Older And Wiser or just Tighter and Deafer?

I’d say something is not quite right with you but I cannot know what this might be.
I do it simple way. I spend a more or less fixed amount on audio upgrades per year. This might vary depending on different factors but not too much. Currently it is about $2k per year. This doesn’t mean that I will spend this amount every year, I could spend $4k on one piece and buy nothing else for two years, unless something breaks. But I cannot get something for $10k and then do no upgrades for five years. The amount is too big for me to spend it all at once unless I can finance it with 0% credit cards, moving from one card to another for five years. Now that is possible considering my high credit rating. So, theoretically, yes, I can do it, but at the moment I won’t. Not in the mood, and the system is balanced enough.

Who really cares what Robert Harley says? That whole idea is ridiculous. If we get joy from listening as well as experimenting with different gear, so be it. If you go along with him millercarbon, then maybe you ARE too serious about this hobby. 

I`m 62 and know exactly how you feel. With no audio stores within 50 miles , I wont buy expensive gear without hearing them. As a industrial journeyman electrician I refuse to pay $$ for fuses ( rip off ). But I still enjoy music , and want to support audio companies. 

My playback system improves as my hearing gets worse. At least I think that's the case.

aewarren, same here. The stranger thing is that when I tweak or upgrade the system, and then remember to listen with hearing aids, it gets better still. The upside of older and wiser is that we literally never know what we are missing. We ARE missing it (without it) in the literal sense, but NOT missing it (feeling deprived) in the emotional sense. So, all's well that ends well, eh?