There are plenty of audiophile rituals. Though they might seem quirky or odd to the great unwashed they are part of what defines us as purveyors of the art.
Take for example the rituals many of us have for playing a vinyl record: how we carefully remove the disc from the sleeve, cleaning the stylus, perhaps zapping the staticy disc with a Zerostat, the care with which we set the arm over the record, the flourish at the end as we make a last check everything's in order before sitting down in our listening spot.
Did I mention our listening spot? The sweet seat? The ritual where newcomers to our stereo system are offered that lofty perch from which to fully enjoy the pleasures of the experience?
Or the turning low the lights for that special track?
Or setting the cover of the CD or album upright as if it were being presented as a marquee?
I won't even mention demagnetizing a disc before playing.
Rituals are there to make sure everything's in order and that chaos does not affect the outcome.
As Audiophiles, we've certainly got our share.
