Most folk are naturally disposed to develop obsessions, and it could be anything. Building a system and upgrading is essentially a creative process - and it could this that’s missed when it’s finally done and time to listen. Of course being involved in a creative process - can be put to anything. With the right decisions leading to many positive outcomes.
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Stay strong Huge. I hope you find peace and light and put the dark nights behind you. Go,forward in peace.
Can I join with Mike in this wish - and thank goodness for the existence of music that has helped you through it.
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I have been contemplating posting on this thread but was not entirely sure what I could contribute other than general, ill-informed musings, so here goes.
Everything I say is my opinion and has no factual foundation.
This hobby of ours is no more deleterious to mental health than any other. All hobbies have the potential to engross and indeed infatuate an individual, that could lead to a more worrying obsession. It is the personality of the individual and their mental state of mind that can lead to problems, rather than the nature of the hobby itself. I exclude of course ‘pastimes’ such as gambling and socialising that involve addictive substances including alcohol, which have their own way of taking grip of an individual.
I can obsess about certain things and occasionally have to take myself in hand and give myself a stiff talking to. I would still admit to spending more than I should on hifi and music. Which leads me to admit that there is not only the kit that can lead to obsession but also the collection of music. I find myself discovering a new artist that has impressed me and I buy the album sampled and then go on to buy more albums from the same artist that rarely impress as much as the one heard initially. So when I catch myself in this mode, I now stick at the first album and leave it a while before considering others from the same artist. It is too easy to get carried away with the thrill of a new discovery.
At this point I would like to add my best wishes to Xanthe who has been very brave to share an individual experience. The biggest first step is to of course recognise mental health issues and then be willing to share and reach out to others, particularly exchanging similar and recognisable experiences with others that suffer from similar conditions.
As others have pointed out, this hobby of ours has the potential to lead us to obsess but also has the power to relax, calm and provoke us to reflect on our attitudes and behaviour. Most of all it can allow us to lose ourselves in music, transport us to another place and capture a message an artist has tried to convey, or our interpretation of that message. I believe such experiences can be a positive force in our mental health.
And I think I will leave it there on a positive note.
My very best wishes to you Xanthe, and to others who might be struggling with issues related to mental health.
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The human condition is a complex one, with misunderstandings between each other and ourselves. That we can just press “play” and let it all slip away is something.
Getting closer to understanding this human condition through music and hifi has always been in my mind the most tangible and openly accessible of art forms to acquiesce with.
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Warming to see others sharing very personal experiences.
Yes hitting that play button can make the worries disappear at least for a while.
my journey on hi fi started as soon as I got a PT job at school so saved and got what I thought then was the Dogs doda’s - Technics deck and amp so I have always tried to budget and fit into the family budget, my be I am a little OCD on this but I run an excel spread sheet on our cah flow and outgoings - not there is much on the Incoming section!
the major choice we had was Independent education for our son which we could just about afford, so the system went on the back burner for a while - about 10 years all told, however our Son is now in his final year of Uni studying a Masters - so Bank of Mom & Dad in place still, but this means I have been able to build as system which I am now delighted with - yes it’s taken since 2001 but life and Hi FI should be journey and one of the beniets of having a budget is it makes you focus, demo, lisen to options in more detail to improve the system rather than just throwing money at it - would i like a 500 system well yes, but i am very happy where I am - it’s a jouney!
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I tend to look on the brighter side things. Where there is a down, there is always an up of that same token - this hobby can give one a better understanding of acoustics, audio in general, building & construction, cabling, computers, electricity, learning how to use a solder iron, new music, old music, meeting new friends of similar mental health, microphony, setting up a network, vibration etc… If anything, at least it’s one big learning curve and an education to oneself, this is how I look at it anyhow… Now, about that bank balance… 
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i would make a last upgrade: hicap on the stageline. You have a high quality turntable system, which deserves a better phono. But perhaps i am more touched by audiophile mental crisis?
I tend to think about hi-fi too much, obsessively just like I have done in the past about camera gear. But it reminds me of Meher Baba’s words ‘Cease the mental tension, train your mind to pass over thoughts; don’t countenance them’. So I don’t mind the obsessiveness if I can remember to let my mind pass over the thoughts. Hopefully with enough training I’ll have more mind control!
Funnily enough, the pleasure of treating myself to an upgrade and the enjoyment I get from ‘a session’ has been a positive release from other stresses in life. I am perhaps fortunate that my Hi Fi wish list is now just two items and some servicing. They may or may not happen soon and I am very chilled about it.
In my younger days I was perhaps a bit obsessed and changed gear regularly so understand some of the views above. However, it is only one of my hobbies and it was never a cause of any MH issues. The contrary really, a perfect foil to a stressful day to be enjoyed with some ‘self medication’. I did retire early partly due to stress so I am clearly not immune to these issues. My suggestions to sufferers would be to keep it in perspective, get a dog, exersize, alternative interests, friendships and family, a bit of the bhudist spirit, divert your obsession to other positive aspects of life. Easier said than done I know…
Oh, and if you stay on this forum always remain positive and courteous and avoid arguments and trolls. You don’t need the negativity!
Stu
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We all have our motivations, some of which give some of us more positive feelings than others. Even “Keeping up with the Joneses” might be a net/net positive for some.
Indeed, for most people, indebtedness at some point is, feels, becomes, a negative.
Buying stuff you don’t need, with money you haven’t got, to impress people you don’t really like? Crikey, now that is an illness.
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Concentrating on something else, than your daily or professional problems, moving away from them on a daily basis - it is a best possible relaxing technique, that this HI END building game is giving us as an option. When money is there, you can buy new staff, if not just one cable maybe is enough. This feeling of moving forward is the key I think. Much better than drinking or smoking…
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Interesting question.
For me Hi Fi has always been a means to an end. I like listening to music I like and at an early age I discovered it sounded better on some expensive hi fi systems. Whilst I have had naim amps since the early 80s I have never been obsessed about having the best. If I was enjoying how it sounded I would stick with it, an upgrade was usually prompted by listening to something that was affordable and sounded better to my ear. Sometimes the system remained the same for years and one upgrade was prompted by a few friends, one who wanted buy my current amps, a couple of others who each had a naim pre and power amp for sale due to them upgrading. This system with the addition of a hi-cap lasted over 10 years with the only attention being a new cartridge and the Linn being serviced. Music and hi fi has mostly been a source of pleasure so in this way it has helped me be happier which of course improves my emotional wellbeing.
However, I would say that cycling or photography is more connected with my emotional wellbeing and mental health because when stressed, I like to become absorbed in doing something be it very physically active or a more mindful activity which photography can be for me.
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Have you ever considered another one as an upgrade?
G
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Cycling for me too works well, but music is always in my mind…
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I do not understand your comment. If you are trying to be funny or sarcastic you have failed as all I am is confused.
I think Graeme was having a little joke by interpreting your post literally ie that you had only one ear. That’s all.
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