The Story of “The World’s Greatest Stereo System”

[Jud]

https://wapo.st/47ErwZI

[PeterG]

I thought this would be a really fun read, but it's more of an incredibly sad story of a really messed up guy.  (Still a good read, I don't mean to steer people away from it, and I may watch the video)

[DuckToller]

Agree with you, Peter. After I read the article in full.

Obsession may be the worst way to promote our shared hobby, which can be exciting & wonderful at times.

 

My Dad valued his car obsession over his family, what allowed me as an 8-year-old to accompany him in his newly bought Bordeaux-red Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV in 1972 for his first ride.

Our family budget at that point may have allowed a Beetle only.

A year later my mum divorced him.

Just as a teenager I came clear what his obsession for cars had meant for our family.

He never regretted the Porsches, Audi, BMW and Alfas in his life.

I often dream about this car, perhaps because it was the most important car in my life.

 

[Jeff_N]

Agree it's a sad story.

 

I've sold a couple components to Adam Wexler's company in Brooklyn. Honest, nice guys.

[firedog]

I also thought it was sad. 

I'm sure his system sounded great, but the comment in the article that others probably wouldn't think it was the sound for them - likely true.

Better to get the best system you can actually afford - and that fits your space - and not to obsess. 

 

My Dad became obsessed with bowling at one point - he was almost at pro level, but spent all his time bowling. Mom basically told him, "its me or bowling". 

He gave it up and never took it up again. I don't think he even missed it once he stopped. 

[JoeWhip]

One of life’s true axioms, all things in moderation.

[Jud]

I suppose most people would consider many of us who frequent this website “obsessed” with audio and audio equipment. (Just look at all the pages devoted to MQA. How many people in the world actually care about this?) So obsession isn’t the line.

 

If you tell a random non-audiophile friend what you’ve spent on equipment and music, my guess is “moderation” won’t be the first word that occurs to them, so that’s probably not the dividing line either.

 

I don’t claim to know what the line is, but two things from the article occur to me.
 

One is the inherent competitiveness of wanting the best system in the world. As long as I enjoy the music, great. And I might seek to make the system better in order to enjoy the music more. But if someone else has a better system, that’s something I enjoy knowing about, not a source of aggravation or disappointment.

 

Second, the fellow in the story seemed at every turn to choose his system over interaction with other people. Unlike @firedog’s dad, he chose his “hobby” over continuing his marriage, over his relationship with his oldest son whose labor had gone into building the system for him…. He thought of the system as his legacy, rather than being a good father. And now that legacy, unsurprisingly, is gone.

[botrytis]

The one thing I have learned early and always kept close is there is always someone better, etc. One can only buy what one can afford. Be happy.

[Allan F]

On 1/14/2024 at 12:10 PM, Jud said:

I suppose most people would consider many of us who frequent this website “obsessed” with audio and audio equipment. (Just look at all the pages devoted to MQA. How many people in the world actually care about this?) So obsession isn’t the line.

IMO, there is a difference between passion and obsession. I believe that most A/S members are passionate about their hobby, notwithstanding that some may be obsessed with it.

[Jud]

4 hours ago, Allan F said:

IMO, there is a difference between passion and obsession. I believe that most A/S members are passionate about their hobby, notwithstanding that some may be obsessed with it.

 

One man's passion....😉

 

But yes, I mentioned something similar when I noted the subject of the piece appeared to choose his system over the people in his life at nearly every turn.

[botrytis]

14 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

One man's passion....😉

 

But yes, I mentioned something similar when I noted the subject of the piece appeared to choose his system over the people in his life at nearly every turn.

 

People often focus on the tree, instead when they should be observing the forest, the tree is in.

[Kimo]

18 hours ago, Jud said:

 

One man's passion....😉

 

But yes, I mentioned something similar when I noted the subject of the piece appeared to choose his system over the people in his life at nearly every turn.

I have seen people do the same thing with lawn care.

[Allan F]

19 hours ago, botrytis said:

People often focus on the tree, instead when they should be observing the forest, the tree is in.

And some can't see past the leaves. 🙂