Starting a high-end audio shop... Am I crazy?

Keep day job, start business on Internet first. Learn tricks of trade, establish contacts with manufacturers, test the Internet with good marketing to see what will be the reaction to your new business.
If the reaction is good, quit your job. After 2 years establishing income on the internet, take another look into opening a retail location. Better still, build a dedicated room and work from home to keep your overhead lower.

To answer your question - yes you are, if you do what you are suggesting.

Listen to Elizabeth and Bryanhod, then use all the time you will save by not doing this to enjoy your music, your family, your friends, and whatever else you do to relax and have fun. The fantasy will not be worth your savings and your sanity.

If you have to try something new, think about something different you can do within your field of expertise that would be challenging and exciting for you. Good luck.

As a previous owner of a failed "passion" business, I would advise against it. The passion gets dilluted and the financial reality hits hard. Then again, if I hadn't tried I might always have wondered what might have been. And if I had succeeded, I certainly would have no regrets.

I have seen a number of High-End audio shops 'open-struggle-fail'. These were good people trying to serve the public with a great passion for the business. Keep your job and be thankful that you have the means to enjoy your hobby and know where your next meal is coming from!

I recall facing this turning point in my life several years ago. I was contemplating a retail establishment. At the time I was approaching my 50's wanting desperaltely to be self fullfilled from an endeavor created by myself for myself and family. As I talked it over with my wife, family and friends some key points stood out.
1 A business start up usually takes 3-5 yrs to be profitable.
2 During those yrs. someone has to mind the store, if it's not you, you have to pay someone to do it.
3 You'll have countless expenses without income.
4 Unless your very well healed you could create a financial strain at home putting your marriage to the test.
5 Then there is the physcological strain from dealing with all of it.

Myself and my wife decided with retirement so close to invest in real estate. We have several rental houses in an area thats ready to explode with growth opportunities. You do not have to babysit this business. There is no financial stress as it is profitable now. We'e avoided the phycological complexities by making a better decision (for us). Now in our early fifties we are entertaining the thought of early retirement. So we esentially postponed our endeavors of what we thought would be instant gratification to creating an income that would support our golden years allowing us to fullfill those endeavors in different ways. Wishing you the best!