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General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

If you're not with us, you're

sane. So relax. Half of what audiophiles are CERTAIN THEY HEAR, well, they do hear, but it's the result of tiny little receptors in their brain affected by small but potent amounts of endorphines and dopamine.

Your brain can affect greatly how you enjoy what it is you are enjoying.

Yesterday, I put my frozen yogurt bowl on three tippy-toe spikes and I had a raspberry sorbet experience that was out of this world. Of course, it tasted better as the spikes were cooling down. And one time? At band camp? I smooched a girl and it was nice, but when I smooched her after she was popular it was a mind blowing experience - same girl, same lips.

If it sounds better, whether causes of the better sound are real or imagined, then it still sounds better. If you try to fight this, you've already lost. Accept it or leave it alone. I've accepted it and doing so has saved my sanity - even changed how I view this crazy hobby.

My personal bent is to find "hidden gems" (cheap gear that sounds good) rather than try and find "synergetic top shelf items" - high end gear that doesn't play well with others requiring many purchases, exchanges and audiogon money losing propositions. Hidden gems for a few hundred that sound pretty darned good have AMAZING placebo affect. Conversely, components costing thousands that sound "just good" are a HORRIBLE value! That's why guys dabbling in top shelf stuff seem to replace gear so often. For $50K, that stereo had better give you full body... goose bumps or SOMETHING.

For the people with loads of cash a/b comparing 10,000 cables? GOOD FOR YOU for being smart enough to get rich and then spending your wads of sweaty money on high-end audio instead of a gold digging woman or 7 litre environmentally disastrous sports cars! My hat is off to you!

I'm enjoying music too much to be an audiophile anymore. I still like you crazy nuts and come around though. Just don't take me seriously. Ever. I might have you rolling your cables out of 20-cent-per-food telephone cable or using 10 cent bolts as tippy toes - this will create mass confusion between your ear-brain-wallet sonic relationship.

There is no placebo effect like the DIY placebo effect.

Find me a guy who modded something who then came online and said "That crossover rewire I did SUCKED (or made no difference) so I am pulling it all out and restoring the original!!" You won't. Ever.

Do DIY. Buy cheap "hidden gem" gear. Admit you're crazy. But be crazy on a budget. Using home equity loans to fund this hobby is beyond crazy - it's just insane. Be nuts on the cheap like me. I have pricey stuff sitting on the shelf collecting dust. It's so strange.

Cheers,
Presto



Edits: 05/03/12 05/03/12 05/03/12

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