For the past 30 years or so I've considered myself a die-hard audiophile. I've gone through similar phases and opinions like most of you probably have. I've bought and sold many dozens (if not hundreds) of high end components and cables. Audio research, Linn, audionote, ensemble, synergistic, Zu Audio, PS Audio, Yamamoto, modwright, REL, Klipsch, hafler, CJ, coincident, classe, anthem, oppo, MIT, and many other brands I don't even remember. I've auditioned hundreds more... I'm also an electronic technician so I had my share of experience with DIY. I've gone from tubes and vinyl to digital and SS, and back around. I've owned mini monitors and huge 6' Giants and everything in between. I've heard the most minute differences in sound quality between cables and footers. I've spent way too many dollars on fuses, tweaks and furniture. I read reviews, and swore by specific brands. I've put together systems which I was sure we're the best ever and defended my choices with a passion.
No more.
I'm sitting here right now in my (ex) music room, listening to a system that costs less than $350 total, and enjoying the music as I rarely did with my recent $30K one. Does it sound as good and realistic as the $30K one? No it doesn't. But it sounds damn good. It's musical, engaging, full bodied with a well established sound stage, good detail and tonality, well paced, and I'm having a blast!!! I just don't care no more for the minute differences in sound quality. There is no end to it.
I let go, and oh man it feels good to enjoy music without constantly analyzing and subconsciously looking for imperfection or thinking how much better it will sound with tweak X or cable Y or upgrade Z... This tiny $350 system delivers 80% of the sound quality of the $30K one, and honestly probably better than many $5K ones out there. I mean it... It doesn't make any sense no more!
I have no regrets ... I've had a lot of fun and I met amazing people that I wouldn't have had I not been an audiophile. I've experienced great uplifting monents and great disappointments. I've laughed and cried, was blown away and frustrated... It was a great ride.
I am leaving this hobby behind and not looking back... Damn it feels good. I'll keep enjoying great music and HiFi sound, and will appreciate high quality equipment, but I won't be obsessed with it no more. I still have a very nice system in my living room which is probably worth around $2K and will be more than I'll ever need going forward. This amazing little $350 system is going to my office where I spend most of my week days and I'm excited about it...
I have woken up from the audiophile dream, and what has been seen can't be unseen.
Goodbye and thanks for the fish :-)
PS: Since I know you are very curious, the $350 system consists of a Raspberry Pi as a streamer ($25) with an upgraded DAC ($60), an upgraded power supply ($50), a 20 watt Chinese digital power amplifier ($70), mini monitor speakers I bought as a kit ($100), DIY stands from leftover lumber ($20), and around $20 in cables... I intentionally omit brand names, this post is not about recommending any specific item. It's about what amazing value you can get for ridiculously cheap these days in general.
I promise each and every one of you that if you were sitting in my seat right now, and I would have told you that you are listening to a $5K system, you would not have doubted it for a second. You are probably thinking that I'm crazy, but I am not. I've already tried this trick on a few very experienced audiophile friends this past week. :-)
I used to love only music. Since I’ve gotten more and more into this obsession, craziness, addiction... call it what you will, I have to admit I no longer enjoy it the way I used to. Except on rare occasions, I can’t listen to music without obsessing over the sound.
Hello ami it is great to see you too look for the weakest link in the chain in build performance and design. It’s totally stunning sometimes. I had Harbeth literally hang up on me for I questioned why he would use inexpensive Taiwan cranberry Color small poly caps when in the U.K you have far better caps in Clarity only hours away ? Just to save money,Solen is used more 5hen Any Capacitor in Speakers rated a 6 out of a possible 16 ? Pride. If my name is on it I try to put All quality components in it . I sometimes am compulsive even compelled to improve something that is not really correct. Current quest built Highend speaker cables Litz,- OCC Copper,light Teflon dielectric fantastic wire- VH Audio, from their Today same Wire smaller awg, the Loudspeakers Xover and all driver wires, then electronics all from the same cloth the synergy will be fantastic in previous email all metals Another MFG fault using Goldplated Brass, over 80% of MFG do this ,Brass sucks 4x less conductive then Copper or Silver and realismmodt certainly suffers that is why I changed to 100% Gold Copper ,nochina connectors invited. And UPOCC ultra pure —Ohno cslled -0 Crystal Copperspeaks for itself many high quality companies use it ,then again many don’t because of $$cost. If you truly love your equipment and plan on keeping it then do everything you can parts wise as well as wiring to make it maybe even 20% better or more which is Huge. Sometimes you are much better off buying a very high quality used equipment and making a plan to have it modded. myself mainly just do Speakers .i have a few great friends that are experts in Vacuum Tube electronics.
Just for fun bought a Zero-Zone tube pre-amp ($40), swaped out the tubes and bought a regulated power supply. Paired w/a Parasound Zamp. Fantastic!. The magic is there but you could most certainly hear it's limitations. Very pleasurable to listen to! I've gotten pretty good at matching inexpensive gear and matching systems sound great for very little $. But, I still have a reference system which I'll never give up.
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