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What Is It with This Audio Buying Obsession?

Personally I haven’t changed my setup in years. I found the sound I was looking for and equipment with the features and control layout that I wanted a long time ago and that was that, 100% satisfied on that end and no desire to change it.

However, I do love to troubleshoot and repair audio equipment and have been doing so for many years. I can’t stand seeing a nice piece of equipment being tossed or parted out due to a repairable problem that’s been misdiagnosed or gone undiagnosed altogether. It doesn’t even have to be “higher end” gear, if it’s a nice all-in-one system, a table radio, off-brand equipment, mid-fi gear or whatever I just like repairing and restoring it. A friend of mine once told me I couldn’t help it because I had the “rescue gene” and I think she’s right.

My problem is getting around to listing all of the repaired gear on the shelves. Once I get back into that mode things will clear out pretty quickly but for now I’m still working my way through the “rescue” pile. There will always be a few things I’ll hold on to but most of it can be passed on for others to use and enjoy. :music:
 
JoeESP9 said:
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I haven't misunderstood anything. Nowhere, nor at any time have I ever suggested or implied that I enjoy this or any other hobby more or less than someone else. I simply don't understand constant lateral moves with any hobby/interest. I just don't have the collector "virus" for gear. Source material (recordings) are something different. Even with them, collecting multiples of "whatever" doesn't pique my interest.
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Your inability to understand how the many collectors here at good ole AK enjoy this hobby shows that you give others no latitude. I've encountered this rigidity of thought in industry advocates. Like it or not, there are retailers and at least two audio reviewers / writers here who exhibit this rigidity. They are easy to spot.
 
Please explain to me when not understanding became condemnation? While we're at it please stop putting words in my mouth.:dunno:

Swapping equivalent gear is akin to comparing apples to apples. I don't want more apples. I want something better. If you like different apples good for you. Me, I've been there and done that.:D

IME those who use receivers are the ones who do the most gear swapping. It would seem that those who use separates tend not to do a lot of swapping.
 
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Although I've seen numerous photos of a wall of receivers I've never seen a photo of a wall of preamps and/or power amps.
 
JoeESP9
Maximum convenience and price point of an era with a "presumed" penalty of performance. Resulting in maximum popularity and a sweeping of the dorms at that time.
Thus the continued popularity and "presumed" collectability.
 
Dave B. said:
I've been through many obsessive phases in my life: cameras, bicycles, books, classical LPs and CDs, tennis gear, running gear, and even Corvettes. (I'm missing a few, I sure.) "The sickness," as I call it, has surged and then faded in those areas. I'm now happy with what I've gathered from those eras, or I've sold or given some (or all) of it away. But, after 50+ years, one sickness still rages in me: I must keep buying audio equipment!

I don't need it. My current system makes me 110% happy. But, for example, just this morning I lost an auction for a sweet pair of vintage AR speakers. I tried to convince myself that I didn't "need" them; I just "wanted" them. I rationalized: "It wasn't meant to be," and walked away. Ten minutes later, I was back online, searching for something ... anything ... to give me the audio-buy fix I needed. It's like I have to have a tracking number to click and FedEx/UPS trucks to watch for.

What the heck's wrong with me? Is there an Audioholics Anonymous? I need those 12 steps bad!

Anyone else here feel like this?

Dave
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Don't fight the force Luke.





By the way, I'm loving the sound of my new vintage AR speakers.
 
JoeESP9 said:
What part of "I'm not a collector " do you not understand? I have made no value judgements of anything that anyone does. As for lateral moves, I'm interested in better not just different.

FWIW: I used the same main speakers for 20+ years. The only reason I'm not using them now is because a transformer in one self destructed. I buy and/or modify gear to please my ear so that I have no need to constantly swap anything. I have one system that doesn't need nor have a bunch of spare gear for lateral swapping. After 50+ years with this hobby I know exactly what I want. That my desires don't include a bunch of lateral moves is because after 50+ years I'm simply not interested in constantly swapping anything.
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I became prolifically engaged in buying/swapping gear as the internet enabled. Not because I discovered a long awaited means to do so, but simply because of my ignorance. I had a long hiatus and then all of a sudden, opportunity. So for me it was a matter of discovery. Mind you I already had great gear but it was all out of commission. However I also knew exactly what I wanted. So I did go through a swapping stage and hence accumulated a small collection. In the meantime I acquired an interest in other aspects of the hobby such as an active JBL project that has not gotten off the ground because like you, I know and found exactly what I want... in my case Acoustat Monitor 3 with servo charge amps. But I didn't know it til I got them; I suspected, but didn't know. What I did know is the sq I was after from experience with my previous gear. Goes to show the objective factor involved that it seems not many are aware of...their loss whether incidentally or more egregiously by an obstinate attitude. That's life. In any case, I would not be apologizing for being comfortable. Personally, I don't get the 'collector' thing. I have several pieces but only because it took some time to find the 'better'. You already had it, now I do too.
 
quiet said:
JoeESP9
Maximum convenience and price point of an era with a "presumed" penalty of performance. Resulting in maximum popularity and a sweeping of the dorms at that time.
Thus the continued popularity and "presumed" collectability.
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Sorry, I truly don't understand your post.
FWIW: I never lived in a dorm. Being a veteran I had no desire to room with a bunch of other guys. Been there done that. My attitude was the same regarding fraternities. After Viet Nam any type of fraternity hazing seemed to me to be juvenile and stupid.

I thank the old style GI bill for making it possible for me.
 
I post about this issue about half year ago and I think I tame it down a bit by letting the lesser desirable item go and keep the ones you like, also start a collection of a certain brand that you like instead of just buying anything that comes along. Right now I only buy Sansui 07 series and vintage Luxman, and when you narrow it down a bit you will buy less. However, I still have a problem with speakers, I have 9 pairs and I am still looking at them.
 
JoeESP9 said:
Although I've seen numerous photos of a wall of receivers I've never seen a photo of a wall of preamps and/or power amps.[/QUOTE

Don't have a free wall. Or not yet.....where would you place speakers if the wall was full ?
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With a hat tip to Jeff Foxworthy ...

You might be an audioholic if ... you check Barter Town more than once every 10 minutes.

Gentlemen and ladies, the diagnosis door is wide open and all yours!

Dave
 
JoeESP9 said:
IME those who use receivers are the ones who do the most gear swapping.
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Do you ever watch American Pickers? For some, performance is not important. It's more about history and fond memories of days past.

I confess that I don't understand why someone would collect twenty mediocre sounding receivers, but why not for someone who enjoys the visuals?

To each his own.
 
At the turn of the decade the dorms were flooded with them. And they weren't considered mediocre at the time.
Yes, a part of this countries history. And I want to know what was what first hand. I burned though the muscle cars long ago.
 
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JoeESP9 said:
Sorry, I truly don't understand your post.
FWIW: I never lived in a dorm. Being a veteran I had no desire to room with a bunch of other guys. Been there done that. My attitude was the same regarding fraternities. After Viet Nam any type of fraternity hazing seemed to me to be juvenile and stupid.

I thank the old style GI bill for making it possible for me.
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Receivers Joe, receivers.
 
For most of us I think it boils down to man's need to tinker. Whether you're swapping receivers, rolling tubes or boutique cables in and out of your system it's much the same. You can still experience a sense of accomplishment when you've made a change even if the results are just a different sound. It's all part of the journey and we express our way of traveling in a variety of ways.
 
Poultrygeist said:
For most of us I think it boils down to man's need to tinker. Whether you're swapping receivers, rolling tubes or boutique cables in and out of your system it's much the same. You can still experience a sense of accomplishment when you've made a change even if the results are just a different sound. It's all part of the journey and we express our way of traveling in a variety of ways.
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Yep, just following the road in front of me. It's a good thing I don't know a lot about gear because this hobby could get expensive fast. I only wish more people were having as much fun as I am for so little money.
 
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