........ into a few other forums to get a feel of the market so to speak.
I find the level of 'discussion' to be quite vitriolic on the whole. There seems to be a willingness to include personalities in the arguments rather than just the arguments.
It all seems a bit like religion. Two or three sects who all use the same original story for their beliefs but have somehow drifted apart with all the copies of copies down the years.
It seems I picked the forum that suits me best by chance in the first place. I was amazed at the number of fora when I actually looked.
I won't get into the subjective / objective debate but even that seems a bit beyond my experience. I stopped buying hi-fi when it all started to sound like my guitars and piano did in real life. My main system (with one major change coming - ta Firebottle!!!) has now stayed the same for twenty years. If I play around, its with all the other bits and pieces just for fun. Most of those bits were free or very cheap and very seldom get switched on as I am usually in the music room if I get a spare hour or two.
I can't help but feel that the equipment has become a hobby in its own right and rather leaves out it prime purpose which is actually listening to music. The music is first second and third. Quite where the equipment comes I am not sure, but nowhere near the top of my list.
I have to admit lusting after some of the better looking gear around but that is about aesthetics and nothing to do with purpose
Anyway, I feel comfortable here and have deleted ALL the others from my favourites list!!
Happy listening