[woodsyi]

Your post further convinces me that this "hobby" (though I think it's more of a disorder) is based more on the pursuit of the components than on listening to music. The addiction to the purchasing/selling cycle can be kicked as you have demonstrated and the truth is that music over the boombox is the same as music over the Hi-Fi, it just doesn't sound as good. But the music still stirs your soul in the same way. I've argued that about iPods as well. Non-audiophiles are just as happy listening to the same song as we are, probably more as they aren't "burdened" with the quest to reproduce it as well as possible.

The only way to enjoy being an audiophile is to research, listen and understand, quite literally, the state of the art before moving cash around. Once you've built a system...just enjoy the music, it's not going to sound much different at a certain point.

There are more music and gear out there for me to try in my life time.  I am not in a hurry but I will continue to explore and taste different flavors.  Good for you that you are set with your gear.  I am not but I am not unhappy searching for the audiophilic Godot.

[BrianM]

The only way to enjoy being an audiophile is to research, listen and understand, quite literally, the state of the art before moving cash around.

This sounds nice but doesn't have the benefit of being true.  I don't need to "literally" understand a piece of gear, or its context, in order to appreciate it.  For some it's the gear that's for sale; for others it's the sound of the gear.  You seem to be describing the M.O. of those with the most acute disorder, not the cure.  Needing to understand everything literally would ultimately confuse a person's decision-making.

Once you've built a system...just enjoy the music, it's not going to sound much different at a certain point.

But why "build a system" then? Just play music on your laptop.  QED.  Everyone will find his own balance; there's no one point of reference.

[acd483]

This sounds nice but doesn't have the benefit of being true.  I don't need to "literally" understand a piece of gear, or its context, in order to appreciate it.  For some it's the gear that's for sale; for others it's the sound of the gear.  You seem to be describing the M.O. of those with the most acute disorder, not the cure.  Needing to understand everything literally would ultimately confuse a person's decision-making.

Haha...actually, the idea of knowing what you're buying always has the benefit of being true.

But why "build a system" then? Just play music on your laptop.

Are you that naive? I enjoy listening to music as well as it can be reproduced in my budget. I will tell you that the same song played over my system or my ipod will evoke the same emotions in me. I enjoy listening to the instruments playing more on my system, but the ipod doesn't rob the music of its soul, nor does the big rig add soul.

[acd483]

There are more music and gear out there for me to try in my life time.  I am not in a hurry but I will continue to explore and taste different flavors.  Good for you that you are set with your gear.  I am not but I am not unhappy searching for the audiophilic Godot.

I am far from set. I do know exactly what I want, at this point I don't have the space or time to build the speakers.

The 30 year system:

Macintosh and iTunes
Benchmark DAC-1
ATI 6012
Linkwitz Orions

[BrianM]

Haha...actually, the idea of knowing what you're buying always has the benefit of being true.

As worded, this makes no sense.

Are you that naive? I enjoy listening to music as well as it can be reproduced in my budget. I will tell you that the same song played over my system or my ipod will evoke the same emotions in me. I enjoy listening to the instruments playing more on my system, but the ipod doesn't rob the music of its soul, nor does the big rig add soul.

Great.

[acd483]

Haha...actually, the idea of knowing what you're buying always has the benefit of being true.

As worded, this makes no sense.

Let me put it in simple terms:

Know what you're buying