Is HiFi a Sickness??

[eLicky]

I think as human beings we simply have an addictive nature, whether that be sports, fitness, cars, gambling or a general hobby.

With audio the quest to achieve better, stronger, faster is an extremely strong aspect. Even if you don't jump into the deep end there's still a market for each level of spending, even if that's portable audio or desktop gear on headphones. The other side I see is audio companies know how addictive it is and in many cases take advantage of that with pricing, they understand the strong emotional connection music has and play on that.



 

Edited April 24, 2019 by Ewok209

[TerryO]

13 hours ago, HypnoToad said:

I'm not addicted because I can give it up whenever I want, I just don't want to.

Said like a true addict. ... 

 

cheers Terry

[Stump]

I got sick at the age of 50 years old...I went from 20year old Vaf speakers using Denon and Sansui gear thinking HI-end was Marantz because of the Gold Colour.While looking for Vaf upgrade reviews I found STERIO.NET  . As you cant take your money with you I enjoy my sickness which would only be cured if my house burns down.If that happened I would go a different direction...

Stump

 

[rantan]

 

It definitely is.

Most of the time we make ourselves feel better by saying it is really, only, about the music and I don't contend that the endless pursuit of Nirvana does not mean people don't enjoy their music or are even passionate about it. The facts are though, that many of us here once discovered  and loved music equally ( or perhaps even more) on systems /devices that we would now give away or take to the dump.

I know for certain that this is true in my case and many people over many years have told me the same theme exists in their life.

I am not sure where exactly I am on this carousel at the moment but I have bought a new item recently and truly hope it will be the last thing.........................but confidence eludes my thoughts.

 

Edit: Even though I think that it is a form of sickness and notwithstanding my earlier comments  ,I also acknowledge that the piecing together of the jigsaw puzzle is fascinating in itself, so these days I just do not try to convince anybody that it is about the music only and addressing  the endless permutations of creating synergy is a great pastime in itself.

 

As for buying new gear, I, like some others here try to await the arrival of the desired object on the second hand market and it is now rare for me to buy new,although ironically, I am expecting a new arrival that is actually new, which I bought for a crazy low price. I think it arrives it next week........................

Edited April 24, 2019 by rantan

[jeromelang]

Can substitute this addiction with another like - sex?

[Pieface]

3 minutes ago, jeromelang said:

Can substitute this addiction with another like - sex?

Yes...but you will most likely need to do that in a darkened room by yourself too  

[jeromelang]

17 minutes ago, Pieface said:

Yes...but you will most likely need to do that in a darkened room by yourself too  

There are other approaches - bright lights and mirrors... 

 

...and groupies

Edited April 24, 2019 by jeromelang

[aasza]

22 minutes ago, jeromelang said:

...and groupies

 

Will make for some interesting GTG's and bring new meaning to 'hogging the sweet spot' 

Edited April 24, 2019 by aasza

[Wimbo]

I don't think it is. One reason is that I spend little money on it.

I wait till I see what I want for the price I want then go for it.

I gave it up for 12 years and got back into it in 2017.

[Buffle]

16 hours ago, Marc said:

Of course it is. Today's delivery of my purchase of a 'must have'.

Have the K2s gone?  

 

I hope recovery is going well.  I remember getting pretty carried away with toys when I was stuck in bed/on the couch for months.

[Jared Devers]

One way I have found to fight the addiction is to identify what gear I want through demos & listening sessions and then jot them down in a wish list document.  Then I setup my email alerts and wait 12 months or so for a second hand gear to become available here or ebay, or tradein deals are announced with my regular stores. 

 

I find it calms me down to know what my upgrade paths are, and that I have to wait for the right moment.  Sometimes I have moments of wanting to walk into a store and slap down my credit card on something new, but mostly I find the above approach keeps that at bay.   Then I can just focus on listening to music and getting the most from my current system until my time comes to upgrade. 

 

PS Does anyone have a Nordost Red dawn 2m power cable they aren't using?   

[HypnoToad]

Another thing people collect a lot of is the music itself, if you listened to a different album whether it be a record, Cd or digital file per day how many years would it take to listen to everyone you have? If it's more than a few..........................

[Marc]

2 hours ago, Buffle said:

Have the K2s gone?  

 

I hope recovery is going well.  I remember getting pretty carried away with toys when I was stuck in bed/on the couch for months.

No way. The K2s were recently placed into the extreme corners of the room (as per a photo I found on the 'net of Greg Timbers own room and K2 placement) and they're divine! Not going anywhere (this week).

 

The L100s are one of those iconic products I just had to own and will go into a new section of our home for all the family to enjoy once our renovation is complete. 

[The Bluesman]

So this sickness is wide spread and more serious than what I initially thought, hey I'm not alone with this thank god,  love reading all the replies and this place really is a nut house. now I must win Lotto to help me get what I really want, that or give up my other interests!!

[Peterbean]

I hate doing auditions in store, and just want to buy something, but the mind keep telling me to spend my money wisely and do my research which is exhausting and driving me crazy. In the mean time I can't sit still to listen to music as I constantly have to tweak and tinker with it, or I just have to tap my feet or start dancing when it sounds good.

In the best scenario, I have ADHD, and it can be cured with a pill, in the worse case I am an audiophile, and that can only be cured with a pockets so deep as hell itself, and I will end up living in a cardboard box, because else, there isn't enough room under my roof to store all equipment.

It's not an addiction unless you have reached absolute rock bottom.

I have ADD too- it’s no doubt part of it, noting above that our key term “Dopamine “ has popped up

[Paul Faulkner]

On 23/04/2019 at 9:31 PM, Marc said:

Or when one has barely left the house for 3 months since my accident, my excuse.... and I'm sticking to any justification I can!!

It's a shame I can't get them out of the boxes though!

Where are you I’m good at unboxing

[MLXXX]

Hi-fi is not a sickness for mainstream society. People can buy home theatre systems at different price levels, or perhaps just a sound bar.  More serious folk may audition and purchase speakers separately, and team them up with a good quality standalone AVR.  CDs can be played using a Blu-ray player, or music can be streamed from the internet.  

 

People merely wanting decent hi-fi audio quality can obtain it as outlined above.  They can spend what they are comfortable spending, and can play music at home when they wish. There is no wailing, or gnashing of teeth, required to achieve the goal of being able to listen to recorded music at a decent quality level.

 

This forum though caters in part for those with niche interests, such as specialised DACs, specialised power cords, or specialised turntable tonearms.   Pursuing these sorts of niche interests can turn into a never-ending quest for perfection, and an obsession.

 

However even those audiophiles without highly developed niche interests may still feel pressure not to use a Blu-ray player to play a CD. There is long-standing audiophile "lore" that a DVD player could not possibly play a CD at high quality. If that lore is accepted at face value, the question then becomes, "what is a good enough player?".  And then there is the question of what is good enough as an interconnecting cable. These sorts of questions can lead the audiophile down a slippery slope of never being confident their system is "good enough". 

Edited April 24, 2019 by MLXXX

[joz]

Hi all EHD (extreme hobby disorder) sufferers.

Funny how we all found this place.

 

 

For me my system has stayed reasonably static for years. 

But my main itch is source components and power which I have managed to keep under control for many years now. Though I have come close to falling of the wagon many times.

Luckily I have stayed strong (read no access to funds) when the urge occasionally hits.

 

 

[evil c]

Hi all EHD (extreme hobby disorder) sufferers.
Funny how we all found this place.
 
 
For me my system has stayed reasonably static for years. 
But my main itch is source components and power which I have managed to keep under control for many years now. Though I have come close to falling of the wagon many times.
Luckily I have stayed strong (read no access to funds) when the urge occasionally hits.
 
 

You just need to set up multiple bank accounts and stash the cash, works for me! [emoji1]

[Guest kryten2001]

No question it's a sickness. Seems to afflict those with the 'collector' OCD gene more than others, but a sickness none the less.

 

Why spend 3 years worth of Spotify subscription costs on a single rare LP? Coz collector gene.

 

They have this in all hobbies by the way. We're small fry compared to the money dropped in the coin collecting market. 

 

All that being said, who cares? If it brings such joy and happiness into your life (as it does for me), who are others to judge.

Edited April 26, 2019 by kryten2001

[Satanica]

I think the reason many are afflicted with "the sickness" is they get stuck into a cycle of upgrades that don't really work.

These upgrades usually seem to work initially but they're especially likely to not work so well after the honeymoon period has worn off.

The same old acoustical room related issues are there whether one spends $500 or $500,000.

Of course there are products which are designed to (somewhat) handle room related issues but they're generally not popular; practically a niche market within a niche market.

[Guest kryten2001]

29 minutes ago, Satanica said:

I think the reason many are afflicted with "the sickness" is they get stuck into a cycle of upgrades that don't really work.

 

Totally agree with this. you do get into the law of diminishing returns pretty quickly.

 

This is why my advice would always be to go hard straight up, don't ***** foot around. That way you won't end up with piles of second hand equipment that cost you a fortune that you can't sell.

 

Go hard or go home, then STOP and enjoy.

 

Easier said than done of course. There's always a better stylus to try out.....

[08Boss302]

Its a learning and curiosity thing IMO.

The more you learn you start to realize what to listen / look for and then that upgradeitis sets in and so do the diminishing returns chasing that ghost down the rabbit hole but at a point i think you come back to the basis that started the journey which is to enjoy your system be it for music, cinema or both.  I've commented to mates its like modifying cars, as one step happens you get use to it and look to get that next step happening.

 

There is also maybe two types of hobbyists -  those that are also into the gear and owning it (plenty of it as in collecting) from different periods and those that enjoy obtaining the best gear and the best sound they can obtain with their budget and room etc and being happy.

 

Once you step away for a while and stop critiquing and go back to enjoying the music or the movie the itch isnt as bad.  It is as much about finding contentment in what you have as it is admiring whats out there without wanting it.

 

I think i'll always be keen on learning more,  seeing whats for sale, and admiring great equipment but I am learning to also put a lid on things and understand what my needs are and realistically what I can achieve with my room/life/budget - and its not my only interest so i have to share the funds around too hahah

 

[Primare Knob]

I think we can call this sickness, doubt.

Getting rid of the doubt is hard work, technically and practically challenging, and the sources of doubt are easily available and more widely spread through marketing and forums than a well needed reality check.

[The Bluesman]

6 hours ago, kryten2001 said:

Totally agree with this. you do get into the law of diminishing returns pretty quickly.

 

This is why my advice would always be to go hard straight up, don't ***** foot around. That way you won't end up with piles of second hand equipment that cost you a fortune that you can't sell.

 

Go hard or go home, then STOP and enjoy.

 

Easier said than done of course. There's always a better stylus to try out.....

I love it, go in hard and re mortgage the house, get the kids out of private school, bugger the overseas holiday, your new car can wait wifey, we'll eat sausages instead of steak

 

I bag snatched, robbed houses,  stole etc all because I was high on HiFi, 

 

I'm Sick Officer just put me in the Nut House or send me to Gaol, put a Straight Jacket on me

 

Yes this can be a Sickness if it gets out of control, good to Dabble a bit I think before going in hard and hitting it big time!!