*Chapter 4 of my upcoming novel, Resurrection, is posted here.
I wonder what causes us hesitation. Caution? Fear? Good sense? Common sense? No sense?
As children we learn the hard way to hesitate before stepping out in the street, touching unknowns, jumping to conclusions. Wading in can sometimes be dangerous.
As adults, we’re on our own but still, the lessons of childhood remain. We hesitate before making decisions of what to eat and buy. We stress over where to go and what to do. And, when it comes to our stereo systems, we get tied up in knots whether to try something new.
I have recently been fielding a spate of inquiries from folks worried they will not be able to hear differences in equipment. They angst because in the past they’ve tried this or that without hearing any differences.
Part of the issue might be the resolving power of a person’s system. If you are relying upon an old pair of Infinity SM speakers and a Pioneer receiver it’s unlikely you’re going to hear differences in DACs.
Perhaps a more common issue involves expectations and musical selections. If you’re expecting a night and day difference between amplifiers while listening to Ted Nugent’s Cat Scratch Fever you’re likely to be disappointed.
For those hesitators closer to the center: listening to decent systems and good recordings, I am not going to suggest you throw caution to the wind and dive right in, but I am going to recommend moving outside your comfort zone if even just a little.
Without trying something new what are the chances you’ll ever find better?
