Confronting your own realities...

[Mike]

Ah!... I see Marco has edited his original post and made things a bit more complicated, several questions in there now!

Crafty bugger!

[aquapiranha]

Having read Marco's edited post, I would say that I like the music first and the hifi second. I can understand however why he might think there are those who obsess about the equipment more than is needed, but for my part I believe that it is possible to obtain / build stuff at a fraction of the cost of boutique gear without sacrificing quality.

[Marco]

Excellent replies so far, guys. I'll put forward some more thoughts later, and yes, John you're right!

In the meantime, I'd like people to give some serious thought to the second part of my opening post, which so far seems to be getting avoided...

I'd really like you to self-examine yourselves in this respect (and no, that doesn't mean fiddling with your balls)

How genuinely confident (and I stress the word) are you about your beliefs in hi-fi? Are you a staunchly objectivist testing and measurements boffin or an equally staunch subjectivist who trusts his or her ears implicitly - and most importantly given the thread title, do you become uncomfortable and defensive when someone of the opposite mindset robustly challenges your (often) ingrained beliefs and prejudices, or are you genuinely open-minded and always receptive to new ideas and willing to embrace change?

And here's the clincher... Would you be willing to admit that you may have made some mistakes in arriving at your current beliefs and so realise that they perhaps need some updating or reassessing?

Give it a go!

Marco.

[Mike]

In the meantime, I'd like people to give some serious thought to the second part of my opening post, which so far seems to be getting avoided

Err... because it wasn't there originally!

[aquapiranha]

"And here's the clincher... Would you be willing to admit that you may have made some mistakes in arriving at your current beliefs and so realise that they perhaps need some updating or reassessing?

Yes! I used to think that the higher the cost of an item the better it would sound and therefore the more you would enjoy music! -

Utter, utter tosh!!! I have heard some quite expensive gear that sounds dire, and some "budget" gear that sound fantastic. Of course, there is some pricey kit that sounds good, but if you can get the same for the fraction of the price then it seems to me all that is left is willy waving ( though as in the case of flash cars, such behaviour would in fact suggest you don't have a willy worth waving...)

[Marco]

Err... because it wasn't there originally!

LOL. That's why it pays to refresh the page now and then and see if anything new has been added

Btw, I'm surprised you didn't get Steve's earlier analogy. Normally you're quite a sharp cookie!

Marco.

[Mike]

Btw, I'm surprised you didn't get Steve's earlier analogy. Normally you're quite a sharp cookie!

I read it from DIY perspective coz that's my predilection and 'Badge Snobbery' is a foreign concept to me... Coz I'm relatively poor!

[Mike]

LOL. That's why it pays to refresh the page now and then and see if anything new has been added

And 'derrr'... I do, that's how I know you changed it numpty!

[Marco]

Yes! I used to think that the higher the cost of an item the better it would sound and therefore the more you would enjoy music! -

Hi Steve,

I get what you're saying and agree, but you've missed the point slightly. Allow me to explain better. This:

I used to think that the higher the cost of an item the better it would sound and therefore the more you would enjoy music!

is not your CURRENT belief. This is:

have heard some quite expensive gear that sounds dire, and some "budget" gear that sound fantastic. Of course, there is some pricey kit that sounds good, but if you can get the same for the fraction of the price then it seems to me all that is left is willy waving ( though as in the case of flash cars, such behaviour would in fact suggest you don't have a willy worth waving...)

The question I asked was aimed at those who consider that their current beliefs may need updating or reassessing. You're quite happy with yours.

Do you appreciate the distinction?

Basically, who's honest enough to confess that deep down they think that their current way of thinking is perhaps wrong, or more accurately not entirely right, but are too proud or stubborn to admit it! Yes, the Marco-boy loves tackling the thorny issues most people would happily sweep under the carpet

But that's what this forum is partly about: trying to make people stop and think and re-examine their beliefs!

Marco.

[Dave Cawley]

Guys

Does any of this really mater at all? Only if you are insecure, and then a therapist would be more use that an internet forum or Hi Fi Dealer?

I know people with bling systems who are, like, so happy, and why not? Leave them alone in their happiness. Rain and parade comes to mind.

Then there are DIY'ers, they are happy to, leave them to it?

Then the people here on this list, mostly happy and most listen to music.

There are unhappy people, who believe everything they read and hear, but I suspect they are not really into music at all. But hey, leave them alone too!

For those that do need help, then this list and a shed load of experts are here to help! (and thanks to Marco)

Before I was a dealer, my system stayed static for over 5 years at a time, only progress and a greater earning power made me change.

Cats and pigeons?

Dave