How does one get off the merry-go-round?

I have a friend who's been in this since the early 1970s. He recently dumped his Conrad Johonson and Theta separates, and bought a Classe integrated amp and a Theta Miles. He likes the new system better than the old, and he put some cash in his pocket.

I don't think I could ever get off the merry-go-round because I have always loved this hobby. As I have gotten older though I have tried to simplify my system. I now have a nice integrated tube amplifier, smaller floor-standing speakers (so I don't have to mess around with stands), a high-end cd player and high quality interconnects and speaker cables. I still feel, eventhough I have downsized, that it is important to stay with quality high-end equipment.

There is no getting off! It is like being in the Mafia, (which doesn't exist), once your in, your in for life! If you try to get off the merry-go-round, the Audio gods will strike you with deafness!

Lots of good ideas here. The one I most agree with is the poster who wrote "don't read the mags". He's right. Every time I pick up one of these things there's some ear and eye candy, not unlike seeing some mags with scantily clad and attractive ladies. Don't know about you guys, but that will most definitely put the wrong thoughts in my mind. BTW, look at Musical Fidelity's latest ads for their NuVista: "audio jewelry for the ears and eyes". That should tell us something about their knowing how to pull our strings.

Own multiple systems. Not every recording sounds good on every system, right?. So put together as many systems as necessary to enable you to enjoy *all* of your recordings.

This also helps solve the problem of what to do with leftover gear when you upgrade your main system.

For those days when you need the illusion of simplicity, hide your system behind sonically transparent screens or -- as a last resort -- add an in-wall system to your collection of hi-fi's.

Eventually, we will all wind up sitting in front huge horn speakers from the 1950's listening through H. H. Scott receivers to 78's played on turntables with three-pound tonearms painted brown. But until then, it is our *obligation* as audiophiles to have owned (and kept!) as many different combinations of equipment as possible.

Now enough talk about "getting off the Merry-Go-Round" and return to the "For Sale" section.