Perfectionist Audio

All my life I suppose my own audio journey has been more defined by my own lack of funds at almost any point along the way. Not that it bothered me all that much. To pass the time when saving up for this or that piece of gear, I read. Actually, I read and then read and then read some more. I was financially never in a position to develope any of the attitudes or sensibilities of the self-described "insane box swappers" out there, but wound up crossing scores of would-be system solutions that I'd dreamed up off the list I'd been making ever since I'd first bought my speakers for my current system back in 1990. But, to me it's always been a matter of reaching certain sonic goals - once I can say to myself that's been to done to the degree I've been missing for so long, I aparently just don't see all that much reason to go very much further with it. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that I've since married and have a son to raise, but I'd managed to have gotten far enough along gear-wise before all that happened that I didn't even feel all that compromised on that front, really.

But, for example, I recently had enough money to throw at my system to have the opportunity to replace my $1200 amps with $2200 amps, and you know what?? While going through the motions, I realized that all of my amp goals were so effectively being met with the ones I have, that I really just didn't want to mess with success - something that, perhaps for the first time with me, was just a little different than the usual 'but-will-it-rilly-sound-any-better' angst that goes along with upgrading.

I'm all for system improvement. And my system is not yet complete in my eyes. But, I DO forsee a day in which it effectively WILL be (and no one will be happier for me to turn in my HiFi-nut badge and to go back to being just another music lover - but, with a huge grin plastered on my face - than me...unless it's my wife, of course).

At what point did it all turn into perfectionism? Dunno exactly, but I'm betting that the combination of marketing trends over the last couple of decades or so and the reliance by all on the internet have conspired to make for audiophiles who are either less willing, or less likely, to be as decisive about their overall pursuit any more - the internet never sleeps. I guess the pursuit of perfectionist audio, for those who have the time and money for it, is ok...I guess. But, in the end, it's as alien to my sensibilities as I suppose it is to yours - but, a sign of the times, it looks like. Regards. John

The Absolute Sound has always had the 'absolute sound' as it's goal.
So no suprise they restate it in some similar terms.
The issue to me is the audio itself is perfect vs the perfectionist 'person'??
So I would tend to question the manner in which they restated the idea. The line could be confusoing.

I second Ivan's POV and Elizabeth's as well.

It's been difficult, financially, to assemble what I want which led to the 'read, read, read' part of the equation, which led to a kind of enlightenment coupled with a temperament and discipline, of sorts. Seeing that I'd never achieve what I thought I wanted led to my settling for what I could afford: the old fox and the sour grapes. It was only then that I realized that component wise, I really can't do better save for the occasional tweak.

Now that I've gotten the video bug and been researching LEDs and Plasmas, I've not gotten the chance to listen to my system for about a week and a half so I put on some music and was blissfully floored by what I heard. It's all still there, but it took a sabbatical, of sorts, for me to appreciate. During the time off I barely paid attention to review sites like this one and that was all it took to break the spell, for now (that enchantress is always at work).

As pointed out, it's one thing to read about the perfect piece of equipment, another to need it. Reviewers needs to keep up is fine and good and so is the passenger aspect for the rest of us. What we all need to do is separate ourselves from the process and know when to exit the ride. We've already paid our fare, so it's time to move on and enjoy the music.

There will always be another, we can only have one, at a time. We must be faithful to our choices lest we get distracted and loose site of the music.

All the best,
Nonoise

since components are imperfect, perfectionist audio is unattainable.