Paraphrasing Thoreau, be wary of occupations that require new clothing. Record collecting and audiophilia are fun hobbies, but at their core, they are gear/object related hobbies. They feed obsessive behavior, always requiring "new clothes," that next thing upon which happiness depends. I've spent a fair amount of money and time chasing improvements that are in reality not much more enjoyable than listening to MP3s through earbuds. Like you, I find myself analyzing my behavior frequently and often have to remind myself to take a step back. Most of my musical discoveries, particularly in jazz, were in the 90s listening to CDs on poor quality stereos. Back then, my friends and I never obsessed about sound quality. We listened to the worst country blues recordings, early jazz, etc. All music that has terrible sound quality regardless of medium or system. We were engaged with the art, not the material objects. For me, it was a much healthier period, one I remind myself of often. Another interesting observation: when I engage in physical activity--cycling in particular--I naturally move away from worrying about audio things. Something about the pure, repetitive act of pedaling stops the negative thought processes and allows me to remain in a healthy mental state long after the ride is over. The link between physical and mental health is nothing new, but it is worth mentioning. Lastly, congrats on the marriage.
Thank you for the thoughtful reflection! I would add that sometimes the music *isn't* the most important thing--not all the time, but sometimes--and there is nothing wrong with that!
Congratulations and blessings to you and Ako. Thank you for consistently being mindful and sharing your perspectives. My wife is Korean when she learned about wabi sabi, she took gold paint and painted over all the wall cracks in our bedroom and bathroom walls. Embracing imperfection, like the source of the gospel. God bless
as always ...... happy that you get a better situation in life going, with some helping tools. and ..... married ! all the best 4 u 2 ! ...... and looking soon on your next journey video ..... into life and vinyls ....... all the best from berlin, germany. jazz pianist andreas
I relate to this a lot. I think all these psychological and philosophical aspects of collecting should be talked about more. It's more interesting than so many of these "audiophile" videos. #punishers
As time goes on I can relate less and less to the collector-audiophile tendency to pick things apart, and I think I'm mentally and emotionally healthier for it. In those worlds I feel that marginal differences in sound quality--differences, not necessarily improvements--are frequently exaggerated. And sometimes I even think inferior sound quality is preferred! Lots of money is usually involved. The industrial machine has a vested interest in encouraging us to buy more. Dealers and critics are usually part of that machine by default, which is totally understandable because it pays their bills. I think collectors willingly participate in the promotion of that consumerism sometimes because it validates their choices i.e. purchases. And I know what's that's like!
For all the LPs that I bought that just didn’t turn out the way I wanted, I will now think of them as Lofi jazz albums lol- and then I can truly embrace all of the random tics, pops, clicks, and static on that highly overrated VG+ I bought that was barely a VG. So yeah, That MJQ Concord OG we talked about this morning? The RVG? It’s now my favorite LoFi Jazz LP. :). I do have a very pristine OJC version of it that I listen to instead, but every now and then it’s good to break out the original- even with all the static and noise throughout, and just enjoy it for what it is- an original pressing that was actually made in the 1950s it’s still alive and able to put out some music Even if not at all perfect .. I’m like you let’s just embrace the Wabi Sabi, and have a good time with it.
Amazing video! I never noticed my perfectionism until I got to college, then I realized how much of a perfectionist I am when it comes to vinyl more in particular the records I spend more than 100 dollars on. I found that taking 2 to 3 month breaks from buying help me get a bigger picture of what collecting is all about because without that it’s purely just an addiction.
Wise words from a young man! The obvious advantage to taking a break is that by default we are encouraged to actually *use* our records lol. And yes, you and I have that in common, the more I spend on a record, the more I pick it apart. Side note: sometimes I ask myself, if I was a millionaire, would I collect $2,000+ originals? Hard to say.
Great video Rich! Can I just vent a little and say that it drives me nuts when people post pictures on IG and show 3-4 closeups of the cover at different angles to show the shiny laminated covers 😂. I absolutely could not care less about seeing a one inch square closeup of the cover at some weird angle. Drives me crazy!!!
Me in the past: Guilty as charged 🙋🏻♂️😂 Nowadays though I agree 100 percent. Frankly, it's fetishization. I turned a big corner a few years ago when my focus turned more to the music and away from the objects of collecting. On the internet, the collectors with the most followers are usually the wealthiest ones who have the most luxurious, impressive collections. I guess it's human nature to dream of a "better life" and having more. For me collecting became more about authenticity and being real about the fact that I cannot afford these lust-worthy, expensive records, both with myself and my audience. I don't relate to those collectors in a fundamental way, economically and in terms of values, which is why I stopped consuming that content.
Rich, congratulations on your marriage! I wish you both many years of happiness. Different topic but relates to your video that you did with Ken. Looks like you moved and did not upgrade your integrated amp yet. I just thought I would run this by you, consider the Outlaw Audio RR 2160 MKII. I had both the Yamaha 801 and 2160 in for comparison and in my opinion the 2160 was far superior in overall sound quality. Yes I know technically it has an FM section but it is non the less the best integrated amp on the market for under 1K. Allows for lots of upgrade options for you down the road. Superb phono section by the way!
Rich! Congrats on the marriage; may your bond be enduring. Nice to hear from you on these subjects, which most people internalize to discuss only with themselves. Your sincerity is a welcome respite to the doldrums of the majority of record-centric channels. I see value in these rational systems you discuss, and have managed my paranoia similarly. I've even managed to listen to copies I own with skips! The horror...having to get up and move the needle forward. One of the best "coping mechanisms" I've engaged is the purchase of an ultrasonic cleaner. There is real peace of mind in being able to overcome *most* imperfections. 🥂
When I first started collecting I would have never kept a record with a skip. I don't own any at the moment, but if I came across a cheap first pressing with a skip that sounded great in parts, I'd take it and just play the good spots!
Hey dude, we have a lot of the same interests and I too suffer from perfectionism/ocd, anxiety type issues. This might sound weird given the topic at hand but…you should look into weight lifting! I started lifting 3 years ago, like barbell squats, bench press, deadlifts etc….and it has really helped my mental health. Might be worth checking out. Take care rich.
In the world of collecting and wearing used / vintage watches.. wabi wabi is a term thats often used in the forums .. a good classic worn watch should be treasured as much as the pristine Mint collectable. Those wear marks may bring the price down, but not a problem if you intend to wear a classic. Embrace the wabi wabi they say. :)
There's no such thing as a perfect record. That's why I collect cd only. I'd buy a hundred copies of record albums if I went down that rabbit hole. I never worry about gear however and can appreciate a boombox for what it is. My hang-ups relate to death in some fashion like a record's grooves deteriorating which each play. My values are heavily filtered through a disgust factor. I'm transgender yet a far-right wing conservative and both of those groups share that trait. The conservatives I agree with 90% of the time or greater never speak personally of religion and if they do it's very vague. It's sort of like we can see through the logic of it and you see that with Pat Buchanan, Donald Trump, Benito Mussolini, and even Jordan Peterson although he now believes it's always in the "I believe in something realm" or "I need to believe". I won't listen to a lot of people's advice as their logic is flawed and can see through it. I know someone who prayed about the ever increasing expenses of drilling a well on a limited budget. He prayed and then found water quickly. I told him that the aquifer under the ground is a set depth and you can't change that. However, he now can tell about his place in heaven and has a one-way line with his creator while all the time denying it's intimacy that creates a baby. Pascal's wager, fear of dying, or fear of nothing creates this madness which confuses free will and happenstance with divine intervention. Many transgender people have a non-religious spirituality about them as well. I respect that even less as they cost society money with their liberal activism and shame tactics. LGBT furthermore get into a bind with they preach that gender is a social construct. The conservative argument asks then how can you have an innate gender identity. For myself I'm mildly autistic and thing oriented. I simply didn't feel comfortable going through male puberty and those feelings lasted. I decided not to go through the remaining Tanner stages. Do you want a bald head, hair coming out of your ears, and high blood pressure? All part of testosterone which shortens men's lives in relation to woman. In any event, this is what I'm dealing with and I back off people because I don't want what they pedal. Instead of pedaling and buying in, I want to just live my life. It causes me to become even more thing oriented and to collect. A friend of mine who is gay couldn't imagine having a disco/boogie collection and not be an outgoing club goer. Huh?
