Top 10 Snafus to avoid when building a good rig

forgetting to enjoy the music

I have heard big speakers in a small room and sometimes they can sound very good. Thus....
1. Listen to the speakers if you can get them through the front door and know your room
2. Know the type of music you like and audition with that, not the Amanda Mcdoom or other hifi recording recommended.
3. Match the amp and speakers. Have enough power and or efficency of speaker.
4. Know the room and place the speakers in at least two different configurations in the room.
5. Realize that what you like today, you will likely change in 2-6 months.
6-10 listed above

Davt, I confess -- guilty. Mea culpa, mea culpa. I often refer to my set-up as a rig. Where's Audiofiel when you need him??

Yes I have failed at #1 and #6

I have purchased stuff failing the #1 rule.
OFTEN.
I just want to try it out anyway.
Sometimes there are not even any reviews!! (the Audio research PH-2 was one such box I bought. I still have it and enjoy it.I watch for it and have only seen three here offered, and one of those I bought!)
Most of the time I have been happy with the item. Once I made a lot of money doing it(ARC SP-10), and another time i was unhappy and pissed about it, but WAS able to return it to dealer.(Bryston DAC)

For #6 I did it, and have to say I was young and stupid at the time.

The biggest things on turntable blunders are missing counterweight, or missing headshell. Run not walk away. (unless a universal headshell mountwhere you already have a headshell you have tried and it fits!!!)
A corollary of that is do not buy a non fully functional auto return turrntable!
My own Waterloo was buying two separate Garrard-LAB100 P.O.S. TTs to play around. (pretty much dirt cheap) They were soon tossed into a dumpster.
In thier infinite wisdom, With the LAB100 Garrard decided to make a product where if two parts together were good, 17 Rube-Goldbergesque were better. And they proved they were idiots with that design. Lucky for them the buyers spoke and they folded. What horrors they would have come up with if they had be able to continue.. I shudder...

So I admit I am not perfect either.
And my breaking one of my own rules?

LOL

Trusting the advice of "dealers" who you assume know what they are selling and how it is supposed to work.They will walk all over you until they squeeze the deal they want and won't stop until they intimidate and humiliate you into buying.Make sure you ask every question you can think of and drain every ounce of patience out of these weasels,then buy it used.Avoid dealers with names in the business like Ultimate,high end,upscale and the like.These guys should be selling cars.If they put you on hold hang up.If you are looking for advice see a priest,if you want to learn about audio make friends,join clubs,read and read and listen and listen.Never assume a dealer knows anything about audio because they sell it.