If there’s an audiophile exit ramp, this ain’t it…

I've let audiophilia consume so much of my brainspace, I'm nervous to see how often I reach for audio stuff as a reflex. I'm anticipating some withdrawal effects.

...can I interest you in some 'vintage heroin'....?  *L*  Sometimes a cure can do more drain bamage.... ;)

Actually, it can be painless to ignore the siren song of 'better this over the junque you have'...being facetious about that, but that used to be the greener grass over the fence of doubt and envy.

There will always be a something that is (or purports to be) so much more significant in some fashion....employing the 'vehicle analogy', a Smart Car will get you somewhere just as surely as a Lotus Evija can...

Those who can and feel they must will opt for the latter...and will have the fund$ to support their auto mistress....*S*

Knew a young man who bought a used Alfa Spyder.....a start of the classic 'love/despise' relationship....always chasing mechanical demons between lost weekends chasing curves, both asphalt and the femmes'.

Audio equipment has similar traits. Mho, one can OCD self into fits over it, chasing the dragon.

Or....one can just chill, and employ it just as it is for the time being.

The 'new' will always be out there....and 'used' isn't a dirty word, either.

Enjoy.  Stop fretting (unless you take up guitar or something else with strings attached). ;)

Oh, soldering and the means of doing so...

Don't buy a Home Despot cheapie (or not so much), Parts Express has decent ones that have a handy stand for a hot iron.

Chasing one that's threatening to roll off the desk can cure that impulse if you snag the wrong end.... ;)

Most of us chase the dragon with varying degrees of intensity; and, we all have to deal with that in our own way. The main question is do you have the discipline to control this; or, do you let life circumstance (spouse, retirement, job loss, medical issues, etc) make your decision for you.

But, to me, the wild card is that audiophilia is probably our favorite and most expensive hobby. God knows we all need one of those. So, this allows you the option to make exceptions or justify continuing to chase the dragon......and, that's where the conflict comes from.

any pursuit can be taken over the top, one needs to measure, based on one’s own internal compass, what is a positive amount of passion versus what is too much

one also needs self awareness, introspection and self-honesty about whether you are really made happy by the experience of ’chasing’ the next good feeling, and/or whether the continuing chase is counterproductive to other life priorities

that said, i have found over time that it is good to have multiple hobbies and pursuits, and good to take some time and space away from any particular one, so that when you reconnect with that activity it brings good feelings and confirms why you loved it so much in the first place

That is the hidden trap that to many step in. They love the music then read some articles that talk about depth width sound stage timber bass and on and on. They soon stop loving the music and start dating their system. Only to realize that when they were in love with the music it was as loyal as their dog that never questioned them and was always at the door to great them. The new love called system is the girl friend who is always late demanding critical and looking to get a new tattoo every month. Break up with system, go back to your first love music and ask for forgiveness music is vary forgiving and nonjudgemental!