Shut down your computer. Toss those back issues of Stereofool, TAS, and that stack of "Jugs'N'Tail" with the stained and tattered pages. Pick a few of your favorite CD's, turn down the lights, slide that comfy chair into the sweet spot, pop in one of your selections, set the volume where you like it, sit back, and enjoy the music.
You'll probably wake up the next morning wondering what you could have done to make it sound that much better, and that may eventually manifest itself in cold sweats and convulsions if you go long enough without spending some money on hardware. Go to the bathroom mirror and take a good look at what you see there. If you don't like it, just close your eyes. Then chant over and over, "I do not want what I have not got....I do not want what I have not got..." Do that for about a half hour until the shaking and sweating stops. Then grab a cup of coffee, brush your teeth, relieve yourself if necessary, go to work, come home and repeat. If the shaking starts up during the day just find a quiet spot to do your chanting where you coworkers can't see or hear you. A linen closet is good. Don't use the bathroom unless it is a solo room with a lock on it. Do all this and your music will start sounding like music again within a few weeks time. If it doesn't you may need professional help or perhaps a support group.
Marco
PS Don't know about a toke of reefer, but I do know that Alchohol in any quantity impeeds your senses, including hearing. That doesn't stop me from listening with a glass of zin in hand, but I doubt that all that expensive hardware makes much of a difference after a few glasses of wine. I may enjoy the sensation, but I doubt I could discern a good system from a great system at that point. I just keep doing my chant every morning without fail.
