What It Really Means To Be Real, i.e. What Gear Do We Actually Use

I decided to come back to this site because this was one of my favorite places that I spent my time at, I would spend endless hours pouring over every single thread here. I think this might be the right place to post based on what it seems like the discussion is surrounding, finding happiness.

I personally don't have a set up anymore, sold off almost all of my gear except a pair of HD580 and a Schiit Fulla. I found through my time in the headphone hobby that I was just pursuing consumerism and gear. I would hyper fixate on the next thing and the next thing, maybe that is better or this is better. It really took a hit to my mental health tbh, and I couldn't find any happiness anymore in the hobby, and started not being able to find happiness just in life (I was also in a toxic relationship, which didn't help that I used this as an escape). I ended up not even listening to music, rather just trying to further refine my gear, get it down to the most obscure and best I could get.

I have been out of the hobby for about 2 years now I would say, something like that. I will say that I am way more happy now than I have been. I prioritized my own mental health, physical health, helping build up my relationships with friends and family, and I even enjoy music way more now just listening out of a pair of Apple AirPod Pro and at my desk HD580 out of a Fulla. I am not nervouso about the gear and am just enjoying music for music.

I decided I am in a good headspace to come back here and talk to friends, but will probably stay out of most of the audio threads for the most part to help from falling back in too heavy, rather more lifestyle stuff. Wanted to say I am happy to be back and talk to everyone, and glad to see everyone is doing so well still.

 

Seems I have done zero with my life. What a collection.

 

Great to read this; it says to me you have a healthy amount of self-awareness. It’s easy to tumble down the ‘rabbit hole’ of acquisition and collecting. I personally believe it is in someway a genetic proclivity as well as other factors. I grew up in extreme privation with no parents and often homeless, so I set about to ensure that would never happen to me or my little brother again. At one stage I had, probably the biggest collection of rare 1st edition books in Australia and an equally huge collection of never used hand made Scotty Cameron putters (I know!). I also acquired 3 degrees along the way. All for the wrong reasons, but it’s enjoyable - for a time. I sold everything and gave the majority of the money to the Tuberous Sclerosis Association to benefit sick kids and stuck with Stand Up Comedy - there’s more than enough lawyers here. I have an audio set up I’m happy with an am not even thinking of upgrading. Nothing is going to benefit my 65 year old ears.anyway. Happiness is always internal - good on you.

 

Generational thing also. My friends and I talk about how we're all minimalists because our parents were hoarders.

I spent years nagging my mother to throw stuff out before she moved out of Hawaii, and while she did some paring down, it took a $40k moving bill and 16,000 lbs of stuff in 300 boxes showing up at her new house in Virginia for the message to hit home.

 

Im an old guy (74) have hearing aids which have allowed me to really hear the top end again. Ive had so many different systems, expensive, not expensive, complex science projects to really simple. I love music and love the gear when it allows me to connect with it. I gave everything away about 5 years ago, I found out I could give it away and be happy then I reconnected with Marv and went down the headphone rabbit hole. Now Im 2 channel, tube amp, streaming everything. Im really happy and my addictive/obsessive mind is still there and Im responsible for it and not driven too much to do stupid stuff. This site is a blessing, to have folks that are not bull shitters and love music is the best.
best
josh