Equipment Comparisons and Box Swapping. The Bane of HI-Fi!

[walpurgis]

You know how it is. You have a system that gives you what you like and want and you're happy..............for a while.

Then you read a great review or hear another piece of equipment and the doubts start. It may be something you've heard at a friend's place or at a dealer's, so you decide you really want to try one (whatever it is).

You buy said component and all is well (hopefully) to start with, then you suspect the new item is highlighting a suspected weakness in something else and that will now need changing, so the pattern starts developing. You think you are moving forward and have your targets set, but largely, you are in 'the equipment loop'!!! Change for the sake of change, endlessly.

Sometimes, a real eye opener of a component comes along and that stays.............for a bit longer, until doubts and niggles start setting in once more. As they will of course, because you become jaded and complacent and start to suspect expectations are possibly not being met, even if the system is sounding absolutely brilliant!


There is no cure! :eek:

[Primalsea]

Yeah, These days I tend to not change anything for a while and see how I feel about getting anything new for a few months, years even sometimes. I think that no system is perfect as no system can do everything that you want, or think you want. There will always be something you can convince yourself needs “fixing” and when you do fix it something else gets compromised.

[nonuffin]

Very true Geoff.

But, I know of very few other moments in life where grabbing that low priced "bargain" off ebay after a fierce bidding war and the thrill when the courier rings the doorbell to deliver the result, providing the next big adrenaline rush. It does have a downside though, when that eagerly awaited gem turns out to be a lemon.

Those that stick to one system for many years are missing out there on those kind of addictive fixes.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I've not box swapped in ages! I mainly seem to be upgrading what I already own ( which I suppose is something similar).

[Macca]

I've not box swapped in ages! I mainly seem to be upgrading what I already own ( which I suppose is something similar).

You're still in stage one: Denial ;)

[walpurgis]

You're still in stage one: Denial ;)

Yes. The shame and embarrassment are hard to face up to. But there is help available. Just unburden yourself, crate up the offending gear and forward it to me. You know it makes sense (Rodney :))! :lol:

[Mike Reed]

You're still in stage one: Denial ;)

Beware the crocodiles in denial.

I'm not sure if this is a sign of lack of synergy, not imbibing enough or simply a characteristic craving which will never be satisfied. Upgrades on a theme are okay and perceivable, but don't generally last as the ear attunes. Completely changing horses though, despite the risk, can bring a totally different appreciation which can last a long time.

Despite all this, there's always something to tempt a committed audiophile; otherwise you just ain't one !

[Edward]

You know how it is. You have a system that gives you what you like and want and you're happy..............for a while.

Then you read a great review or hear another piece of equipment and the doubts start. It may be something you've heard at a friend's place or at a dealer's, so you decide you really want to try one (whatever it is).

You buy said component and all is well (hopefully) to start with, then you suspect the new item is highlighting a suspected weakness in something else and that will now need changing, so the pattern starts developing. You think you are moving forward and have your targets set, but largely, you are in 'the equipment loop'!!! Change for the sake of change, endlessly.

Sometimes, a real eye opener of a component comes along and that stays.............for a bit longer, until doubts and niggles start setting in once more. As they will of course, because you become jaded and complacent and start to suspect expectations are possibly not being met, even if the system is sounding absolutely brilliant!


There is no cure! :eek:

Of course there is a cure. Just get lots of HiFi items and then simply keep swapping them around for an almost unlimited variation in sounds. :eyebrows:

[Macca]

I'm at stage 5: Acceptance. As long as I can afford it, I don't care anymore. It's fun and I hardly ever sell anything so I can always go back to what I had before if I decide I don't like the latest thing. That's the plus. The minus is the house is full of the bloody stuff. Makes me laugh when people say they are selling their cds to 'free up some space'. Yay! An extra cubic foot of room! Wouldn't even scratch the surface here.

[walpurgis]

At a time far in the future, your neighbours will realise they've not seen you for some years. The police will break the door down and after clambering over a wall of what will by then be vintage classic Hi-Fi gear. Your skeletal remains will be found in an armchair, surrounded by beer cans and take away cartons, in front of banks of Krell amps and huge Tannoys! :D

Of course, similar will happen with Audio Al. (where is he lately?)

[nonuffin]

Your skeletal remains will be found in an armchair, surrounded by beer cans and take away cartons, in front of banks of Krell amps and huge Tannoys!

You forgot to mention the immense mountain of hi-fi magazines dating back to the 1970's :D

[Primalsea]

I'm at stage 5: Acceptance. As long as I can afford it, I don't care anymore. It's fun and I hardly ever sell anything so I can always go back to what I had before if I decide I don't like the latest thing. That's the plus. The minus is the house is full of the bloody stuff. Makes me laugh when people say they are selling their cds to 'free up some space'. Yay! An extra cubic foot of room! Wouldn't even scratch the surface here.

I don’t know what stage I would be. I’ve just some new speakers, but they were not a lot of money and I had been searching for a pair for a long time. Usually when I get the urge to buy something I have a splurge on music instead.

[Macca]

You forgot to mention the immense mountain of hi-fi magazines dating back to the 1970's :D

No only the 1980s. It is still a mountain though. Or would be if I were to make them into one. A bit like that bloke in 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind' does with his mashed potatoes.

[Joe]

Actually it's dead easy to cure this particular addiction; just stop reading hifi mags/visiting forums/walking past hifi shops. Or lose all your money on the horses.

[George47]

At a time far in the future, your neighbours will realise they've not seen you for some years. The police will break the door down and after clambering over a wall of what will by then be vintage classic Hi-Fi gear. Your skeletal remains will be found in an armchair, surrounded by beer cans and take away cartons, in front of banks of Krell amps and huge Tannoys! :D

Of course, similar will happen with Audio Al. (where is he lately?)

Yea, he died happy and with a big grin on his face :)

[Ninanina]

I guess I've done quite a bit of box swapping over time but I did use the AN Oto for about 8 years along with the AN Dac and either Heresy, Rega RS3's or LV's so I guess that's not too bad

My latest is a Naim setup used with either LV's or the Maggies and I'm just as happy with the sound as I was with the AN, it's just different :)