RAH, thanks for sharing us yourself too. Now that we are older, life did teach us the kind and quality our parents were to us. They meant and wanted the best for us. When my younger son, Gustavo, was at College, I did something alike. He was into electronic games...and here in CR, this is a waste of time. You must be too good to keep this profession with good earnings, the designing and building the electronic games. I spoke to him, and he decided to be an electrical engineer. Right now, he is shared partner of Circuito, a Company with great success here and in Latin America. They design and do all the electrical plans for homes, and buildings, Commercial Centers, etc. And he is very happy with what he is doing.
Hi end sound is something that must be learned too. The seek for the perfection, the quality of the design and the quality parts to do it, are from other leagues. Yes, we have impostors, but your ears can tell. There are a lot of snake oil around, because most of the difference regarding the components in the chain of the system, is sometimes very subjective. And because our immediate memory only last less than 20 seconds, testing the goods, your brain could be tricked. You must live with the change for certain period of time, then do the change. This is the only way your brain could understand if what you are doing is right or wrong. Also you must train your ears and trust in them. Also, what I do like, not necessary you have or you must liked too. To be a musician made me possible many of my audio gear decisions, and I have friends that do not like what I do like...the clue is to be happy and pleased with you and your ears.
This hobby is well rewarded. I have a saying: The music is the nourishment for my Spirit and Soul. And now, I am having so much fun listening all kinds of music. I do not matter the type, because out there are many good musician(s) sharing their feelings with us. We can live their performance " Momento " right there, in our own place. And each day, the technology is offering us, better quality products to have that...Martin Logan is a magical product. If you know the trick of how make them to sing along with the music, you will be in heaven, no matter the model that you have. Happy listening!