good. Gear collectors just need to keep buying forever, because they care about the gear and not the music.
Going DIY stopped me from continuing down the rabbit hole of speakers. I now know that no matter the price, I can build my own set that can sound as good or better for a fraction of the cost or just make updates with different drivers. Still working out the amps.
There are always people who are never satisfied, whether its audio, cars, homes, watches. I believe that those people are not happy with themselves. But it is helpful to hear somebody, saying that. It should be about the music, I like the look of the gear I have but it is in line with my budget and lifestyle. Thank you for an insightful video .
After many years of this hobby as a 47 year old guy I wanted to say thanks. Settling into a time in my life where I just want to enjoy what I have. This was perfect. Love your opinions.
Is this part of getting older? Seems like as you get older your home inevitably fills up. You need to get far more selective about what you bring home. Overwhelmed is a great word for it. It feels fantastic to simplify and hang onto only the things you truly appreciate, then pass the rest to someone else who can enjoy them.
We had little money, but Dad often brought home 5 or 10 dollar speakers he found at garage sales, and the occasional amp; it was so much fun as a kid to see how things sounded different and enjoying cds through ancient gear but it all sounded great in those days. Been chasing that still, but having money for the journey hasn't made it better. Thanks for the video.
Andrew, thank you for sharing your experience. For people like me who are just getting into hifi this is important. I love that you guys being a lot of passion to these videos and your presentations are always meaningful
Great video, Andrew. The way you have described what a recovering audiophile is, is exactly the way I would describe it. Like most in this hobby, I do suffer from thinking about owning different gear which manifests itself into self-doubt and inevitably I end up not appreciating what I do have and just enjoying music. It's hard to shake that itch but I am much better than I used to be some 20 years ago when it was a revolving door. I too, am a recovering audiophile. I have owned the same speakers for a decade now. I really do love my system, it's just that one affordable tube preamp that I keep thinking about...
In my opinion, this is the most serious and mature video in YT on audiophile. I agree mate. After talking about specs and brands and everything in between, which is also important, we all end up asking ourselves, are we happy, is my fellow happy, what makes us happy. I'm happy with my Yamaha A-5, Pioneer PL-1200 and Polk Audio RTiA1. Recovering audiophile for me is a learned and but unassuming student of recorded sound.
I love music, all types the very first thing I bought with my first months paycheque was my first stereo. And slowly over forty years got to the system I have now. It’s not the best or flashy but it’s mine and paid for and I can listen to all types of music and enjoy the experience I love reading so my hifi is not distracting it’s got no meters or lights it’s music that I find relaxing and comfortable. It’s a marantz 6006 cd uk edition, two nad c370 integrated amplifiers bi amping monitor audio silver 500 speakers. Not flashy maybe to some very basic but I love it and it does the job. I go to shows and exhibitions and dream of owning a hi end system but I know my limitations and go home to the one that I have and I’m content. Love your channel it’s refreshing and down to earth with heart 😃
This is by far your best video, and this is the best audio channel on RUclips. Five stars! To me, being a recovering audio file in practical terms means one I no longer design and build my own loudspeakers. Two I no longer obsessively read stereophile. Three I focus on enjoying my music.
i nearly went down the audiophile path 2 decades ago...but the reality slapped me on the face by way of my then wife's cold stare whenever I tried to excuse myself to goto the audio mall... and now here I am in 2020 with a bluetooth enabled True Wireless Speakers in every room I spend more than 30 minutes in.... with over 500GB of music on my mobilephone, i am in audio nirvana
Everyone starting out needs to hear this video bfore spending a dime, thank you! I too experienced the hamster wheel & some burnout. After wanting an integrated amp so badly for 2 yrs I finally got it, only to lust after a power amp/preamp 6 months later!😑 I also took a friend shopping for his system based on what I like, only to find out he wasn't the critical listener I am. He saved at least $5,000! Smh
There are a lot of people jumping back into this hobby because of COVID -- and like me they are likely overwhelmed. I'm a typical Gen X'er whose career and kids kept me out of HiFi for 20 years. Getting back in was a combination of joy in realizing again how great music can sound once you take the earbuds out and panic in trying to absorb 20 years of advancement in audio components and speaker technology. Upgraditis is curable by learning what stirs your soul in experiencing the music you love and how that translates into equipment choices. It took me a few iterations but I got there with an NAD streaming receiver and JBL speakers. I've had some false starts and some speakers I'm now trying to find buyers for -- but I got there. There are some great resources out there to learn from and Andrew's channel is one of the very best. The key lesson I learned is that the relationship between price and excitement / enjoyment level don't have to be linear when you know what you love.
for me the key to stop chasing is to have a couple of pairs of speakers, one that does things more laid back and natural, and another that are less natural but can make a large loud presentation when needed. Also I find an equalizer useful at adjusting poor sound, once its set you just forget about it and listen, this is useful for many, many brash sounding CD's.
Thank you for this video. I wasn't sure what I was in for when I clicked the video but I'm happy I did and I completely agree. This can definitely apply to multiple fields, and I appreciate you speaking up, as not too many people take the moment out to make this subject the focus. "What makes YOU happy. What do YOU want out of your experience. You too can get where you need with this older/used/not top model Computer/Car/Speakers." I think a lot of people would feel a lot less stress and more financial stability if they took the time to really sit down, and think about what is valuable through the experience, and what is extra. There's nothing wrong with going a little extra, but don't let the person driving a new top of the line Benz tell you "The best or nothing." It's subjective! Thank you for the video!
Great video, Andrew. You made some meaningful points many of us relate to. A negative habit I picked up was to apologetically point out my system's weaknesses to others while they would otherwise be in awe, and just joyfully listen. That habit tends to rob from their experience.
This is a _really_ good video. It’s not the most recent audio related video among the dozens that I’ve recently watched, but it’s the most important and the best one. Every audiio enthusiast should watch this as an introduction to the hobby. Thank you.
I think to answer Andrew’s question a Recovering Audiophile is ironically an audiophile who realized that it has lost the plot, one that stopped chasing the joy of audio to pursuit the performance utopia. I think audiophilia is awesome because is a tool that connects you to the music and makes it a pleasure experience. Great video man! Keep it coming! Audiophilia is the JOY of audio :)
When I was 11 yrs old, I started noticing that some records sounded better than others. And now at 58, I still listen the same way. I have a nice set of 300B SET amplifers, but I also have a Fisher 500C receiver paired with old Belle Klipsch speakers that are great too. I also have other projects and use an inexpensive DAC for my main source. The internet has exposed the crazy high end publications. I stopped my Stereophile subscription after thirty years when I stated reading elsewhere. Stereophile and other publications and web sites have survived on add revenue from vendors whose expensive equipment they review. Most people are on to that now. I think the days of those publications are numbered. Audio Science Review is a great site to read on. They've shown that there are some real bargains in audio that you can buy one time and not have upgrade-itis. Like the $129 Topping E30 DAC that's as good as some costing thousands. IMO the reviewer is a highly qualified engineer and he usually shows a point of diminishing returns where you won't likely won't hear an improvement by spending any more.
Fascinating and well observed...great revealing analysis of your past behaviour.. This is such a tonic.. hope your proud of this channel I think it's great..
I definitely have a problem with looking way above my budget and once I do,then what I originally wanted seems so lacking it's almost not worth the "waste" of money. These videos have shown me things so far above my means but has also helped to put things into perspective for me. So instead of a $2k turntable I spent 500 and am extremely happy with it! Funny how being exposed to gear that's so far away it makes you think more of what is attainable
years ago an audio salesman told me the exact opposite of the message from the magazines. "pick the speakers you ENJOY the overall presentation of, then buy an amp with enough power to drive them as loud as you will need, spend the remaining money on a standard CD player' looking back he was probably 99% right. I enjoyed those cerwin vegas for a quite a while.
I couldn’t agree more! Same applies in studio gear as well. Some belive they need to have multithousand dollar speakers and converters to produce good music when in reality they could get 95% there with a home studio setup. How ironic that we always chase that last 5% and are willing to spend a fortune just to realize it's not all that different after all.
Hello Andrew, I liked the video very much. Most of the time I think I am a recovering audiophile, but not always. Today I enjoyed listening to dark side of the moon as an audiophile on my best turntable ( Dual 601) with my best cartridge and needle ( ortofon M 20 E) I have. Today I really enjoyed to hear all the details of the music. But that is an exception. My gear is a mix of vintage stuff all bought secondhand, mostly from the flee market. I have two other old turntables with an almost antique Idler wheel drive from the 70s. And listening to Musik from them, is not the perfect sound, but very very much fun. So it's not the perfect sound that counts, but having fun. 1984 I bought my first CD player to get rid of the noise and crackles of the turntable and have the real perfekt sound. A few years ago, I found my old turntable and began to listen to vinyl again. And I enjoyed it very much with all the noise and crackles and all the imperfections. It's just more fun than running a CD! I think that's the point of a recovering audiophile, to make peace with the limitations and the imperfection and just having fun! Happy listening! Frank
Being a hobby musician, I have a big advantage: I know that NOTHING (!!!!) can copy the atmosphere of a life performance. So ALL recorded music and the reproduction of it is a compromise. With that in mind, chasing the "best equipment" is a joke.
"Recovering" for me, is being HAPPY with the system I have, HAPPY listening to any type of music and not continuously thinking about an upgrade which is, in all probability, unnecessary. From someone that owns 3 vinyl decks and uses all of them. Yep, been there, seen it, done it. No more Kool aid. Excellent ending. Thank you.
I think we all want that better bigger nicer ECT. Speaker system if your into this but it has to be with in are means and enjoyment. Finding balance of what's important. I've been working on a up grade over the last couple of years and it's been working out. But I can only can afford so much and I'm pretty happy with what I got so far.
Great Post!!! Great life advice: Be happy with what you have. Among my friends we talk about avoiding the disease of "upgrade-ditis". High-fidelity audio can become an addiction to gadgets instead of music. Thank you, Andrew!!!
Recovering audiophile to me means not thinking about the current trend as "the absolute sound", but as the sonic signature of this era. 40 years from now it will be judged just as "retro" and colored sounding as we find equipment from the 80s now. Also: chasing perfection leads to unhappiness. Focusing on the music collection leads to happiness. Thank you for your sober words! :)
I’ve been refusing to call myself an audiophile for many years, and it does have a negative connotation. The audio industry and audio print magazines sold a lot of BS that ultimately fired back, because they did make it sound like music playback needed all sorts of voodoo to get the maximum performance. Audio magazines killed it for me in the late 90’s for the combination of that voodoo promotion, and by reading how the same magazine would award different products at the same time in England vs Portugal (which had access to the same products, although the relationship between the brands and their local distributors and advertising budget were different). Once all those relationships were clear, and they were writing more and more how much better an audio system would sound with completely absurd claims (even if it was only filler pages), I felt the need to get away from that. That never meant to get away from what I feel to be good sound and good products for myself, but to actually listen to what I feel and heard as the most important thing. It’s only natural for all of us to want more and better, as it is part of our human nature. It happens in all hobbies that people are passionate about, with cars being probably one of the biggest in the world. But if any car lover would require to own a Ferrari to appreciate driving, most car enthusiasts (like myself) would likely feel miserable their entire life. 😉 That’s usually not the case, and any car lover should be able to get a lot of enjoyment from almost any car, and certainly from many cars that cost a fraction of the price of any Ferrari, but are still “driver’s cars”, and that are often used in a way that most Ferrari owners don’t use them, because they get heavily depreciated as they accumulate miles. Back to audio, I’ve heard very expensive gear sounding great as well as sounding bad, and some of my biggest surprises actually came from much less expensive gear, that happened to be in the right room, where it could sound great, without any special acoustics that would make it predictable. I’m glad that ultra high-end audio exists, but I’m not their target customer, bearing in mind that some systems need a lot of space to sound their best. I’m perfectly ok by not being their target customer. It’s important that more recovering audiophiles are open about it.
To me, being a recovering audiophile (which I think I am) is to stop drinking the audio industry Kool-Aid and stop taking your hobby (because it is) so seriously. There are so many esoteric concepts in audio that just eat you alive and that takes you away from the very nature of this hobby that it becomes a burden more tan a pleasure.
Thanks, I doubt you'll see this, but thanks. This video was an eye opener for me, I didn't really how toxic I had started to become about all of this, I definitely started falling into that wheel. You're a legend, truly you are.
I appreciate you taking the time to watch and to leave your comment. Obviously I saw them, and I hope you've found a balance and are on your way to "recovery". Be well! -Andrew
Great video! The first step is admitting there’s a problem. Finding and having the perfect system is impossible. It truly causes one to lose the enjoyment of the music...s
Hey Andrew. Very nice episode/stream. I have been slowly adding your channel to my daily routine, catching up with old content and new releases as they drop. Thanks for the content. I appreciate that it is more than just the same old same old. It to me is a deeper look into what it means to be addicted to music and the duplication of sound, and the many forms in witch one can partake. Further more a guide to a healthy view of the hobby/obsession. That is refreshing! Most channels just give you the drug, not the psychology behind the craving. I won't bore you with a long winded description of my journey other then to say I have three different systems/listening rooms, all as a result of my never ending pursuit of the best listening experience. I hope watching your content will help me find my happy place. I may have already been headed down that path but your well worded and thoughtful insight is sure to only bolster my resolve. Thanks again, and keep it up!
In the course of my life, I've come to find that addictions of any kind have common root causes, and one of them is this - an unwillingness to be *content* with what we have. At a very basic level, addiction is the voice inside that says, "I must have MORE." And no matter what the addiction is for, it *starts* the very first time that we look at a thing and say,"I need to have that." And things spiral downward from there. Being an audiophile is no different. The addiction to audio gear is, at its most basic level, a continuing cycle of "MORE!" born of an unwillingness to say."What I have is enough." That's why I appreciate Andrew's constant refrain of enjoying what you have and being willing to get off the wheel. Thank you for a mature, reasonable perspective, Andrew. I subscribe to your channel for that reason more than any other.
I remember the exact moment I crossed that fine line and became an audiophile. It`s actually a long story, I started writing it out then deleted because its too long. Long story short, I powered up a new system that I had put together~ comprised of low cost used, highish end gear, listened to a random song on my list and in an instant, the *beauty* of music became extremely important to me. That system made ALL music sound great to me including genres I`d previously found repulsive. If Klingon death chant music was all that were available, I`d be listening to it for hours a day.
I've been involved with audio for most of my life on both sides of the river. Unlike most though, I went the route of actually building many of my components as I went along. Along the way I learned to ask myself does the principles or designs I was trying to emulate make sense? Also what sounded good to me and did the performance enrich the listening experience? I had the dubious advantage of having been in the studio when something was recorded so I used that as a standard. Some of the things I built hit the mark, others did not. But I learned valuable lessons. One of which was to always question what was written about gear and did it make sense to me as a listener. As I've gotten older I've applied those lessons to video as well. HD, 4K, 8K, can, at my age, really tell the difference? Can I really discern the subtleties of wider frequency responses? Can I really tell the difference between vinyl, CD, MP3, or FLAC? There are a few things I've come to believe. 1. Media consumption is a highly personal thing. What sounds "spectacular" to one person may sound like crap to another.2. Companies develop a design philosophy or signature over time so you can usually know what to expect from their products. 3.No one company can do everything well. If their amps are great, their tuners may not be. So all equipment be they separates or integrated are compromises. What sounds and performs best to you is all that matters. Recently, I've been restoring some of my Reel to Reel decks. I did find that I had forgotten how "honest" a good one can sound(yep, that I can still tell). Ultimately, I have to agree with you. However, I think I'd like to extend your premise. If it sounds good to you, if it looks good to you, if after using it you come away satisfied by the experience, stop there. You are where you need to be. Your videos are always informative and entertaining. I particularly enjoy the interactions between you and your wife in the outtakes. In a world that seems to be getting more uncivilized by the hour, It's a pleasure to meet someone like you. Be Well. Be Healthy. Stay safe.
I play my $50 kenwood second hand system with ES speakers over my Sony Speaker tower that cost 1k (MHC-V90DW) - Find the Good enough and be happy. Isn't the whole point is to enjoy music even if it is off spotify.
Thanks, Andrew! This is a really insightful video! What an “aha moment.” I don’t know how long it will take for me to get there but music used to give me joy, but it has been an endless source of frustration for me since I began spending “more serious” money on music and gear. Thanks for the articulate observations on the psychology of happiness as it relates to sound quality. I have work ahead of me!
I think I recovered from the constant tail chasing about 7 years ago. Not that I was constantly swapping out equipment, I used to think “what if”. When you’ve woken up and smelt the coffee, you realise that mid price is HiFi isn’t ‘Mid Fi’, it’s just mid priced HiFi. When you accept that the weakest part of every setup is the room and most people like a room to be a space to live in as well as listen to music in - then there are going to be compromises. When you listen to so many different music genres with such varying levels of production quality, you just have to accept what your high fidelity system is telling you about certain recordings. I don’t want to alter the sound or to make bad stuff sound better etc... I just want to hear as close as possible what was recorded in my living space, silly price tags and magic cables etc, is not what is required.
My understanding of an audiophile is someone who's constantly chasing Hify nirvana and a recovering audiophile as someone who's come to the realization it doesn't exist.
“Hi, my name is Rich, and i am a recovering audiophile!” I totally agree with your assessment on what a recovering audiophile is. I am in my early 50’s and for the last 30 years I had always treated my sound system as if it were never good enough. That got me in trouble financially at times. I only wish now that I had some of that gear that I didn’t think was worthy. In addition, as a guitar player, I made the mistake of constantly changing my gear in the search for the Holy Grail of sound..never realizing until very recently it wasn’t the gear that was lacking (yup, it was my lack of talent)!!! LOL. Thank you for helping me realize I am not alone.
Very good life advice here, chasing something that can never be found. Plus, the cost that goes along with it might be bad for your well-being and family life. Happy wife = happy life 😉👍
BRAVO!! This conversation was so wonderful, honest, and truthful. Most importantly this video topic can easily be applied to topic “anything”... This video gets to us being our own worst purchasing enemy and to not fall prey to it. Thank you!!!
Yes l am a recovering audiophile! There ! I said it! Lol! To me, an audiophile is a person, in competition, with anyone claiming, to have achieved the next level ,of audio perfection. Then scheming , to go a step above that. It is a relentless pursuit ," On a horse with no name".(forgive me ,for that reference)! You are always striving ,to be the one, standing on top , of the equipment heap! Screaming... Look at me! I won! Andrew, you da man! You Win!
A good topic, getting hung up on the gear makes you lose sight of the music. I've had different gear some nice speakers, some my ex would irritate me until I got rid of them. After getting divorced I put together a system that I'm happy with, had most of it for almost 18 years except for an upgrade on the pre-amp. I've recovered, love your videos. Thanks Andrew. Back to the music
Thanks for this Andrew. I've recently gone on a pursuit of a great high-end system and am realizing that I've already spent so much without focusing on being happy with the music. Kind of contradicting as a musician myself.
I've seen almost all your videos in the past 3 weeks and stumbled upon this one It's good to hear it from someone who's been there and done that, because it enables me to just ignore the friends who tell me what's what in audio. Maybe I want to try that Cambridge, so what if he thinks "it's mid grade" I like how it looks, I like what I hear about it, maybe I don't want to drop $3000 on an ugly Krell just because it's regarded as this and that...
I watched this at the exact right time 🙂 im just getting into the hobby, have manage to get Cambridge Audio separates & wharfedale floor standers 4.4 evo... keep getting distracted by the cookie suggestions my phone keeps throwing at me even though my equipment sounds awesome 👌
When you said, "I'm advocating for people to be happy" I was pretty thankful you said that bc it helps to keeps me in check to not spend more money or get lost in gadgets that I honestly don't need. I just want to have fun and listen to music I like on a good set of speakers, that's it. Even if I do get interested in turntables or cassette decks or whatever, I think reminding myself do I really need it or if it will make me happier, usually not. So thank you.
For a while I was buying a new guitar or tube amp every year until I realized that learning to play better was the true goal. Similarly with audio I knew I needed a real set of speakers for our surround system but when I wanted to add a turntable I was starting to get overwhelmed by the reviews. Finally one I wasn’t really considering at the lower end went on sale so I bought it thinking I’ll just upgrade later. You know what? It sounds pretty darn good to me and way more detail than listening to mp3s or CDs. So I guess that was the real goal after all.
People get obsessed with different things. Some get obsessed with cars. Some get obsessed with audio gear. So forth. It can be a mental perception that is like an addiction. These videos are helpful. Finding gear that is decent for the budget and the experience can be daunting with what is going on.
Quoting you “ I’m advocating people to be happy “ “The best anything you have is the one you have” Thank you for this video and for bringing this perspective for the hobby. You helped me realizing how boring I turned the audio in the past years. Now is time to find what I want, move forward and enjoy what I have. I believe you will be helping a lot of people to have more fun and enjoy all aspects of their life. Congratulations for the great work!
Andrew, this is your best video ever. Your philosophical musings can be applied not only to audio but any other hobby one has: cars, bikes, cameras, clothes, you name it. Even one’s job and salary... The important thing about being happy is find your sweet spot and stop worrying about what other people think. As you have pointed out, the only thing that matters is that your (fill in the blank) pleases YOU. Once you’ve found that balance point in your life you can enjoy your hobbies much more. PS: I do enjoy my vintage 150lbs Krell class A amp despite it doing double duty as a room heater ;-)
I found this very interesting. If an audiophile is someone who spends lots of money on equipment then I'm definitely not one. On the other hand if being an audiophile means tweaking your system, making minor, incremental changes, then I'm maybe a frustrated audiophile. But I have to agree with you it's all about the music, we all start with a love of music and somewhere along the way it becomes a hardware fixation. Listening to music becomes an anilitucal process not a fun or enjoyable one. So, enjoy the music, whether your bank balance allows for expensive hifi or not, enjoy the music, nonetheless.
Amazing, everything you talk about here is what drives the industry. Fortunately, I have not suffered this phenomenon. Two goals have kept me out that rut: high quality sound in order to enjoy those recordings I love, and attaining this at the lowest possible price. So I end up building my own speakers and components, and I reject those stupidly priced components that cost as much as my entire system. Going three way active using top line drivers, I was able to build an amazingly good sounding system for about 5 grand. And with my new dedicated listening space in which I have properly placed the speakers, I am finally completely happy and feel no necessity to improve the system in any way.
It's what anything in life can become when you tie happiness to success, and yet never allow success to be achieved; always shifting the finish line to a new higher goal. Happiness is therefore always at arms length.
I’m proud to be an audiophile. The only problem is that I don’t have the bank account of one. So you could say that my audiophile journey is going to be loooooong! I don’t care though, I’m going to go though this journey with an open mind, but at the same time, I’ll live within my means.
Beautifully said Andrew. I started to worry when getting enjoyment from the system became more important than enjoying the music. The point of all this surely is to enjoy your music. Now, at 69 years of age, I know my hearing isn’t anything like it used to be, but I still love my music. And now I can enjoy it without feeling I need to spend thousands of $$$ on my system or feel anxious that I don’t have the best system available. I’m really enjoying my music so much more.
Are you a recovering audiophile? What does being an audiophile in general mean to you in 2020?
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That's the magic of your channel... no snobbery or judgment.
NOT EVERY PRODUCT IS MEANT FOR YOU! So true Andrew, great words buddy.Again, we wish we heard this in our youth.So True.
If I get it right, and I've seen both the videos you referenced, you define an audiophile as someone on a continuing search for and purchasing hyped high end audio equipment in the ever elusive quest for a "perfect" sound machine. I would label myself as an "inquiring" audiophile because, as mentioned in my previous comments, I'm extremely happy with the system I built and have had for neigh on forty years. Your channel, and a few others keep me abreast of the new technology. It's like the difference between an alcoholic and a casual drinker. Carry on, Andrew, a great discussion. A suggestion, if I may, it might be nice to get a "layperson's" review from Kristi at some time.
There is a very fine line between functionality and obsession in the home audio world.
Wise words indeed!
When gear becomes more important than the music, that is a problem. I'm so GLAD I got off this merry-go-round.
And I am glad I never got on it ...
Following for years. Genuinely deserve to have 1mil+ followers. Dedicated to the beauty of sound. Much respect 🙏
Man, I'm just getting started in this hobby, and I feel like you just saved me TONS of time and money...
I just sparked a fire for a comment I made on another channel for this,i said it's cheaper to get car audio speaker's and put them in a build for home audio than to spend thousands on a bunch of overpriced "home audio" speaker's 🤣🤣
I recovered from being an Audiophile when I earned my AA degree in electronics in 1994 and discovered that a lot of what audiophile enthusiast believed was not supported by what I had learned and gained since in experience dealing with electronics. Especially in the realm of cables. The other thing that I discovered is that there appeared to be the requirement to spend thousands and thousands on equipment for a marginal gain in performance. I'll admit that in the real high end of audio there are amazing designs and awesome equipment in all categories. But, when you can achieve 70 to 90% of performance of that type of gear with a tiny fraction of the cost, then why spend that kind of money if you really can't afford it. If you can and want to, by all means go for it.
Once you learn how the gear works and learn how to properly check power output, frequency responses, Harmonic distortion, etc, you realize that good equipment does not necessarily need to cost much at all. Congrats on getting your AA.
Definitely food for thought. I recently sold my record collection and most of my stereo equipment due to an impending move to a smaller place. I kept my bookshelf speakers and bought a PowerNode 2i streamer. Where I spent all my free time searching for, buying, cleaning and organizing records and upgrading my system, now all I do now is...listen to music. More music. Different music. And I am much happier and financially stable.
Everyone finds their own path to contentment, whether it be focused on music or equipment. Sometimes we get enticed, but we find our way back to our true love (ourselves). And we appreciate it more, I hope.
After watching this I’ve come to the conclusion that Andrew Robinson is as Zen to the world of Audio gear as Bob Ross was (and still is) to the world of painting.
And that’s a good thing...
This is about so much more than audio. Good life stuff. I've gone too far down the rabbit hole on too many hobbies - audio/video, cars, collecting things - and realized at some point, this is too much, I'm not enjoying this anymore. Gotta learn to let yourself be happy. I have a 7 year old Toyota Corolla and I don't care to have anything "better," I have a 30-year-old Yamaha stack and I abuse the tone controls to make it sound like I want it to sound, and I don't need anything better. I don't have to impress anybody. It's just something that comes from age or experience I guess.
A lot of people have just confused the feeling of a dopamine hit after buying something new with it sounding better. After a certain point there is no better, just different and all you are doing is buying yourself a drug through your attachment to equipment. If you see this in yourself and you are having trouble getting off the wheel, a good place to start is by gradually delaying gratification more and more until it no longer feels like a requirement. Delaying gratification is not "wait until I can afford it", It's "wait after I can afford it".
Your catharsis with audio is poetically applicable to so many more subjects. Thank you for shining that light.
What it means to me is that I can finally move beyond that neverending quest for perfection and focus on what is important, which is enjoying the music. :)
Hey Andrew, based on your last video I went out and purchased myself a Pioneer SA 7800 vintage amplifier and a TX vintage Pioneer receiver. Saved a boatload of money and it sounds better than anything else that I've had and I've had some fairly expensive equipment.
The reason I bought it is because I'm 53 years old and the look of it makes me happy. Thank you
david long We love this! Enjoy it!
Man! Do I need to put this into my head as a newcomer to this. I suffer of this "problem" with photo gear and the last thing I need is this new obsession to throw money away. Good points, mate.
same with all hobbies, imho... just gotta realize, your needs, and best economical way to get it. Good luck on the journey, friend. PeaceV
You are right. I am not an audiophile, but I recognize the problem with being happy with for instance my earbuds, until I read a review that is negative about the product. Then I start to doubt myself. This combined with being unrealistic: I will sit in a silent room, listen to the sound from the earbuds, and listen to every small detail, totally forgetting what I bought them for: for running and cycling. And it is never that quite when running and cycling.
This video made me realize I should enjoy rather than worry. Thanks.
I often remind myself of the saying, "be careful what you love, if it can't love you back" !
your candor keeps me coming back. thank you for sharing so much of yourself. i always scroll your comments and enjoy seeing others who genuinely appreciate you and your messages.
That means a lot. Kristi and I do our best to keep it at 100. We appreciate you and always look forward to your videos!
Could be the best episode I ever watched from your channel. IMHO being an audiophile is just a state of mind. I hope my so called 'audiophile' friends could see this.
Some colleagues keep on bugging me to upgrade my equipment but I had always choose to spend my money on physical media, and services instead to enrich my experience since I feel my gear is still more than ample for my needs. Cheers!
Thank you for making me appreciate what I have.
I started watching your channel a few days ago with your vid about beginners hifi then I watched your vids (including this one) about your experience and mistakes and what you learned over your time as an audiophile.
I got a new sense of appreciation for my own setup that's from a pair of car speakers put inside speaker enclosures of old broken boomboxes my family had + an amp I got about 3~4 years ago. It didn't sound that great, because of the amp until I thought of replacing the power supply lately and the output improved significantly. Aside from the speaker setup I felt more of appreciation for other things I own and that was nice and made me rethink about how I should spend money in the future.
I dunno if you are gonna see this Andrew, but Thank You.
I like trying new components but if they don’t provide a significant upgrade then I sell. I generally won’t upgrade anything unless I can sell something to pay for it. But occasionally I get the itch and want to hear how tubes sound in my system, or a different turntable or pre-amp. Sometimes it’s fun to have a secondary system to experiment with. Being a recovered audiophile means “I know I can do better, but I’m satisfied with what I have.”
This video really resonates with me. I've been the person who spent thousands on B&W speakers and told my neighbors that their Bose system sucked and as I've matured I realized I was wrong. I've scaled way back and although I still love great sounding speakers I'm not going to spend my entire bank account chasing that perfect sound. I paid $40 for a used pair of Klipsch 2.1 computer speakers and I actually love the way they sound. Being happy with what you have is a very important lesson that I'm learning way too late in life.
At this time in your life, you have learned the basics in audio and what makes good audio. You have made it to the pentacle of what audio can sound like You have re-analyzed your audio priorities and came to a conclusion that you can live with without feeling cheated. What is the real difference between real good audio and great audio? You! I am recovering right along with you brother!
Ive recently discovered your channel Andrew and enjoy your reviews. This is your best work - it's rings so true for me. There nas been so much FOMO and need for valiadation for me in my Hi Fi journey and I am so over it! Every thing you say hit's home. All I ever wanted was to maximise my joy of listening to music but somewhere along the way it became about the equipment and Hi Fi jewellery. Video's like this one offer a great dose of perspective about this hobby.
There is a whole lot of wisdom in this video, and I recommend this to anyone interested in hifi.
Hey Andrew! Just purchased a Crown XLS 2502. Thanks for sharing your experiences with this amp. I have always had a fascination with Class D. Now, I am ready to embrace it! Thanks!
I will never buy into audio gear ever again beyond the point of diminishing returns. With today's audio technologies, it allows the audience to spend most of their time enjoying the music and less time being concerned with things that should not matter...Not in 2020! I gave away an A/V Receiver that put out real 140 watt per channel to 7 channels. This amp weighed close to 50 lbs. It really heated up. Got tired of feeling the need to place small fans over the vents of the unit. I loved the sound of the unit, but hated that it could turn any room into an oven, unless you had air conditioning.
I got the Crown so I would not have to be concerned with power, weight, heat, and it could drive most speakers with ease. How can you beat that? Plus the quality of the Crown experience within the amp. My wallet loves it!
I've never had the kind of money to purchase true first rate audio gear. As a kid growing up in the local audio shops I was able to hear some audio gear that sounded magical to me. I also heard gear that sounded "good" but was affordable to me or at least I was able to acquire in relative short order. I chose products by KEF, Denon, Harman, Kardon, AIWA, etc. And one day I realised that I was spending more and more money on a product I already had, like a cassette deck or a turntable, but I was always hearing the same thing. It suddenly made no sense to continue down that path. I learned to spend on music to listen to rather than a constant change of gear and I was happy.
Tom Davis We really appreciate hearing your story and thank you for watching.
If you can't hear the difference, don't spend the difference.
It took me 42 years of being completly satisfied with the gear i have today. Kef ls50, exposure 2010 amp, bluesound streamer NAD cd player and Rega p5. It is not top of the World equipment. But i am 60 years old now and this will be it. Enough is enough and enyoy what you have and accept that music is not always perfect recorded or whatsoever. It is what it is and thank you Andrew and Kristi for making this kind of video's to keep us with both feed on the ground. I don 't want to be a recovering audiophile i simply want to be happy with the things i have and enjoy music at times when i am in the mood for it. Greetings from the Netherlands
Recovering audiophile…such a well turned phrase.
Personally I can "personally see" it, and I PERSONALLY, understand it. Many great personal pursuits, or hobbies with MONEY..(in my life)..I’ve had to back away from. And as I do, I grow, once again.
It’s all good, a good part of the best of living, and learning about life. It’s "a" (honest) looking for "truth".
Reminds me of Bob Dylan quote…
"When lightness was a virtue, and the road was full of mud".
Love your channel Andrew.
Prob my fav audio guy on RUclips. No bullshit. Chill. Real. Dig it man. Keep it up.
Very sensible, logical comments Andrew. Well done.
I really enjoy hearing you speak about being true to yourself regarding this hobby and I know how easily it can turn into just "stressful madness and loose the whole point along the way." I've been watching your videos for the past few months and really take a lot away from them that helps me stay connected to the real meaning of being an enthusiast. Thank you and keep the great videos coming.
Couldn't agree with this video more. I was listening to 3 other channels about audio and receivers with huge followers and literally felt like i had to keep up with all of the latest or the models that they felt was the best. And all 3 channels said it never ends on the upgrades. One channel the person did a walkthrough to his house and he had 3 home theaters and different fancy equipment in each room and was still stating that mire needed to be acquired. That's when it hit me that's not what i want. I like listening to music and a good movie watching experience. Being happy is the key. Well said Andrew!
An audiophile is some one who can appreciate music but not enjoy it. I'm not being witty. Before being an audiophile I either liked a track or didn't. As an audiophile you're constantly thinking about the sound, is it right, can it be better, blah blah. Somebody else once said "a listener uses speakers to hear the music. An audiophile uses music to hear the speakers".
This is a beautifully enlightened perspective. Can relate.
I was in the Hifi business many years ago. I worked in a small family run shop. A lot of the gear we had was unattainable to me financially but I still enjoyed listening to it. Occasionally I was allowed to take various components home too. Over the years since I've found that there are two ways of listening. You can listen to the music OR you can listen to the Hifi. The former gives the greatest pleasure for me as it gives me the freedom to enjoy what I hear artistically. The latter is the way of the audiophile though. The way to dissatisfaction. Being on the wagon as a recovering audiophile means simply enjoying your music and gives the freedom to discover and embrace new music too. Falling off the wagon though means trying to hear the tiniest nuance, the smallest improvement from often an expensive "upgrade". A path littered with dissatisfaction and want. It also means that your music collection is hampered by selecting only recordings which have the highest production quality. In fact, an audiophile may often dismiss much of what's available because high quality expensive equipment is often highly critical of recording quality and a huge void can open up in between what's listenable and what has to be discarded. I've been on and off the wagon so many times over the years. It's a problem. And you're never ever cured. You can only truly be "in recovery" ❤️
I had my heavy ‘audiophilia nervosa’ phase in the early 2000s. Subscribed to Stereophile, visited big audio shows and even got into credit debt to purchase the system I still use to this day. Then a series of events happened; my dad passed away, my debts were out of control and once I dealt with these two things my interests began to shift towards traveling, getting to know a little more of this world. While traveling I often realized how little I was actually needing in material terms to be happy in that moment. I attended concerts at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw, also realizing there’s no way I could mimic that level of acoustics at home without spending insane amounts of money. Today I’m still as passionate for music as ever, but I no longer keep chasing the next big thing. We come to this world with no possesions and those we get to have we can’t take with us in the afterlife. So I’ve learned to be happy with what I have, and if I feel I ever want to make some upgrade to my gear... well things will always come in its due time.
Yes, unfortunately the death of a loved one can suddenly put an awful lot of things into perspective. Including life itself.
I did this back in 2002 when I moved into a new house. I basically moved to a Home Cinema set up that's good with music. Settled on a Marantz 5.1 and that remains the heart of my system 18 years later. JBL Sub Sat to get rid of big boxes...Panasonic Blu Ray for Movies / CD. Mostly when pottering round the house I stream to that system via Spotify / Amazon HD Music.
Back in the 90's...I was forever changing gear...and had a excellent set up...but was never happy. So.....back in 2002 I got off that wheel. The secret?.....don't compare componants....research, buy and be happy.
WAOWWW!!!! You voiced the voice of reason and what should be the obvious!!! Being an Audiophile is learning to enjoy music and be passionate about it! The Music!
I'm lucky enough to be a music freak and to fret on anything from jazz to classic to punk to indie to rap, depending on my days! It's such a joy.
But I was almost caught in that loop of gear cycle, but lucky me I was able to listen to one day the system of a friend who dropped 30K on his setup that looked gigantic and uggly! The sound left me COLD.
I then worked my way by small steps always small amounts to improve my modest setup but reached a point where I was blown away!!! My biggest contributors :
- Audioengine Bluetooth streamer (a gem)
- Tidal Hi-fi
- klipsh RP600M
All that driven by my $300 Onkyo 2 ch receiver.
I'm blown away everytime I fire it up. I have an Orbit turntable for vinyl as my 2nd passion, and keep switching back and forth depending on the mood of what I want to listen to. And that makes me freaking Happy!!!
Thanks for sharing the obvious, and I wish our hobbyist world was more about common sense and respect of the other's taste and desire and budget.
Cheers!! 🍻
Sadly, audiophiles can never enjoy the music. They keep finding flaws in their equipment that the next upgrade is going to magically fix, so they never enjoy the music, because that next most expensive thing that they don't own yet is what is really going to allow them to enjoy the music.
@@AndyP126 there's two population who call themselves audiophile and the term is used for both. A true Audiophile should be all about enjoying the music. If your system looks good then it's a plus. But gear freak who think they can slap this label and flash their insane system as a badge of respect and have very narrow taste of music or tolerance for other styles, then sorry but no. You're not an Audiophile! You're a snob.
You can be of the 1st type and pursuing perfection in your system though. But as Andrew says it well, the main piece is just, sit and enjoy!
David Muller It’s the classic battle of audiophiles versus gear collectors. Audiophilez just want enough gear to make the music sound good. Gear collectors just need to keep buying forever, because they care about the gear and not the music.
Going DIY stopped me from continuing down the rabbit hole of speakers. I now know that no matter the price, I can build my own set that can sound as good or better for a fraction of the cost or just make updates with different drivers. Still working out the amps.
So true!
There are always people who are never satisfied, whether its audio, cars, homes, watches. I believe that those people are not happy with themselves. But it is helpful to hear somebody, saying that. It should be about the music, I like the look of the gear I have but it is in line with my budget and lifestyle. Thank you for an insightful video .
After many years of this hobby as a 47 year old guy I wanted to say thanks. Settling into a time in my life where I just want to enjoy what I have. This was perfect. Love your opinions.
Is this part of getting older? Seems like as you get older your home inevitably fills up. You need to get far more selective about what you bring home. Overwhelmed is a great word for it. It feels fantastic to simplify and hang onto only the things you truly appreciate, then pass the rest to someone else who can enjoy them.
We had little money, but Dad often brought home 5 or 10 dollar speakers he found at garage sales, and the occasional amp; it was so much fun as a kid to see how things sounded different and enjoying cds through ancient gear but it all sounded great in those days. Been chasing that still, but having money for the journey hasn't made it better. Thanks for the video.
Andrew, thank you for sharing your experience. For people like me who are just getting into hifi this is important.
I love that you guys being a lot of passion to these videos and your presentations are always meaningful
Great video, Andrew. The way you have described what a recovering audiophile is, is exactly the way I would describe it. Like most in this hobby, I do suffer from thinking about owning different gear which manifests itself into self-doubt and inevitably I end up not appreciating what I do have and just enjoying music. It's hard to shake that itch but I am much better than I used to be some 20 years ago when it was a revolving door. I too, am a recovering audiophile. I have owned the same speakers for a decade now. I really do love my system, it's just that one affordable tube preamp that I keep thinking about...
In my opinion, this is the most serious and mature video in YT on audiophile.
I agree mate. After talking about specs and brands and everything in between, which is also important, we all end up asking ourselves, are we happy, is my fellow happy, what makes us happy.
I'm happy with my Yamaha A-5, Pioneer PL-1200 and Polk Audio RTiA1.
Recovering audiophile for me is a learned and but unassuming student of recorded sound.
I love music, all types the very first thing I bought with my first months paycheque was my first stereo. And slowly over forty years got to the system I have now. It’s not the best or flashy but it’s mine and paid for and I can listen to all types of music and enjoy the experience I love reading so my hifi is not distracting it’s got no meters or lights it’s music that I find relaxing and comfortable. It’s a marantz 6006 cd uk edition, two nad c370 integrated amplifiers bi amping monitor audio silver 500 speakers. Not flashy maybe to some very basic but I love it and it does the job. I go to shows and exhibitions and dream of owning a hi end system but I know my limitations and go home to the one that I have and I’m content. Love your channel it’s refreshing and down to earth with heart 😃
This is by far your best video, and this is the best audio channel on RUclips. Five stars!
To me, being a recovering audio file in practical terms means one I no longer design and build my own loudspeakers. Two I no longer obsessively read stereophile. Three I focus on enjoying my music.
i nearly went down the audiophile path 2 decades ago...but the reality slapped me on the face by way of my then wife's cold stare whenever I tried to excuse myself to goto the audio mall... and now here I am in 2020 with a bluetooth enabled True Wireless Speakers in every room I spend more than 30 minutes in.... with over 500GB of music on my mobilephone, i am in audio nirvana
Everyone starting out needs to hear this video bfore spending a dime, thank you! I too experienced the hamster wheel & some burnout. After wanting an integrated amp so badly for 2 yrs I finally got it, only to lust after a power amp/preamp 6 months later!😑 I also took a friend shopping for his system based on what I like, only to find out he wasn't the critical listener I am. He saved at least $5,000! Smh
There are a lot of people jumping back into this hobby because of COVID -- and like me they are likely overwhelmed. I'm a typical Gen X'er whose career and kids kept me out of HiFi for 20 years. Getting back in was a combination of joy in realizing again how great music can sound once you take the earbuds out and panic in trying to absorb 20 years of advancement in audio components and speaker technology. Upgraditis is curable by learning what stirs your soul in experiencing the music you love and how that translates into equipment choices. It took me a few iterations but I got there with an NAD streaming receiver and JBL speakers. I've had some false starts and some speakers I'm now trying to find buyers for -- but I got there. There are some great resources out there to learn from and Andrew's channel is one of the very best. The key lesson I learned is that the relationship between price and excitement / enjoyment level don't have to be linear when you know what you love.
for me the key to stop chasing is to have a couple of pairs of speakers, one that does things more laid back and natural, and another that are less natural but can make a large loud presentation when needed. Also I find an equalizer useful at adjusting poor sound, once its set you just forget about it and listen, this is useful for many, many brash sounding CD's.
Coming around the the realization that no pair of speakers can do everything perfectly was a huge turning point for me.
Thank you for this video. I wasn't sure what I was in for when I clicked the video but I'm happy I did and I completely agree. This can definitely apply to multiple fields, and I appreciate you speaking up, as not too many people take the moment out to make this subject the focus. "What makes YOU happy. What do YOU want out of your experience. You too can get where you need with this older/used/not top model Computer/Car/Speakers."
I think a lot of people would feel a lot less stress and more financial stability if they took the time to really sit down, and think about what is valuable through the experience, and what is extra. There's nothing wrong with going a little extra, but don't let the person driving a new top of the line Benz tell you "The best or nothing." It's subjective! Thank you for the video!
Great advice! My inner compass: when I'm more excited about the audio gear than the music then something is wrong.
Great video, Andrew. You made some meaningful points many of us relate to. A negative habit I picked up was to apologetically point out my system's weaknesses to others while they would otherwise be in awe, and just joyfully listen. That habit tends to rob from their experience.
This is a _really_ good video. It’s not the most recent audio related video among the dozens that I’ve recently watched, but it’s the most important and the best one. Every audiio enthusiast should watch this as an introduction to the hobby. Thank you.
I think to answer Andrew’s question a Recovering Audiophile is ironically an audiophile who realized that it has lost the plot, one that stopped chasing the joy of audio to pursuit the performance utopia. I think audiophilia is awesome because is a tool that connects you to the music and makes it a pleasure experience. Great video man! Keep it coming! Audiophilia is the JOY of audio :)
When I was 11 yrs old, I started noticing that some records sounded better than others. And now at 58, I still listen the same way. I have a nice set of 300B SET amplifers, but I also have a Fisher 500C receiver paired with old Belle Klipsch speakers that are great too. I also have other projects and use an inexpensive DAC for my main source.
The internet has exposed the crazy high end publications. I stopped my Stereophile subscription after thirty years when I stated reading elsewhere. Stereophile and other publications and web sites have survived on add revenue from vendors whose expensive equipment they review. Most people are on to that now. I think the days of those publications are numbered.
Audio Science Review is a great site to read on. They've shown that there are some real bargains in audio that you can buy one time and not have upgrade-itis. Like the $129 Topping E30 DAC that's as good as some costing thousands. IMO the reviewer is a highly qualified engineer and he usually shows a point of diminishing returns where you won't likely won't hear an improvement by spending any more.
Fascinating and well observed...great revealing analysis of your past behaviour.. This is such a tonic.. hope your proud of this channel I think it's great..
Thank you kindly!
I was moved by Andrew's video autobiography, linked during the video.
I definitely have a problem with looking way above my budget and once I do,then what I originally wanted seems so lacking it's almost not worth the "waste" of money. These videos have shown me things so far above my means but has also helped to put things into perspective for me. So instead of a $2k turntable I spent 500 and am extremely happy with it! Funny how being exposed to gear that's so far away it makes you think more of what is attainable
years ago an audio salesman told me the exact opposite of the message from the magazines. "pick the speakers you ENJOY the overall presentation of, then buy an amp with enough power to drive them as loud as you will need, spend the remaining money on a standard CD player' looking back he was probably 99% right. I enjoyed those cerwin vegas for a quite a while.
I couldn’t agree more! Same applies in studio gear as well. Some belive they need to have multithousand dollar speakers and converters to produce good music when in reality they could get 95% there with a home studio setup. How ironic that we always chase that last 5% and are willing to spend a fortune just to realize it's not all that different after all.
Hello Andrew, I liked the video very much. Most of the time I think I am a recovering audiophile, but not always. Today I enjoyed listening to dark side of the moon as an audiophile on my best turntable ( Dual 601) with my best cartridge and needle ( ortofon M 20 E) I have. Today I really enjoyed to hear all the details of the music. But that is an exception. My gear is a mix of vintage stuff all bought secondhand, mostly from the flee market. I have two other old turntables with an almost antique Idler wheel drive from the 70s. And listening to Musik from them, is not the perfect sound, but very very much fun. So it's not the perfect sound that counts, but having fun. 1984 I bought my first CD player to get rid of the noise and crackles of the turntable and have the real perfekt sound. A few years ago, I found my old turntable and began to listen to vinyl again. And I enjoyed it very much with all the noise and crackles and all the imperfections. It's just more fun than running a CD! I think that's the point of a recovering audiophile, to make peace with the limitations and the imperfection and just having fun! Happy listening! Frank
Being a hobby musician, I have a big advantage: I know that NOTHING (!!!!) can copy the atmosphere of a life performance. So ALL recorded music and the reproduction of it is a compromise. With that in mind, chasing the "best equipment" is a joke.
"Recovering" for me, is being HAPPY with the system I have, HAPPY listening to any type of music and not continuously thinking about an upgrade which is, in all probability, unnecessary. From someone that owns 3 vinyl decks and uses all of them. Yep, been there, seen it, done it. No more Kool aid. Excellent ending. Thank you.
I think we all want that better bigger nicer ECT. Speaker system if your into this but it has to be with in are means and enjoyment. Finding balance of what's important. I've been working on a up grade over the last couple of years and it's been working out. But I can only can afford so much and I'm pretty happy with what I got so far.
Great Post!!! Great life advice: Be happy with what you have.
Among my friends we talk about avoiding the disease of "upgrade-ditis".
High-fidelity audio can become an addiction to gadgets instead of music.
Thank you, Andrew!!!
Recovering audiophile to me means not thinking about the current trend as "the absolute sound", but as the sonic signature of this era. 40 years from now it will be judged just as "retro" and colored sounding as we find equipment from the 80s now. Also: chasing perfection leads to unhappiness. Focusing on the music collection leads to happiness. Thank you for your sober words! :)
I’ve been refusing to call myself an audiophile for many years, and it does have a negative connotation.
The audio industry and audio print magazines sold a lot of BS that ultimately fired back, because they did make it sound like music playback needed all sorts of voodoo to get the maximum performance.
Audio magazines killed it for me in the late 90’s for the combination of that voodoo promotion, and by reading how the same magazine would award different products at the same time in England vs Portugal (which had access to the same products, although the relationship between the brands and their local distributors and advertising budget were different).
Once all those relationships were clear, and they were writing more and more how much better an audio system would sound with completely absurd claims (even if it was only filler pages), I felt the need to get away from that.
That never meant to get away from what I feel to be good sound and good products for myself, but to actually listen to what I feel and heard as the most important thing.
It’s only natural for all of us to want more and better, as it is part of our human nature.
It happens in all hobbies that people are passionate about, with cars being probably one of the biggest in the world.
But if any car lover would require to own a Ferrari to appreciate driving, most car enthusiasts (like myself) would likely feel miserable their entire life. 😉
That’s usually not the case, and any car lover should be able to get a lot of enjoyment from almost any car, and certainly from many cars that cost a fraction of the price of any Ferrari, but are still “driver’s cars”, and that are often used in a way that most Ferrari owners don’t use them, because they get heavily depreciated as they accumulate miles.
Back to audio, I’ve heard very expensive gear sounding great as well as sounding bad, and some of my biggest surprises actually came from much less expensive gear, that happened to be in the right room, where it could sound great, without any special acoustics that would make it predictable.
I’m glad that ultra high-end audio exists, but I’m not their target customer, bearing in mind that some systems need a lot of space to sound their best.
I’m perfectly ok by not being their target customer.
It’s important that more recovering audiophiles are open about it.
To me, being a recovering audiophile (which I think I am) is to stop drinking the audio industry Kool-Aid and stop taking your hobby (because it is) so seriously. There are so many esoteric concepts in audio that just eat you alive and that takes you away from the very nature of this hobby that it becomes a burden more tan a pleasure.
Marc Toupin so true.
Thanks, I doubt you'll see this, but thanks. This video was an eye opener for me, I didn't really how toxic I had started to become about all of this, I definitely started falling into that wheel. You're a legend, truly you are.
I appreciate you taking the time to watch and to leave your comment. Obviously I saw them, and I hope you've found a balance and are on your way to "recovery". Be well! -Andrew
Great video! The first step is admitting there’s a problem. Finding and having the perfect system is impossible. It truly causes one to lose the enjoyment of the music...s
Hey Andrew. Very nice episode/stream. I have been slowly adding your channel to my daily routine, catching up with old content and new releases as they drop. Thanks for the content. I appreciate that it is more than just the same old same old. It to me is a deeper look into what it means to be addicted to music and the duplication of sound, and the many forms in witch one can partake. Further more a guide to a healthy view of the hobby/obsession. That is refreshing! Most channels just give you the drug, not the psychology behind the craving. I won't bore you with a long winded description of my journey other then to say I have three different systems/listening rooms, all as a result of my never ending pursuit of the best listening experience. I hope watching your content will help me find my happy place. I may have already been headed down that path but your well worded and thoughtful insight is sure to only bolster my resolve. Thanks again, and keep it up!
In the course of my life, I've come to find that addictions of any kind have common root causes, and one of them is this - an unwillingness to be *content* with what we have.
At a very basic level, addiction is the voice inside that says, "I must have MORE." And no matter what the addiction is for, it *starts* the very first time that we look at a thing and say,"I need to have that." And things spiral downward from there.
Being an audiophile is no different. The addiction to audio gear is, at its most basic level, a continuing cycle of "MORE!" born of an unwillingness to say."What I have is enough."
That's why I appreciate Andrew's constant refrain of enjoying what you have and being willing to get off the wheel.
Thank you for a mature, reasonable perspective, Andrew. I subscribe to your channel for that reason more than any other.
Well said- this is a timeless video
This is possibly your best post yet, don’t get me wrong, I still want the unobtainable, but you are spot on.
I remember the exact moment I crossed that fine line and became an audiophile. It`s actually a long story, I started writing it out then deleted because its too long.
Long story short, I powered up a new system that I had put together~ comprised of low cost used, highish end gear, listened to a random song on my list and in an instant, the *beauty* of music became extremely important to me. That system made ALL music sound great to me including genres I`d previously found repulsive.
If Klingon death chant music was all that were available, I`d be listening to it for hours a day.
I've been involved with audio for most of my life on both sides of the river. Unlike most though, I went the route of actually building many of my components as I went along. Along the way I learned to ask myself does the principles or designs I was trying to emulate make sense? Also what sounded good to me and did the performance enrich the listening experience? I had the dubious advantage of having been in the studio when something was recorded so I used that as a standard. Some of the things I built hit the mark, others did not. But I learned valuable lessons. One of which was to always question what was written about gear and did it make sense to me as a listener. As I've gotten older I've applied those lessons to video as well. HD, 4K, 8K, can, at my age, really tell the difference? Can I really discern the subtleties of wider frequency responses? Can I really tell the difference between vinyl, CD, MP3, or FLAC? There are a few things I've come to believe. 1. Media consumption is a highly personal thing. What sounds "spectacular" to one person may sound like crap to another.2. Companies develop a design philosophy or signature over time so you can usually know what to expect from their products. 3.No one company can do everything well. If their amps are great, their tuners may not be. So all equipment be they separates or integrated are compromises. What sounds and performs best to you is all that matters. Recently, I've been restoring some of my Reel to Reel decks. I did find that I had forgotten how "honest" a good one can sound(yep, that I can still tell). Ultimately, I have to agree with you. However, I think I'd like to extend your premise. If it sounds good to you, if it looks good to you, if after using it you come away satisfied by the experience, stop there. You are where you need to be. Your videos are always informative and entertaining. I particularly enjoy the interactions between you and your wife in the outtakes. In a world that seems to be getting more uncivilized by the hour, It's a pleasure to meet someone like you. Be Well. Be Healthy. Stay safe.
I play my $50 kenwood second hand system with ES speakers over my Sony Speaker tower that cost 1k (MHC-V90DW) - Find the Good enough and be happy. Isn't the whole point is to enjoy music even if it is off spotify.
Thanks, Andrew! This is a really insightful video! What an “aha moment.” I don’t know how long it will take for me to get there but music used to give me joy, but it has been an endless source of frustration for me since I began spending “more serious” money on music and gear. Thanks for the articulate observations on the psychology of happiness as it relates to sound quality. I have work ahead of me!
I think I recovered from the constant tail chasing about 7 years ago. Not that I was constantly swapping out equipment, I used to think “what if”.
When you’ve woken up and smelt the coffee, you realise that mid price is HiFi isn’t ‘Mid Fi’, it’s just mid priced HiFi.
When you accept that the weakest part of every setup is the room and most people like a room to be a space to live in as well as listen to music in - then there are going to be compromises. When you listen to so many different music genres with such varying levels of production quality, you just have to accept what your high fidelity system is telling you about certain recordings. I don’t want to alter the sound or to make bad stuff sound better etc... I just want to hear as close as possible what was recorded in my living space, silly price tags and magic cables etc, is not what is required.
Well said.
My understanding of an audiophile is someone who's constantly chasing Hify nirvana and a recovering audiophile as someone who's come to the realization it doesn't exist.
“Hi, my name is Rich, and i am a recovering audiophile!” I totally agree with your assessment on what a recovering audiophile is. I am in my early 50’s and for the last 30 years I had always treated my sound system as if it were never good enough. That got me in trouble financially at times. I only wish now that I had some of that gear that I didn’t think was worthy. In addition, as a guitar player, I made the mistake of constantly changing my gear in the search for the Holy Grail of sound..never realizing until very recently it wasn’t the gear that was lacking (yup, it was my lack of talent)!!! LOL. Thank you for helping me realize I am not alone.
Very good life advice here, chasing something that can never be found. Plus, the cost that goes along with it might be bad for your well-being and family life. Happy wife = happy life 😉👍
BRAVO!! This conversation was so wonderful, honest, and truthful. Most importantly this video topic can easily be applied to topic “anything”... This video gets to us being our own worst purchasing enemy and to not fall prey to it. Thank you!!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Yes l am a recovering audiophile! There ! I said it! Lol! To me, an audiophile is a person, in competition, with anyone claiming, to have achieved the next level ,of audio perfection. Then scheming , to go a step above that. It is a relentless pursuit ," On a horse with no name".(forgive me ,for that reference)! You are always striving ,to be the one, standing on top , of the equipment heap! Screaming... Look at me! I won! Andrew, you da man! You Win!
A good topic, getting hung up on the gear makes you lose sight of the music. I've had different gear some nice speakers, some my ex would irritate me until I got rid of them. After getting divorced I put together a system that I'm happy with, had most of it for almost 18 years except for an upgrade on the pre-amp. I've recovered, love your videos. Thanks Andrew. Back to the music
Thanks for this Andrew. I've recently gone on a pursuit of a great high-end system and am realizing that I've already spent so much without focusing on being happy with the music. Kind of contradicting as a musician myself.
New to the channel. This is so much deeper than sound and resonates with me, pun unintended. Can apply to anything. Thanks for calling it out.
I've seen almost all your videos in the past 3 weeks and stumbled upon this one
It's good to hear it from someone who's been there and done that, because it enables me to just ignore the friends who tell me what's what in audio. Maybe I want to try that Cambridge, so what if he thinks "it's mid grade"
I like how it looks, I like what I hear about it, maybe I don't want to drop $3000 on an ugly Krell just because it's regarded as this and that...
I watched this at the exact right time 🙂 im just getting into the hobby, have manage to get Cambridge Audio separates & wharfedale floor standers 4.4 evo... keep getting distracted by the cookie suggestions my phone keeps throwing at me even though my equipment sounds awesome 👌
When you said, "I'm advocating for people to be happy" I was pretty thankful you said that bc it helps to keeps me in check to not spend more money or get lost in gadgets that I honestly don't need. I just want to have fun and listen to music I like on a good set of speakers, that's it. Even if I do get interested in turntables or cassette decks or whatever, I think reminding myself do I really need it or if it will make me happier, usually not. So thank you.
Good to know this resonated with you! We appreciate you watching.
For a while I was buying a new guitar or tube amp every year until I realized that learning to play better was the true goal. Similarly with audio I knew I needed a real set of speakers for our surround system but when I wanted to add a turntable I was starting to get overwhelmed by the reviews. Finally one I wasn’t really considering at the lower end went on sale so I bought it thinking I’ll just upgrade later. You know what? It sounds pretty darn good to me and way more detail than listening to mp3s or CDs. So I guess that was the real goal after all.
That was great. I feel like I just sat down with a really good therapist and hashed things out for a hour. 😀
People get obsessed with different things. Some get obsessed with cars. Some get obsessed with audio gear. So forth. It can be a mental perception that is like an addiction. These videos are helpful. Finding gear that is decent for the budget and the experience can be daunting with what is going on.
Quoting you
“ I’m advocating people to be happy “
“The best anything you have is the one you have”
Thank you for this video and for bringing this perspective for the hobby. You helped me realizing how boring I turned the audio in the past years. Now is time to find what I want, move forward and enjoy what I have. I believe you will be helping a lot of people to have more fun and enjoy all aspects of their life. Congratulations for the great work!
Andrew, this is your best video ever. Your philosophical musings can be applied not only to audio but any other hobby one has: cars, bikes, cameras, clothes, you name it. Even one’s job and salary... The important thing about being happy is find your sweet spot and stop worrying about what other people think. As you have pointed out, the only thing that matters is that your (fill in the blank) pleases YOU. Once you’ve found that balance point in your life you can enjoy your hobbies much more.
PS: I do enjoy my vintage 150lbs Krell class A amp despite it doing double duty as a room heater ;-)
I found this very interesting. If an audiophile is someone who spends lots of money on equipment then I'm definitely not one. On the other hand if being an audiophile means tweaking your system, making minor, incremental changes, then I'm maybe a frustrated audiophile. But I have to agree with you it's all about the music, we all start with a love of music and somewhere along the way it becomes a hardware fixation.
Listening to music becomes an anilitucal process not a fun or enjoyable one.
So, enjoy the music, whether your bank balance allows for expensive hifi or not, enjoy the music, nonetheless.
Amazing, everything you talk about here is what drives the industry. Fortunately, I have not suffered this phenomenon. Two goals have kept me out that rut: high quality sound in order to enjoy those recordings I love, and attaining this at the lowest possible price. So I end up building my own speakers and components, and I reject those stupidly priced components that cost as much as my entire system. Going three way active using top line drivers, I was able to build an amazingly good sounding system for about 5 grand. And with my new dedicated listening space in which I have properly placed the speakers, I am finally completely happy and feel no necessity to improve the system in any way.
It's what anything in life can become when you tie happiness to success, and yet never allow success to be achieved; always shifting the finish line to a new higher goal. Happiness is therefore always at arms length.
I’m proud to be an audiophile. The only problem is that I don’t have the bank account of one. So you could say that my audiophile journey is going to be loooooong! I don’t care though, I’m going to go though this journey with an open mind, but at the same time, I’ll live within my means.
Beautifully said Andrew. I started to worry when getting enjoyment from the system became more important than enjoying the music. The point of all this surely is to enjoy your music. Now, at 69 years of age, I know my hearing isn’t anything like it used to be, but I still love my music. And now I can enjoy it without feeling I need to spend thousands of $$$ on my system or feel anxious that I don’t have the best system available. I’m really enjoying my music so much more.
This might be your best video!