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I'm done chasing the illusion

This all makes me think of the Velvet Underground song I'm Set Free, where Lou Reed sang, "I'm set free to find another illusion..."
 
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It's funny ... even though I am a big admirer of so much of the equipment that I've seen on this wonderful website, I am personally very slow regarding the actual acquisition of it. No, I guess that I'm far from being a true collector of audio equipment (but I still have more than the average person), although that doesn't mean that I haven't purchased certain higher quality stereo components for use in my system, because I have. For instance, it took me years to finally come to a decision to replace the turntable in my system (a Bang & Olufsen) with a new one (a Rega), and that wasn't because the B&O wasn't still playing fine. It was. No, the primary, final instigator for me to get another one was aesthetic - the dust cover had over time become warped to one side and therefore didn't close in a symmetrical fashion anymore, although it probably performed it's function of keeping out the dust as it always had. I still have that B&O turntable however!

Maybe it's my cautious nature that has caused me to go the slow road in this way, but it also probably has a lot to do with the fact that, once I do decide on something, I tend to get attached to it and therefore hang on to it until the bar has been raised in my mind to a compelling level for making a change ... or maybe it's because there is so much wonderful stuff out there that it's often just very difficult to decide ... or if I do end up focusing on a certain older piece of gear that i really like, a nice one in good working shape simply may not be available. Now on the other hand, I have become something of a collector with my music, having over time built up a decent size collection. :)
 
I agree with those who advise to quit listening to the gear and get back to the music. Though easier said than done sometimes, I know. Stop assessing. Listening analytically is for set-up and/or trouble-shooting, imo. Listening to music is best done emotionally, for enjoyment.

Instead of listening for audiophile attributes, focus on musical issues in order to help change from an analytical to an emotional perspective. IME, it will soon become habit.
 
musichal said:
I agree with those who advise to quit listening to the gear and get back to the music. Though easier said than done sometimes, I know. Stop assessing. Listening analytically is for set-up and/or trouble-shooting, imo. Listening to music is best done emotionally, for enjoyment.

Instead of listening for audiophile attributes, focus on musical issues in order to help change from an analytical to an emotional perspective. IME, it will soon become habit.
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If it were that simple, this thread wouldn't exist. In my car, passive listening is easy, because I'm focused on driving. Right now, I have a pair of speakers on top of cabinets that are above my desk, so the sound is emanating from an "undefined" location. The moment the speakers are placed in a conventional space, my brain switches on the analytics. NOTHING I do can simply "switch it off".

I can't drink, smoke, or otherwise because I'm at work. Ever sine I bought my first real audio gear back in the 80's, this has been my curse, I am always critical listening. I don't know how I can make it any more clear. The advice is great, but it doesn't work.
 
CraigVMN said:
The advice is great, but it doesn't work.
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Sounds like you have made up your mind. That's well and good, alcoholics should stay out of bars, fat people out of the ice cream isle, etc.
You can still enjoy the music, albeit in sub-standard form. Kids listen to music on their cell phones, you would just be coming full circle.
 
Get one system set up and listen to it, if you want to change something do the one-in, one-out rotation. Meaning components, instead of collecting stuff and starting a collection. Easier to justify that way and have less clutter or I should say, less of a collection!

I didn’t do that, but if I had to do it over again I probably would have. I could easily live with just ONE spare instead of 5!!

Advice is easy to give, and hard to live by sometimes.
 
CraigVMN said:
If it were that simple, this thread wouldn't exist. In my car, passive listening is easy, because I'm focused on driving. Right now, I have a pair of speakers on top of cabinets that are above my desk, so the sound is emanating from an "undefined" location. The moment the speakers are placed in a conventional space, my brain switches on the analytics. NOTHING I do can simply "switch it off".

I can't drink, smoke, or otherwise because I'm at work. Ever sine I bought my first real audio gear back in the 80's, this has been my curse, I am always critical listening. I don't know how I can make it any more clear. The advice is great, but it doesn't work.
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Yep I get it, let it go. I very rarely go out on boats with others given I can’t hardly stand to sit back and observe everything they are doing wrong. The last thing I’ll do is speak up so I just don’t go, not that I want to anyway.
I’ve recently rediscovered the hobby I had before audio and have enjoyed it a lot more lately.
Someone mentioned a few times, in a previous post, about particular instances they were really enjoying music.
I had gotten off the boat after a 30 day hitch in the Gulf. A cab in Houston picked us up (Astro Van), I specifically remember Santana on the radio. I asked the driver to crank it up just digging the **** out of it with zero regard for fidelity.
 
CraigVMN said:
If it were that simple, this thread wouldn't exist. In my car, passive listening is easy, because I'm focused on driving. Right now, I have a pair of speakers on top of cabinets that are above my desk, so the sound is emanating from an "undefined" location. The moment the speakers are placed in a conventional space, my brain switches on the analytics. NOTHING I do can simply "switch it off".

I can't drink, smoke, or otherwise because I'm at work. Ever sine I bought my first real audio gear back in the 80's, this has been my curse, I am always critical listening. I don't know how I can make it any more clear. The advice is great, but it doesn't work.
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Honestly, it's pretty hard to comprehend what you are saying. If you are still listening to a lot of music, it's got to be better to listen to it on a nicer system (even if it doesn't meet your standards) than a crappy system. Maybe you can provide more info about what specifically you haven't been satisfied with, sound-wise. Did your last system have a sub?

If your are fed up with higher-end systems -- then I can see how that can be frustrating -- spending money and not ever feel like it's worth it or good enough. I'd change the game and put together an inexpensive system that sounds great. It can be done very easily. I have a fairly high-end 2-channel system, and a few inexpensive systems since I like audio in every room. Putting together inexpensive systems that sound great is almost more fun than putting together the high-end systems. Instead of thinking, "this should sound better for $$$$", you are thinking "I can't believe how good this system sounds for $".
 
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Well, sounds like you're screwed. Take a long break from music. Sell your gear and don't give it a second thought. In time, you'll discover, as others say, it ain't about the gear it's about the music.
 
Maybe music just isnt your thing.. or photography.. keep looking, you'll find it.. or not...
My hobbies/interests have changed several times in my life.. with a couple exceptions..
 
It's not just about the music. :no: It's about how the gear makes the music sound. :music:

I can listen to music that I've never heard or a genre that I don't listen to, and so long as I can hear what the engineer has accomplished in his rendition (e.g., outstanding imaging), or not, that gives me pleasure even if I don't care for the music.
 
^^^ Thats pretty easy to do. Maybe unrealistic expectations for the listening space and acceptable budget :dunno:
 
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toddalin said:
It's not just about the music. :no: It's about how the gear makes the music sound. :music:

I can listen to music that I've never heard or a genre that I don't listen to, and so long as I can hear what the engineer has accomplished in his rendition (e.g., outstanding imaging), or not, that gives me pleasure even if I don't care for the music.
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I agree, but not completely.. have you listened to the lyrics and ignored the backtrack..?
Music is more than the instruments, true artists can make you feel the music with their voice.. Maria Callas for example..
Others make you feel the music with an instrument Stevie Ray Vaughn.. A master..
Both very gifted...
But it doesnt take thousands of dollars to 'hear' that sound.. you just have to pay attention to it..
 
Perhaps you are an aspiring DIYer? If you build it and you think it can be improved....well... You just do it yourself. Hard to be critical when you built it.
 
I have tinnitus too and due to ignoring sinus issue, one day at work i got a contusion that left my left ear with metallic rattle for couple years.
My gear choice changed since then and while either this issue (nearly) disappeared or my brain has trained to ignore it, I find SET sound is most pleasing.
It has much softer midrange, where most other gear produce sounds that resonate for my hearing. Low watt SET and efficient speakers was the answer for me. I'm enjoying music again.
 
from the beginning i just wanted my music to sound better than the crapy little record player i had as a teen. after i heard my friend's dad's radio shack mono system which he built the cabinet for, i knew. i didn't buy when i was overseas because i figured i would come home with the wrong stuff.

when i got to CA, i started slow due to lack of funds. i made a friend who had some savvy and his system was always way ahead of mine. but he tutored me and as i got a decent system, i would identify the most glaring errors and slowly figure out what to do within budgetary restrictions. my friend had cautioned me to only change one component at a time.

using that, i incrementally made improvements and developed a quite relevant system. my most recent increment was to buy a Rythmik 12" sealed Servo sub. now i have FULL range capability down to 15Hz. that gave just the right subtle physicality to the presentation.

i haven't had electrostats nor horns but i do have Maggie MMGs as one of my three rotating sets of speakers. i think i am set for quite a while.
 
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