What's the story...

[Macca]

Hi Sean,

Thanks for sharing your (carefully considered) thoughts earlier, particularly this, which I think is quite insightful:



The bit in bold, for me, says it all - and if you *truly* mean that, then you've arrived in happy place my friend!

An out of control Hi-fi addiction, for me, is a form of neurosis. It can seriously (and adversely) affect your wellbeing and state of mind (not to mention bank balance), and unfortunately forums such as this are populated by its victims, and indirectly probably also help create it!

The main problem is, males in general are prone to (often unhealthy) bouts of competitiveness, involving any activities that they're interested in or passionate about, which includes hi-fi!

Therefore, the desire to 'show off' their systems to others of a similar mindset, and try to 'beat' them, by proving that theirs sounds better [how 'bakeoffs' were born], is powerful and controlling, and it can be destructive in all sorts of ways, mentally and/or financially, and crucially also in causing the breakdown of relationships. I know of instances where that's sadly been the case.

For me, of all the box-swappers I've seen on forums and also met over the years, IMO, only Jerry hasn't allowed his 'hi-fi addiction' (or more in his case, his hobby) to control him, negatively impact on his life or erode his love of music. Others who qualify as 'box-swappers' may *think* that's the case, but are clearly victims of a genuine hi-fi addiction - and they have a serious problem too, which in some cases has spiralled out of control and needs addressing ASAP.

The key to ensuring that your (healthy) hobby doesn't turn into a destructive addiction, is in *some point* reaching the realisation that the equipment/boxes are simply a means to an end, and that that end is enjoying your favourite music, either yourself or with your partner/friends or family, with your system producing a sound that you can RELAX with, and not sit there analysing (for faults).

You acknowledge its sonic limitations, as all hi-fi systems have, but those are easily overridden by how the sound connects you emotionally with the music, and turns the whole listening exercise into one that's stress-free and enjoyable, which you look forward to participating in every day, instead of being a chore and fraught with stress and ultimately disappointment, no matter how much you try and convince yourself differently!

Anyway, I'm glad that you're in a happy place now and hope that what I've written may make some folks stop and think...

Marco.

Don't even know where to start with this.


I think you're confusing people who are constantly changing kit chasing rainbows with people (like me, Jerry, Roy and a few others) who like to try different equipment just out of curiosity and for fun. I'm actually more of a box hoarder then a box swapper as I rarely sell anything.


Anyone who ends up with hifi having a 'negative impact' on their lives has issues that would probably impact them heavily regardless of being into hi-fi or not.


Some of us do not regard hi-fi as simply 'means to an end' and are interested in the equipment just for the sake of it. It's a hobby. There's nothing intrinsically negative about it. In any case getting 'neurotic' about your hi-fi system is clearly a first world problem for people whose lives are so perfect they've got nothing more serious to worry about.


That aside the 'competition' element is interesting. Yeah I've heard better systems than mine but never thought of it as a competition and I'm the competitive type. Usually they've spent a shedload of money to get where they are and my only thought is 'I wonder if I could get that same sound on the cheap?' Which is a good incentive to learn about how the equipment works, how sound reproduction works and so on in order to facilitate that.


And other people's opinions - I've had people come round and say 'your system sounds really good' whilst I'm thinking 'No, I think it's got a long way to go yet.' A friend once said to me 'You're just tinkering round the edges now.' - Since then every component in the system has been replaced at least twice or three times!


And finally why is spending money on more equipment bad but spending it on more music is good? Like I need 5000 albums which I won't have enough time left in my life to get round to listening to. I had a friend, now long gone who had several hundred albums still in the wrappers when he died because he bought them compulsively and his listening could not keep up.

[Joe]

That aside the 'competition' element is interesting. Yeah I've heard better systems than mine but never thought of it as a competition and I'm the competitive type.

I'm not even the competitive type. I'm a sort of very slow box-swapper. Every few years I get bored with what I've got and monkey around with new/different stuff. I bought an 'end-of' pre/power/CDP combination 21 years ago. 15 years or so back, I decided to try a passive pre and valve power amp; then about 6 years ago I got fed up with the multiple boxes, sold the valve set-up and bought an integrated DAC/amp.

I've still got the solid state pre/power/CDP system that was displaced by the valve system in the top room and it still sounds great, so I guess you could say I should have just stuck with that and saved myself lots of time and effort. (I've also tried a variety of speakers, but have bought and sold these as I've gone along, so have only ever had two pairs in the house).

[Macca]

I'm not even the competitive type. I'm a sort of very slow box-swapper. Every few years I get bored with what I've got and monkey around with new/different stuff. I bought an 'end-of' pre/power/CDP combination 21 years ago. 15 years or so back, I decided to try a passive pre and valve power amp; then about 6 years ago I got fed up with the multiple boxes, sold the valve set-up and bought an integrated DAC/amp.

.

Didn't you get one of those Devaliet things? You do know that you are supposed to go round the forums tut-tutting at all of us still using half a dozen boxes to make sound and wondering aloud about the inconvenience and clutter of 'legacy systems'? I think it's on page 37 of the manual. Somewhere near the back anyway.

[Marco]

I think you're confusing people who are constantly changing kit chasing rainbows with people (like me, Jerry, Roy and a few others) who like to try different equipment just out of curiosity and for fun.

Firstly, I'm not confusing anything. I'm simply commenting on the subject, based on my experiences, and relating how it has *directly affected people I know*, and so stand by every word I wrote. Interesting that you thought I was referring to you... Did you think you fitted the profile?

I can assure you that you weren't in my mind, and neither was Roy. Jerry, I've already discussed. We've known each other for years, I've met him a few times and visited him at his home, so by now I'd like to think I've got a reasonable handle on his 'hi-fi habits'. However, he's free to correct me if I'm wrong!

This is rather like the recent discussion on retirement... There's nothing wrong with anything, *if* you ENJOY doing it, and it's FUN, hence why I've highlighted the above. Therefore, whether you're working into your dotage doing a job you love, or dicking around with hi-fi gear for the same length of time, and you can afford it and it MAKES YOU HAPPY, there is no argument.

My argument here, as indeed it was on the retirement/pension thread, solely refers to the behaviour of those who claim to be doing something that they enjoy, as you've outlined, BUT deep down are far from happy or having fun. And trust me, in terms of hi-fi enthusiasts, there are plenty of them about. I've met them not only on forums, but in real life at bakeoffs, hi-fi shows, and sold to them when I worked in the industry, so they *do* exist.

Also, you're right, hoarding excessive collections of records or CDs, or any other form of physical music media, largely for the sake of it and gaining no real pleasure from the exercise, is just as bad as doing the same with hi-fi equipment. It doesn't matter WHAT it is you're collecting or doing. If it's no longer fun, and worse causing you financial hardship or affecting your marriage/relationship, then it's time to think about stopping and doing something else!

Anyway, Sean's Gallery thread isn't really the place for this sort of discussion, so we should leave it there. I only commented, as I did, because Sean had indulged in a little introspection, which appeared to have been beneficial for him, as he's now in a happy place, when once he wasn't, and I think that others could learn from his experience

Marco.

[Macca]

Well there was this bit:

For me, of all the box-swappers I've seen on forums and also met over the years, IMO, only Jerry hasn't allowed his 'hi-fi addiction' (or more in his case, his hobby) to control him, negatively impact on his life or erode his love of music.
.

[Marco]

Ha - well, I've never really thought of you as a box-swapper, certainly not in Jerry's league!

And by your own admission:

I'm actually more of a box hoarder then a box swapper as I rarely sell anything.

So which one would you like to be known as from now on?

Marco.

[Macca]

Either, I'm not fussy.

[Marco]

Then I think I'll just stick with daftee!!



Marco.

[Audio Al]

Then I think I'll just stick with daftee!!



Marco.

Cough Thats me , We can't have 2 daftee's

[Marco]

No your status has been elevated to the rarified and honourable position of 'Super-daftee', as you've well earned that title... Martin, in comparison, is just playing at it, so is merely a 'daftee'!

Marco.