Audiophiles are wonderfully open-minded people.

Right up until we make up our minds.

Once we decide analog is better than digital—or digital better than analog—we begin collecting evidence that proves how wise we were. We read reviewers who agree with us, join groups populated by fellow believers, and listen politely to the opposition while waiting for our turn to explain why they’re wrong.

This isn’t unique to HiFi. We do it with politics, cars, food, and probably stamp collecting.

We like being right.

Newcomers to our hobby have an advantage. They haven’t yet built a fortress around an opinion. They can experiment, listen, change direction, and discover what works without worrying that a new conclusion will invalidate twenty years of purchases.

There is real value in going deep. Choose a direction, immerse yourself in it, and learn everything you can. That’s focus, and without it we spend our lives skipping across the surface.

The trouble begins when focus hardens into identity.

Every so often it’s healthy to come up for air and listen again to the thing we dismissed.

Not because the other camp must be right.

Because we might no longer be listening for an answer.

We might only be feeding the beast.