The Finish Line

[jdandy]

This past year has seen me purchase no audio gear and no audio tweaks. What's amused me the most is I have no desire to spend any additional money on audio gear. That's quite a change for me. I haven't lost interest in the hobby and I still purchase new music but there isn't one audio component or tweak that has moved me to consider a purchase.

I think my state of mind takes into account several things. The first is I am completely satisfied with the audio performance of my systems. The various audio components and speakers that have graced my home during the past five or six years have been many. Each has been a fine performer during its time in my systems but my quest continued until I finally arrived at the gear mix I presently own. I am truly pleased with the two systems I enjoy daily.

The second thing that has impacted my audio purchase sabbatical has been my reflection on the diminishing returns delivered as one moves up the tiers of high-end equipment. It is extremely expensive to continuously search for some elusive advance in performance at ever increasing cost. The ratio of performance versus value grows tinier while prices approach stratospheric levels. I probably could have been equally as happy with previous systems and had considerably more savings had I settled down three or four years back. I certainly don't regret continuing my journey to this point but deciding exactly where the end zone is located seems like a worthy thing to consider, especially since we all know so well there is no real end to what is available and dangled before us in high-end audio.

And finally, I sat down with a list of gear I have owned during the past 45+ years since purchasing my first McIntosh MC30 mono amps in 1968 and put numbers to them. The total was a bit startling in that it exceeded $300K. That's a healthy number in anyone's book. Granted, I did not relinquish that amount all at once, more like sand through an hour glass, but it never really stopped until last year. I don't lament any purchase. The equipment was a pleasure to own, an education for me in many ways, and brought hours upon hours of enjoyment into my life. None the less, in retrospect I think I could have been pleased and entertained for far less expense throughout these years. Sometimes I have difficulty controlling my enthusiasm for something I enjoy. It seems to be my nature. I have overindulged myself far more than necessary in a number of interests, not just audio.

I understand why I see some estates of those who have passed away that include sound systems that have been in their families for a generation or more. Those owners built sound systems that pleased them and then simply stepped off the merry-go-round to enjoy what they built. I have finally arrived at that place. I won't say never when it comes to something new because I don't know what the future holds, but for now I think I have discovered my audio journey's finish line.

[quinlanmw]

Originally Posted by jdandy

... but for now I think I have discovered my audio journey's finish line.

Congratulations, Dan...it must feel like getting a handsome raise, unusual for a retired guy...

On my own journey I have identified what my finish line looks like although I'm not sure I can actually see it out there in the distance. I'll continue my slow crawl towards it...I just hope I'll be able to hear it when I get there!

[audio bill]

Dan - While in forums like this we typically congratulate fellow members when they acquire a new piece of gear, I offer you my sincere congratulations for reaching such a point of satisfaction with your systems. Being an admitted equipment junkie myself, I often have to remind myself that the music is what it's really all about. While I enjoy researching and ultimately purchasing new gear, similar to you I can recall some components that I've had over the years that I could probably have happily lived with forever. As long as we operate within our means this obsession is nowhere near as damaging as many other vices out there. However reaching a point where you are truly happy with the performance level of your system and the enjoyment it provides should probably be the goal for more of us. You have the good sense to realize that you may have reached that point, so now you can sit back and enjoy the music that you love without continually worrying about what change you should make next. So again my hat is off to you, but I'm still on the roller coaster since I enjoy the ride as well, as costly as it can be. As they say, you only live once!

[Robert_Anderson]

Originally Posted by audio bill

Dan - While in forums like this we typically congratulate fellow members when they acquire a new piece of gear, I offer you my sincere congratulations for reaching such a point of satisfaction with your systems. Being an admitted equipment junkie myself, I often have to remind myself that the music is what it's really all about. While I enjoy researching and ultimately purchasing new gear, similar to you I can recall some components that I've had over the years that I could probably have happily lived with forever. As long as we operate within our means this obsession is nowhere near as damaging as many other vices out there. However reaching a point where you are truly happy with the performance level of your system and the enjoyment it provides should probably be the goal for more of us. You have the good sense to realize that you may have reached that point, so now you can sit back and enjoy the music that you love without continually worrying about what change you should make next. So again my hat is off to you, but I'm still on the roller coaster since I enjoy the ride as well, as costly as it can be. As they say, you only live once!

Agreed - we can learn a lot about enjoying what we have and not getting lost in the pursuit of ownership. Unfortunately, I am not there yet, but wish I were.

[prepress]

It's an interesting perspective you offer. I was actually okay with my system for quite some time. Now, the current setup has only three hold-overs from the previous one, the laserdisc player, speakers and turntable.

What I note is that if I don't expose myself to audio for a bit, the urge to buy or research anything goes away or diminishes greatly. Beginning with my purchase of a TV in 2008, a series of replacements/upgrades ensued; only one was necessary as it replaced a failed component (a VPI SDS replacing its non-functioning predecessor). I haven't bought any gear since 2013 though I stop and start on many things, bomb myself with research and consideration of various speakers, blu-ray players, preamps and, most recently, interconnects. But if I stop, exhale, and actually consider where I am, it's not that bad.

I can't afford to make this a hobby (literally), and the treadmill of replacement/upgrade isn't one it makes sense to get on, much less stay on. I was happy way back when I had only an entry-level turntable, receiver and speakers and was ignorant of high-end audio. I may still get around to replacing a power cord or two, but that's for consistency and not for some real or imagined sound upgrade.

Congratulations on getting to an "off-ramp."

[Masterlu]

Who are you, and what have you done with our good friend Dan?

[Mikado463]

Congrats Dan, I too am off the equipment 'merry-go-round'. It's been two years for me since my last purchase (ARC LS-27). I am once again enjoying my music like I did when I was young and not obsessing over the 'gear'. I see (hear) way too many folks listening to their gear as opposed to the music and I for one think there is something lost in that.

Now, if I could only curb my shotgun buying appetite !

[audio bill]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Who are you, and what have you done with our good friend Dan?

I think he's just enjoying the tunes!

[mchydro]

Originally Posted by Masterlu

Who are you, and what have you done with our good friend Dan?

He's transferred his old spending ways to me! Lol

Dan, your systems are truly amazing! I hope you will continue to enjoy what you have built. You should be proud of what you have accomplished. If you are indeed done with purchases, what tremendous systems you brought to the finish line!

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by audio bill

I think he's just enjoying the tunes!

He is just one visit to me away from getting the LuFlu