IMO, nirvana exists WITHIN us, as a state of contentment and
satisfaction with what we have. That doesn't mean it can't end, because the
desire to upgrade or change--EVENTUALLY--is there in all of us, so I think that
state of complete satisfaction is ultimately temporary for most audiophiles. For some,
nirvana may last many, many years; for others, it may only last weeks.
I don't think I've reached my definition of audio nirvana yet, but I'm probably
closer than I've ever been. The gear I use is clearly and undeniably imperfect,
but my degree of contentment with it, and with the sound it produces, is a lot
greater than with any other system I've had. But to truly reach that point, it
takes more than just great equipment and setup. It takes a fundamental,
attitudinal shift within all of us, and that comes with hard-won experience,
IMO.
