Bored with the whole thing (LONG)

I dont know what it is lately, but I get the impression that I have become bored with hifi and music generally as a hobby. Although my system is fairly humble in comparison with many members here, I believe it does sound good, but lately it seems I just cannot be bothered with it. I start listening to music (even brand new stuff I aint even heard before) and I seem to just get bored and put the telly on instead. Every now and again, my interest will resurface, but to me its certain that my interest is dwindling.

Now, my approach for this problem in the past was sometimes to upgrade my system (why do I suspect that this boredom is perhaps responsible for some peoples upgraditis?), but the fact is, I have probably reached my threshold to what I can really afford. Even buying music is a struggle now because I have little money, and what upgrades I have bought in the past, I have struggled to afford, but now I cant even afford them. Perhaps worse still though, is my feeling that even if I could go on struggling to afford upgrades now and again, I simply dont have the inclination to do it.

I have been thinking about this tonight, and wondering why I find myself in the situation I am in. I feel that perhaps if I had not gotten into hifi then I would have enjoyed music as much as I did before I got into it, and it was probably arguable that I enjoyed it more before I got into hifi than I do now. Dont get me wrong, the overall quality is better than it was, in some cases, much better. However, I listened to my old Kenwood mini system which I had years ago which is now living downstairs, and while it is not as good as my current rig, it is perhaps not as far behind as I probably expected. Also, I am starting to feel that the increased sound quality I do get can be a mixed blessing - even if I were to buy originals of everything I own (not possible due to cost), I have to face facts that much of the music I listen to is subpar in terms of quality. The now increased sound quality I get has certainly highlighted this problem very much; this is especially true of my headfi rig - I never thought I would hear myself say this, but 192K MP3's do sound genuinely lousy through it. As does a fair chunk of my original collection.

So where does this leave me? Well, I really wish I could forget about the kit, much like I did when I had the Kenwood system, and enjoy my music again. However, getting into hifi has probably enhanced my ability to hear certain things I couldnt before, and in many cases, I am not sure this is a good thing. I now pick faults a lot when listening to music, and it has certainly helped diminish my enjoyment of music (the opposite to mine, or indeed i would imagine anyone elses intentions). The usual "audiophile" way is to upgrade, but I cant afford to, and wouldnt want to if I could - many different headphone / headphone amp upgrades, as well as listening to different kit has simply taught me that in this game, one pays heavily for relatively small improvements. If I could turn back the clock and do things differently I definitely would, but I cant, and it has if anything, left me desiring for other things (not neccesarily hifi either) that I now cannot dream of affording.

Anyway, well done if you are still reading after all that, and sorry for rambling, but I needed to vent I would like to know if anyone else has felt like this, and if they have what they did to overcome it, or if anyone has any suggestions that might help or even just make me feel better, then fire away.

 

I know how you feel to some extent Paul. Especially when I've been listening to my iPod. The other day I did a direct comparison - main system vs. iPod. First listening to the main rig and then the same track on the iPod (at 320Kbps MP3) and of course there's a big difference but the main system is not head and shoulders above the iPod. I'd go so far as to say that the iPod is better in many ways - and I'm not just talking about compared to my system. I mean, better (in some ways) than any hifi system I've ever heard ....and I'm using Sony EX70s....which makes me very tempted to try something like the Etymotic ER6s or the Sure E3s.

OTOH if I hooked up some headphones and a decent head-amp to my main system I'd probably be blown away.

At the end of the day though I do like listening to music on my main system. It goes through phases - sometimes I think it sounds shit but usually I'm pretty happy with it. I'm certainly not going to make any more significant upgrades from where I am now that I've finished my amp. IMO it's seriously diminishing returns from now on and just not worth the money.

Michael.

 

I take it you're still with your folks? I'm not trying to get a dig in - it's harder than ever to get out now. At least car insurance is maybe not taking the p*ss anymore? It's just that trying a new room is like changing speakers for free. You are right about people 'upgrading' because they are bored. Changing kit means music sounds different, so it becomes interesting again. Here are 4 cures for your problem:
1 Go and do something different. Buy some hiking boots down Dean Street [forgotten the shop], wear them for a month, then walk the coast to coast. Get back to us in August.
2 Change the room or system so that it sounds different - difficult where you are.
3 Build some hifi kit. It probably won't need changing cos it might be better.
4 When you are middle aged, testosterone declines, and you really couldn't give a stuff anymore...

 

A-ha, a precise diagnosis of my problem!

 

Paul, I fear you are becoming an anorak You need to get out more. Join a gym perhaps. Get fit. Get a girlfriend. Spend more time shagging and less time fretting about your hifi

 

TB, thats harsh

Probably fair though. I am sure some furious shagging sessions would do me the world of good, but alas, being a fat ugly git kind of hampers that a little bit

 

I'm with technobear on this.

You need to take yer headphones off and get out more.

Life inside a pair of headphones can be very sad :SCIDB:.

 

Thing is, I do get out quite a bit more than you probably imagine... its as much to do with me being obsessive than anything else really.

Maybe I should check in to AA (Audioholics Anonymous)

 

Perhaps you've grown out of your music?

Paul

 

Still think my idea was better. Join a gym. Lose the weight. Get laid. Sorted

 

Good idea, but I dunno if Paul's like me and people I know, but I for one find the gym REALLY boring; swimming and cycling are much more fun than just repeating the same circuits over and over...

Paul - go swimming, get a bike, and that'll allow you to keep fit, get a suntan, save money (punt the car ) AND you can also see women on the pavement or in the pool - sweet as!

 

Having seen this same thread over on HIFI Choice me thinks Mr PBirkett could possibly be just having an attention seeking moment :cry: :newbie: .

 

Easier said that done Chris. Oh, and the last bit "get laid" - considerably easier for, ahem, people like you

Michael.

 

I find most exercise boring to be honest...

Right correct me if I am wrong:-

1. This, and Hifi Choice, are Hifi forums
2. This thread is about hifi (albeit my lack of satisfaction / boredom)
3. Most threads are started as a way of "making conversation"

So why am I attention seeking? And erm, pot kettle black boyo! Remember this thread where you were having a good whinge?

https://www.audio-forums.com/as-rediect/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1279&highlight=money

And, as you will see, I did not make any snidey comments at you. So please, do me a favour and piss off :SLEEP:

 

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh! :baby:

 

There's nothing quite as terminally dull as coronary artery disease, though.....

 

You as well gayboy!

 

would you two like a bowl of milk..?

 

taking after your nickname

Michael.

 

And?

As Paul said, this is a hifi forum and it's a hifi related post. It's in a chat section also.

But even if it was completely non hifi, this is also a community isn't it???

I've recently split up with my girfriend. We'd been together for four years, and I thought this was it. My world has completely ****ed up! I've had the worst few weeks of my life, and though people apparantly get over it somehow, and no doubt I will too, I really don't see how.

Is me posting that attention seeking? Perhaps. But what's the point in posting something like your post? To show how sad or whatever you think the person is? Good old bit of human compasion there mate! If it makes me feel better to type it out loud, and to ask for advice, opinions etc from others then why not?

I seen some 12 year old or so lad posting on a music forum I used to visit before. He was going on about how his life was shit and how hard done by he was. At first I thought "attention seeker" but, so what? If it makes him feel better then what difference does it make to me?

Paul. I've gone through phases where I don't really "feel" it either. I've been into music since I was very young, and it's been a great friend through my life. Hifi has been both a means to get a better sound, and also, it's been a hobby/interest in itself. The hifi side of it has been less and less appealing (priorities change), and though, like you, my sounds not exactly how I want it, I appreciate what I have. I've hardly even touched my hifi for a while now. And haven't played a single thing on it for a few days infact. It's there when I want it, but for now, I just can't be bothered. I love music, but I can't be bothered with it right now. With mates over, or when I'm over mates houses, I still enjoy having some tunes playing, and as MOst of my mates are into music too (though all happy enough to listen on their dixons specials), still talk about it.

But yeah, It does sometimes feel like a waste, and can't be bothered.

But I know it comes and goes And I love what my kit CAN do sometimes.

And while I'm not using it, at least there's always that nice Blue LED