You’ve never bought an amp sight unseen, turned the knobs for the first time, and realized you hate it? Happened to me at least twice!

I’ve reached the point where sound quality is no longer improving. I’m swapping between different gear that is all equally transparent, trying to find something I really like, as an overall package: Performance, features, design, form factor, build quality, control feel, etc. I’m not addicted to chasing a perfect sound, so perhaps I fall short of mental illness, but certainly I am doing more “decorative” work than “substantive”.

I mostly buy used, knowing I can resell for a similar price. I figure I take a 20% loss and call it my “rental fee”.

With speakers, I need to hear them. With electronics, I need to hold them in my hand, feel the controls, use them.

I have/had Paradigm 3, 5, and 7 (some se, can’t recall which), all for free/next to nothing, and all sounded fantastic! I would put them up against anything new for under $1,000, as a value-for-dollar perspective, they’re incredible.

Any gear is a good place to start, but I fear people are saving up and buying their “dream system” as also their first system, not as a starting point to grow from.