What makes this hobby so addictive?

CCNJ
CCNJ Posts: 384
edited February 2013 in The Clubhouse
First off, I have enjoyed music all my life...from listening to LPs on my first stereo, to cruising in cars with friends listening to to 8 tracks (showing my age), to first concerts, etc. There is something special about good music that allows us to forget life's daily grind and just get lost in the music. Listening the Dave Matthews right now and it sounds pretty freakin good!

All that aside, what makes us want to constantly pursue changes to our gear? Even when I am happy, I always question can it sound better, different, etc. Is it something about a connection to our past, boredom, human nature, etc.

Do you ever question what drives your audio decisions or do you just go with the flow? All I can say is I am very gratefully that I have an understanding wife that does not question my need to upgrade!!!!
Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
Post edited by CCNJ on
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited February 2013
    I'm still early on, but I feel like I toe the line pretty good about wanting to try new gear, but also being able to enjoy music on whatever I hear it on.

    Currently in heaven with a few new component upgrades, though so don't rain on my parade :cheesygrin:
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • CCNJ
    CCNJ Posts: 384
    edited February 2013
    You've got some nice gear there there so you should be in heaven! Enjoy.
    Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
    Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited February 2013
    CCNJ wrote: »
    You've got some nice gear there

    No, you do :wink:

    To your original point. I've always been one to dive into new hobbies pretty hard. Some of those hobbies are a phase and some stick.(i.e. 1950's bulova watch that I researched for almost a year...now it doesn't work and I don't wear it:cry:)

    Audio, however, seems to provide a bigger return on investment than most other hobbies. Music makes you feel...and music reproduced better allows you to feel even more. IMO anyway.

    Then it seems to be like a drug. Once you get used to the awesome sound of your new gear...you want to see what you can do to feel it even more and better.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • zarrdoss
    zarrdoss Posts: 2,562
    edited February 2013
    For me this has been a journey since I was 10 and not a particular destination, as it is for most of us I would assume. Its always driven by the "what if factor" thats what makes it so addictive for me. I have been on a two year hiatus but am getting back into it but wont do any upgrades or experimenting for a while yet still.
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  • CCNJ
    CCNJ Posts: 384
    edited February 2013
    hochpt21 wrote: »
    music reproduced better allows you to feel even more. IMO anyway.

    Couldn't agree more. I get really frustrated with good songs that are poorly recorded.
    Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
    Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
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  • CCNJ
    CCNJ Posts: 384
    edited February 2013
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    For me this has been a journey...and not a particular destination

    Agree.
    Rig1 - Totem Hawks, Benchmark HDR, Parasound A21, Sonus, Samsung 52 LCD, Audioquest Type4
    Rig2 - LFD LE IV Integrated, Harbeth P3ESR, Rega Dac, MF V-Link, IMAC, Audioquest Type4
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  • specd_out
    specd_out Posts: 505
    edited February 2013
    I dunno what causes it. But I have been bitten bad lately. I have upgraded all my IC to King Cobras, spiked some of my equipment, Purchased and refinished my lsi's, polished out my a5's played with sub tuning, got a spl meter and played with my HT calibration, started getting into flac and needle drops, created my listening room, and my most recent project is building acoustic panels because the acoustics in my new room sucks.

    What I do love about it is how sometimes the smallest and cheapest changes can make the biggest difference. I am always in search of finding that difference and when I do. I get so excited that I have to listen to all my favorite music all over again.
    HT Rig Samsung 64F8500 |Pioneer Elite BDP-52FD|Pioneer Elite VSX-32| Two Carver TFM-15cb Bridged for mains|Polk Audio RTiA5 Cherry|Polk Audio CsiA6 Cherry|Polk Audio T-15 Heights|Polk Audio FXia6 Surround|DIY 8cuft Dayton Ultimax 15" powered with a Crown XLS1000
    2Channel Rig Polk Audio LSi9 Cherry| Carver C-1BillD Mod|Carver M1.0t MkII Opt2|Pro-ject RM 1.3|SpeedBox S|AQ King Cobras|AQ Rocket88|
    ISF Level 2 Certified Calibrator
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  • Toolfan66
    Toolfan66 Posts: 17,224
    edited February 2013
    Because cocain is more expensive and they tell be its bad for my health. I need something to keep the devil inside busy..
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,194
    edited February 2013
    Music is a part of my family for generations. Polk is a part of my family for Generations. I come from a family of musicians.
    This hobby and in my case career , is my passion. I'm addicted to it as I just can't get enough. Many who have jobs the last thing they want to do when they come home is do anything that has anything to do with it. Mechanic's don't want to come home and work on their car , Electricians don't want to come home and work on the electrical system , Plumbers don't want to come home and fix the pipes etc , but I do. When I'm bored ,I'll pull out all my gear , clean all my shelves and re arrange it just so it looks different. I'm always thinking about the next move.

    I've always loved electronics , even when I was a kid I would take apart anything electronic just to see what was inside.
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,957
    edited February 2013
    Chicks man....chicks.

    Chicks dig me and my big speakers. :cheesygrin:
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,008
    edited February 2013
    The smell of new gear!
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2013
    tonyb wrote: »
    Chicks man....chicks.

    Chicks dig me and my big speakers. :cheesygrin:

    Agreed; I'm in it for the chicks.
    Jake
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  • hochpt21
    hochpt21 Posts: 5,423
    edited February 2013
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Because cocain is more expensive and they tell be its bad for my health. I need something to keep the devil inside busy..

    Ha...truth.
    2 ChannelTurntable - VPI Classic 2/Ortofon 2M BlueAmplification - Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, Parks Audio Budgie PhonoSpeakers - GoldenEar Triton 17.2 Home TheaterDenon AVR-X3300W; Rotel RMB-1066; Klipsch RP-280F's, Klipsch RP-450C, Polk FXi3's, Polk RC60i; Dual SVS PB 2000's; BenQ HT2050; Elite Screens 120"Man CaveTurntable - Pro-Ject 2.9 Wood/Grado GoldAmplification - Dared SL2000a, McCormack DNA 0.5 DeluxeCD: Cambridge AudioSpeakers - Wharfedale Linton 85th Anniversary; LSiM 703; SDA 2A
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited February 2013
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Because cocain is more expensive..

    Which equipment are you using?!? :lol:
    Jake
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    edited February 2013
    From LP's to eight tracks to now and the future...evolution dude...evolution !
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  • Tornado Red
    Tornado Red Posts: 939
    edited February 2013
    Nice thread CCNJ. Perhaps it’s partly because (I’ll just speak for me here) I’m obsessive/compulsive about things I’m “into”, this applies to work as well for me. I’ve always liked the music/video marriage since 1974 when I soldered a second speaker to my 20” Electrohome. Today I collect concert blu-rays, an extension of how I felt all those years ago. I think most people are into whatever hobby they enjoy for the “reward”. I like what hoch said, this one makes you “feel”. That means to me that the reward is an emotional one. It gets under your skin and won’t let go, it becomes part of your character makeup. New gear pushes that feeling forward, at least in me. New stuff to play on that gear too. I recently started collecting SACDs and check my mailbox gleefully everyday to see if the next one has arrived. Next month, a new AVR. It never ends, you buy something new, and the next weak link is exposed. And I know it. Did I mention I’m obsessive/compulsive already?
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  • drselect
    drselect Posts: 664
    edited February 2013
    CCNJ wrote: »
    All that aside, what makes us want to constantly pursue changes to our gear? Even when I am happy, I always question can it sound better, different, etc. Is it something about a connection to our past, boredom, human nature, etc.

    Club Polk.
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  • rromeo923
    rromeo923 Posts: 1,513
    edited February 2013
    I have always loved music and always will. However, I went through most of my life happy as can be with low-fi, mid-fi equipment. Then a few years ago I bought a pair of Polk Monitor 7's. I was interested in there history and found this forum. Then I found out about SDA's and then upgrades and mods etc. Then I had to have a decent amp to push the SDA's. Then I found out about tubes. Anyway I went a little crazy and at one point I had about 15 pairs of speakers and a few amps, preamps etc. I am finally at a point where I am pretty happy with my set up and and can just listen to music for the sake of enjoying the music. I am sure my set up will change slightly down the road but for now my case of Upgraditis is in remission. What a fun ride it has been. Thank you POLK Audio and Polk Forum!!
    I got static in my head
    The reflected sound of everything
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  • polrbehr
    polrbehr Posts: 2,830
    edited February 2013
    Sitting in my chair listening to Brothers In Arms SACD does it for me.
    So, are you willing to put forth a little effort or are you happy sitting in your skeptical poo pile?


    http://audiomilitia.proboards.com/
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,422
    edited February 2013
    Toolfan66 wrote: »
    Because cocaine is more expensive.I need something to keep the devil inside busy..

    Isn't that the truth.:mrgreen:
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited February 2013
    1. DarqueKnight's write-ups about how to improve the sound of your system.
    2. Similar write-ups by others on the Forum who communicate their experimentation and results, as well as offer generous advice to other who wan to follow in their footsteps.
    3. Trey at Vr3 Mods, who will do excellent work at a reasonable price for those of us who do not have the skills and knowledge to do our own mods.

    Oh, yes, there is the addictive nature of hearing things get better and better with each incremental mod or improvement!
    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited February 2013
    I have a slightly different take on this since I'm "really" not looking for some perfect sounding or Holy Grail system or forever upgrading to what? I do change out gear, buy new speakers and amps, etc., but mostly because I'm curious about the "differences". It's kinda like putting on different clothes for different occasions, or changing styles over the years.

    I like "variety". Heck, currently, one of my most listened to systems is NOT even the "best" I have but it just sounds right most of the time (HK 430 and Dynaco A25 and a cheap **** single player Sony CDP from the mid nineties that has NO right to sound this good. Bought for 9 bucks!).

    When I feel like some tubes, I fire those up. When I want to listen to an old LP so that it reminds me of what I heard in the '70s, it's the old Realistic system that gets called up. lol

    High end? The Ultimate! The Best! All "relative" terms, highly subjective and filled with nostalgic memories for anyone older! Yet I appreciate every system I heard at PolkFests and at fellow Polkie's houses. Often eye opening as well as ear opening. Hey, in the end, it's a hobby, remember those, as a kid? Collecting things and enjoying them?

    I have pieces that some would consider "junk" and others that are respectable. Do I care? Not really, because it's all "different", and that's the "word"!

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
    [sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash]
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited February 2013
    tonyb wrote: »
    Chicks man....chicks.

    Chicks dig me and my big speakers. :cheesygrin:

    Tony can you tell me what system you have put together that brings these chicks as I have yet to see one....


    Always have loved music and grew up playing it. Just wanted to get music to sound like the real thing and started small and now have what I have and always want to try something new. Everything sounds different so enjoying that makes it fun. Also when doing work at home or studying I always have music going on in the background. Just something I've done since a young age and want to make sure I enjoy it to the max!
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  • gudnoyez
    gudnoyez Posts: 8,114
    edited February 2013
    I blame club Polk bought my RTiA5's and A'3s and the rest of my Polk HT gear. I joined after registering my stuff heard about the SDA'S, since joining have added 3 pairs of SDA's to the speaker collection a couple of Adcom Amps and Pre Amps. They were not kidding when the members said welcome to the Forum, be prepared to open the wallet and enter the Rabbit Hole. I love SDA'S and most of my other speakers are currently being neglected.
    Home Theater
    Parasound Halo A 31 OnkyoTX-NR838 Sony XBR55X850B 55" 4K RtiA9 Fronts CsiA6 Center RtiA3 Rears FxiA6 Side Surrounds Dual Psw 111's Oppo 105D Signal Ultra Speaker Cables & IC's Signal Magic Power Cable Technics SL Q300 Panamax MR4300 Audioquest Chocolate HDMI Cables Audioquest Forest USB Cable

    2 Channel
    Adcom 555II Vincent SA-T1 Marantz SA 15S2 Denon DR-M11 Clearaudio Bluemotion SDA 2.3tl's (Z) edition MIT Terminator II Speaker Cables & IC's Adcom 545II Adcom Gtp-450 Marantz CD5004 Technics M245X SDA 2B's, SDA CRS+

    Stuff for the Head
    JD LABS C5 Headphone Amplifier, Sennheiser HD 598, Polk Audio Buckle, Polk Audio Hinge, Velodyne vPulse, Bose IE2, Sennheiser CX 200 Street II, Sennheiser MX 365

    Shower & Off the beaten path Rigs
    Polk Audio Boom Swimmer, Polk Audio Urchin B)
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