HI-FI REHAB

[rendu]

Does anybody know a good clinic for hi-fi rehab…..?

Last months I have gone down a path that is starting to worrying me and, I have decided that it is time for hi-fi rehab….. Just a quick example… I have sold 2 things and I have re-purchased them only 2 weeks later, the same things…This is not normal. I have also completed the speakers 5.1. package and as soon as I finished… I started to change the center…. then the fronts…. Etc….

It is time to take 2 steps back and put my feet on the ground, back to reality and just try to enjoy what I have now.

By medical (and girlfriend) prescription, I need some period of: No more mags…, no walking close to hi-fi shops (doc has suggested a 50m safety perimeter) , not even near hi-fi departments of supermarkets, no more Amazon.com and definitely no more alcohol + ebay…

It is a sad day, I hope that some day soon I will recover and be able to at least start reading some hi-fi brochures from the mail… for the time being, this is it but, I am sure that sooner than later, I will be back for good. I will still try to keep an eye on the forum and take some peep when nobody sees me.

 

[Anonymous]

just start by not spending lots of money for very small
increase in sound, i have learned the hard way hifi was taking over my life
at one stage and i was never happy with what i had upgraded,
but now as long as it sounds good im happy start thinking music not hifi
you will feel much better imho.

 

[chudleighpaul]

Does anybody know a good clinic for hi-fi rehab…..?

Last months I have gone down a path that is starting to worrying me and, I have decided that it is time for hi-fi rehab….. Just a quick example… I have sold 2 things and I have re-purchased them only 2 weeks later, the same things…This is not normal. I have also completed the speakers 5.1. package and as soon as I finished… I started to change the center…. then the fronts…. Etc….

It is time to take 2 steps back and put my feet on the ground, back to reality and just try to enjoy what I have now.

By medical (and girlfriend) prescription, I need some period of: No more mags…, no walking close to hi-fi shops (doc has suggested a 50m safety perimeter) , not even near hi-fi departments of supermarkets, no more Amazon.com and definitely no more alcohol + ebay…

It is a sad day, I hope that some day soon I will recover and be able to at least start reading some hi-fi brochures from the mail… for the time being, this is it but, I am sure that sooner than later, I will be back for good. I will still try to keep an eye on the forum and take some peep when nobody sees me.

Stop reading HIFI magazines, literature and HiFi forums, If you like what you hear from your system then stick with it.

HiFi heaven does not exist.

 

[WishTree]

Does anybody know a good clinic for hi-fi rehab…..?

Your post sounds vaguely familiar like an echo! If you remember the movie "Beautiful mind" this infection, the upgraditis, is similar to that. Once you have it, it is almost impossible to get rid of it. No matter how much you are out of it, the mind still wanders around this area.

The best clinic is in the head.. Do not start with sudden complete cut off. Focus on the things which do not cost much as a start.. then make small adjustments.. for example, till the time you hear it you won't buy it.. or there is always a better deal next month so nothing to be bought this month or.. others that work for you..

Try and audition the system that you have started this hobby with or a set up that you had an year back.. it offers a sense of appreciation to what you have.. put limits on the upgrade of the individuals.. anything that you upgraded recently, you will not look at it for upgrade..

Do not sell off the things that you do not use any more.. This cuts down the surplus cash, reduces the space around also the non usage of an item that you already have triggers the guilt not to buy more..

In the end, there is no perfect cure.. and it never leaves us.. Peace.

 

[strapped for cash]

Maybe you could start your own clinic: "Audiophiles Anonymous," perhaps...

I recently reached the end of a long process of upgrading my entire system. My attention has since been focused on acquiring every movie I regard a classic in its most resplendent audio-visual form -- which ususally means on Blu-ray -- for as little outlay as possible. Hence, I've become a serial ebayer. It's a bit like muching carrot sticks while gasping for a ciggie, but it'll do for now...

 

[Anonymous]

If you are having fun & enjoying the results...also if you can afford it comfortably? then have a blast, every single hobby or if you are an enthusiast over anything will eat into your time/money...honestly i have enjoyed hi-fi for 25yrs & i shudder to think of the amount of money that has been used to fuel it...but no-one was hurt in the process.

Cheers
Benny.

 

[rendu]

Thanks for all the good advises, I definitely may consider to open myself a "clinic" as there seem to be market out there

.

Reading through the posts and recalling some reflections from my fist own "theraphy" session, I believe that the infection began with the home cinema from a simple mini hi-fi system which had sang with me for more than 20 years. Home cinema is probably the worst virus of all because it has just too many things that you can change .... and when you try to use it both for Hi-fi and movies then you have full package of pathologic "upgradability rictus"...

So, it is time to put some effort to try to find another hobbies which maybe based more on satisfaction rather than driven by "insatisfaction". As someone has mentioned, it is also true that this "thing" that we have will not just disappear and will continue in our minds... and even after rehab, I know that I will continue to read the "speaker" brands of the pubs where I go to.

Anyway, time to rest, go to the beach and enjoy the sun.

 

[duaplex]

Its awful I was losing sleep when deciding which system to build. I was going to bed thinking about, waking up still thinking. Checking endless reviews and calling dealers upon dealers trying to get an opinion. It was driving me insane! because of all the opinions and all the different products out there. Its like unleashing a child into a sweet shop who has never seen penny sweets before.

But now that it is built I know that its a case of being satisfied and not going into stores. After all we both would have to spend a ridiculous amount of money to improve on our systems. Its a not a case of a mere tweak but an overhaul with an abundance of cash....Guess what, it wont end you will still look to the next best thing! Also you can only go so far before you are just throwing cash at it without an improvement. Limitations in room etc and acoustics will be key here.

Its Human nature and there is nothing wrong with a healthy obsession. But being content with what you have will spare you a lot of sleepless nights...... Now let me watch spiderman 3 again i believe my right front tweeter is slightly off by a cm to the right

 

[bigboss]

it is time to put some effort to try to find another hobbies which maybe based more on satisfaction rather than driven by "insatisfaction".

Very well said. I have a slightly different strategy to deal with my "upgraditis" bug. I almost bought the Oppo 93 as I have a small VCD collection which my Panny doesn't play (although the cost of upgrade is far more expensive than simply buying the DVDs). I decided to stop thinking about it & gave myself a few days. Now I don't feel the urgent need to buy it.

Some forumites upgrade their TVs every year. I will buy my AV equipment only when my existing system breaks down or gets seriously outdated.

 

[bigboss]

it is time to put some effort to try to find another hobbies which maybe based more on satisfaction rather than driven by "insatisfaction".

Very well said. I have a slightly different strategy to deal with my "upgraditis" bug. I almost bought the Oppo 93 as I have a small VCD collection which my Panny doesn't play (although the cost of upgrade is far more expensive than simply buying the DVDs). I decided to stop thinking about it & gave myself a few days. Now I don't feel the urgent need to buy it.

Some forumites upgrade their TVs every year. I will buy my AV equipment only when my existing system breaks down or gets seriously outdated.

 

[strapped for cash]

Some forumites upgrade their TVs every year. I will buy my AV equipment only when my existing system breaks down or gets seriously outdated.

That's because you own one of the last generation Pioneer plasmas. If your TV suffered from rising blacks, backlight bleed or distracting judder, you might feel a stronger compulsion to upgrade.

I agree that some members (perhaps myself included) take things to unnecessary extremes; though I've banned myself from upgrades for the next two years, at the very least...