artnoiThis article is part of my audiophiles series of articles
I have met so many audiophiles throughout my life. My first experience with one was in 2004 when I was 6, where I was introduced to the world of gold cables, tube amps, and horn speakers by a rich uncle.
Years later around 2010, I begin to buy my first quality audio products. My first purchases are Grado-Alessandro MS-1i headphones and Monster Turbine earphones. After my purchase, I began checking audiophile forums daily, reading reviews and discussions for more expensive headphones and equipment.
That journey into audiophile forums turned me into an audiophile. Since, I had bought so many audiophile products like a hi-fi USB cable and a discrete class A headphone amplifier, and countless other hardware. I even ordered a custom made gold-silver-copper hybrid 10CM 3.5mm audio connector cable from a boutique maker, and a short handmade USB A-B interconnect for my mobile DAC.
I quited being an audiophile back in around 2018 after I came across Ethan Winer’s writings. He wrote “The Audio Expert”, a textbook in audio engineering still in use in universities today.
By the time I quited, I already own a lot of audio gear. 2-3 desktop amplifiers, 2 mobile DAC/amps, and a ton of headphones and earphones.
I naturally stop buying anything new except the transducers, until I bought the ER4SR. The in-ear monitors are so good (and versatile) I just stop caring about other headphones, except a custom monitors, which has always been my dream (it looks cool). I only buy non-transducer stuff when I really need the functionality, like Bluetooth or custom/near-field monitors.