When is it time to stop the never ending quest for audiophile playback perfection?

40 minutes ago, JoshM said:

 

I think doing some hearing tests -- even app-based ones -- is more helpful than assuming this track indicates something. There are so many factors, from the mastering to the format to the transducer and beyond, that it's completely possible your hearing isn't the issue. In doing my TBVO columns, I've certain come across masterings that rendered some sound almost inaudible. Headphones or speakers? Even more so.

No doubt about it what you say is very true.  In my case, I've had the same recording ripped from CD for many years and the speaker setup and amplifiers have been pretty much the same for over a decade.

Back in the day, I used to be able to hear the horizontal oscillator in a tube type television set which was right about 18khz.  Now I do well to hear the dinner bell call me to supper.

Here's an odd one I will never be able to explain:  I fell asleep overnight with a pair of Audeze LCD-XCs on my head at a not unreasonable volume level.  I woke up about eight hours later to the horror of finding the hearing in my left ear was completely dead.  No ringing.  No tinnitus.  Absolutely nothing!  I was scared as hell.  This loss of hearing on the left went on for about two more days then my hearing slowly returned.  A week later I got in and saw an audiologist who could find nothing wrong save the high frequency roll off that I knew was there.  To this day I've no idea what happened to my "brain" for that two day period.

7 hours ago, BlueSkyy said:

Here's an odd one I will never be able to explain:  I fell asleep overnight with a pair of Audeze LCD-XCs on my head at a not unreasonable volume level.  I woke up about eight hours later to the horror of finding the hearing in my left ear was completely dead.  No ringing.  No tinnitus.  Absolutely nothing!  I was scared as hell.  This loss of hearing on the left went on for about two more days then my hearing slowly returned.  A week later I got in and saw an audiologist who could find nothing wrong save the high frequency roll off that I knew was there.  To this day I've no idea what happened to my "brain" for that two day period.

Your ear my have been clogged with ear wax that came out or loosened during a hot shower.  (headphones just a coincidence or maybe it was the angle at which you fell asleep) This can happen even to a person who showers every day, it's kind of random for those who produce a good bit of ear wax.  It's happened to be twice over the past 30 years.  The first time was quite scary until I went to the doctor.  The second time I bought some ear drops at CVS

That could very well be the case!  I do produce a lot of that nasty stuff!

BTW, the answer to the OP question is not difficult at all. If you've suddenly realized that you want and ready to enjoy music without regard to so-called 'sound quality', you're ready to graduate. Audiophilia is a complicated disease, and its implications for the mind and the wallet are considerable, but recovery is possible.

2 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

Audiophilia is a complicated disease, and its implications for the mind and the wallet are considerable, but recovery is possible.

One would think that, by now, a vaccine has been developed and is available to cure it.

1 hour ago, BlueSkyy said:

One would think that, by now, a vaccine has been developed and is available to cure it.

That can not be correct, a vaccine might have been developed to prevent Audiophilia but not sure if there is a medicine to cure Audiophilia. 😎

1 hour ago, RickyV said:

That can not be correct, a vaccine might have been developed to prevent Audiophilia but not sure if there is a medicine to cure Audiophilia. 😎

My wife said I better get a handle on the disease or "else"..................  I don't think I really want to know what "else" can be.  😰

4 hours ago, BlueSkyy said:

One would think that, by now, a vaccine has been developed and is available to cure it.

What everyone need now is a one big vaccine to cure stupidity and contagious fear.