Audiophile Addiction

One thing to remember in context is that moods associated with addictive behaviors tend to track in sinusoids from elation to boredom/regret. If the equipment hobby or your purchasing habits tend to drag you along this curve then consider professional help.

I agree (with the original thread)...and I'm going through the same thing, selling my equipment for the same reason. Every huge, jaw dropping improvement evaporates after few weeks and I'm left agonizing what the next upgrade/change would be. Finally realized I can justify spending all this money if it makes me happy, but it hardly ever was, it was more of an addiction, similar to gambling.... Might come back to it in the future if money will be burning holes in my pockets (not too likely). The only thing I'm keeping is my headphone set up, because for some reason I'm nowhere near as critical with headphones as I am with regular stereo equipment (where I kind of wanted it all - full range sound, huge, deep soundstage, detailed but not analytical...). I bought a cheap $180 stereo system and I'm listening to cd's that have been collecting dust since I've discovered "hi end audio". Obviously I'll be a music fan forever and I'm excited about going to RMAF later this year, but for now I gave up on audio equipment.

My system is musical first i love music not equiptment.

I enjoy playing with sounds -that's how I describe my time with hi-end audio. I would get real upset, real quick if I was going after the Holy Grail because:

1) It doesn't exist, IMHO
2) for the vast majority of the time, any stereo sounds fake compared to live.
3) The quality of the recording plays a HUGE role and the components much less so IMHO. Most recordings of music that I like stink. No, I'm not about to change what I listen to just because the recordings sound better. Ditto with vinyl. Music I like just doesn't exist on that medium.
4) Most differences between components are lateral changes IMHO, not significant upgrades. In the short term, different = better until you get sick of that sound. Besides, it's MUCH easier to make a component sound "different" than "better".

The philosophy that:

1) all components damage the sound and you put together a stereo for "damage control". As such, I have a CDP, volume knob, amp, and full range speaker with no x-overs. Can't get much simpler = less damage than that.

and

2) Being able to tell how components sound based on measurements vs. unreliable hearing is also a help.

Has been a help as well.

Cdc - absolutely agree with all your points except being upset not finding Holly Grail. Pleasure is in the chase itself IMHO.

One point you made about quality of recordings is very valid. People often talk about great playback of some older recordings that I find absolutely horrible and only low resolution of the system or complete lack of hearing can explain this.