If you could travel back in time, what would you tell yourself as a young audiophile?

[Another Johnson]

Dont people from the south all have bookshelve speakers ?
What else fits in a trailer

Shows how ignorant the Europeans are about the US.

Do you really think that people are leaving NY and LA to live in trailers? Or even sub par houses?

And yes, I “get the stereotypical humor.” I was raised in the northeast. I left 52 year ago. I would. NEVER go back. I don’t even feel safe visiting anymore.

 

[Another Johnson]

When I came to the South in 1973, a joke circulated to describe Northerners (aka Carpetbaggers).

A Yankee is a person who visits from the North.

A damn Yankee is a person who visits, likes it, and stays.

A GD Yankee is a person who visits, stays; and marries a Southern woman.

At that time, the South was known politically as “The Solid South.” The South always voted in support of Democrats.

Stuff changes.

The first time my wife and I visited New England, she commented “These people seem very bitter and unhappy.” She was perceptive.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Shows how ignorant the Europeans are about the US.

Do you really think that people are leaving NY and LA to live in trailers? Or even sub par houses?

And yes, I “get the stereotypical humor.” I was raised in the northeast. I left 52 year ago. I would. NEVER go back. I don’t even feel safe visiting anymore.

No South Dakota had plenty of trailer homes as well when i visited back in August , so its not only the south

 

[andromedaaudio]

When I came to the South in 1973, a joke circulated to describe Northerners (aka Carpetbaggers).

A Yankee is a person who visits from the North.

A damn Yankee is a person who visits, likes it, and stays.

A GD Yankee is a person who visits, stays; and marries a Southern woman.

At that time, the South was known politically as “The Solid South.” The South always voted in support of Democrats.

Stuff changes.

The first time my wife and I visited New England, she commented “These people seem very bitter and unhappy.” She was perceptive.

I wish they did something about the hotel breakfast in the US.
Its second worst place apart from Jijel Algeria

 

[Lagonda]

No South Dakota had plenty of trailer homes as well when i visited back in August , so its not only the south

The trailer parks are the equivalent to some of the large public housing projects we have in Europe. In Denmark you can not live all year round in a camping or garden house complex, you have to have a real residential address.

 

[PYP]

For DIY types, this is apparently the new thing (also known as a shouse or shome):

Shop House (Shouse) Building Kits for sale

View shop house designs & layouts, and read our guide to planning and building a Shouse. Explore the benefits of these affordable live-work homes.

www.buildingsguide.com

 

[caesar]

...

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to seek out a handful of music lovers knowledgeable and experienced with Audio. I would seek out those passionate about both subjects. I would talk to them and ask them a lot of questions. And then I would compare what I hear from their recommendations to what I hear from live music.

With that information, I would request a low cost entry point system based on who I thought was giving the best advice. And I would ask them about set up and learn as much as I could.

Then I would start the real learning process by experimenting on my own. People with better knowledge and experience can guide you, but I have learned that real progress and joy comes from discovering how to take it further on your own. It’s a very individual hobby. I would take it from there staying in contact with some of those people over time always trying to learn along the way and exchanging ideas.

Peter, Great stuff! People whose goals are enjoying music, rather than sound (constantly swapping gear, getting cables to "synergize" with that gear, constantly getting tweaks to see how things change, etc... and starting over again) will be happiest with the approach you mention. I agree completely on exploring until finding this.

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...sometimes a trailer is all a family can afford. But some times, it's about liberty. Many people would rather *own* a crummy trailer, than *mortgage* a nicer house. Not everyone has a shot-gun. Many prefer a long-rifle. Horses for courses.

 

[caesar]

Knowing what you like is not just about exploring, even though certainly it is about that too.

You need to know your personal taste and your personal listening priorities. Then look for components and systems that are in harmony with that, and don't chase for perfection.

...

Hi Al,
Very thoughtful post. Can you please elaborate on: how does one not find their personal taste and figure out what is perfection and what is possible other than by exploring and seeking out as many different experiences as possible?

 

[Al M.]

Hi Al,
Very thoughtful post. Can you please elaborate on: how does one not find their personal taste and figure out what is perfection and what is possible other than by exploring and seeking out as many different experiences as possible?

Sure, exploration is necessary. Yet it's not sufficient.

It seems that some do not know their own listening priorities, which aspects of reproduction are most important to them that they cannot live without, and which aspects are nice add-ons but less essential.

Then they are just aimless in their search and get swayed by whatever a new system experience has to offer. They want it all, which is not possible.

Or they become fascinated with certain aspects of sound, buy components or a whole system based on that, and after a while get bored. Then they look for another type of sound, eventually get bored again, and the circle starts again.

 

[PeterA]

Sure, exploration is necessary. Yet it's not sufficient.

It seems that some do not know their own listening priorities, which aspects of reproduction are most important to them that they cannot live without, and which aspects are nice add-ons but less essential.

Then they are just aimless in their search and get swayed by whatever a new system experience has to offer. They want it all, which is not possible.

Or they become fascinated with certain aspects of sound, buy components or a whole system based on that, and after a while get bored. Then they look for another type of sound, eventually get bored again, and the circle starts again.

Al, I have seen this in people and I agree that it may be because they don’t have a clear target or goal in their minds. I do think that exploration can lead to gaining a better sense of what one’s values are. Through exposure to different approaches, one may begin to understand the kind of experience he is looking for when listening to recordings in his listening room. And I also think having a clear reference against which to judge is very important, regardless of what that reference is. Without a guide or target, the search will continue.

 

[Another Johnson]

In my experience, you are unique in having defined this “sub hobby.” I have never met anyone who was practicing it.

@Ron Resnick : I was wrong. I have now met a genuine, certifiable box swapper. He wasn’t excited about the appellation, but it fits. I may start using the term too … maybe I just wasn’t aware enough to recognize these folks, or maybe my sheltered path doesn’t cross theirs very often.

In any event, I have now met one. Not a good match for my interests.

 

[italia]

When Harvey Rosenberg offers you a salesman accommodation deal on a pair of OTL-3 mono amps and tells you it will be the biggest audio mistake of your life if you don't beg, borrow and steal the money to buy them, and you don't buy them, I would tell myself to definitely beg, borrow or steal