Can one ever be "done" in this hobby?

I almost forgot. Nobody said audio nervosa can’t be fun. Think of it like gambling. Sure, it’s an addiction. But it’s fun. Even when you lose it’s still fun.  

The more time and energy one devotes to focusing on the music, the less one has left for thinking about sound for sound’s sake. Just as the best musicians play in service to the music, so too do the "best" audiophiles. Perhaps I’m actually not an audiophile at all. ;-)

This is a hobby where "done" usually means "done for now". I've been there countless times. There are just so many different designs and implementations to explore and listen to. With loudspeakers alone we've got single-driver, 2-way, 3-way, line-array, horns, panels, omni's, monitors, floor standing, etc. etc. Never mind driver size, materials, and crossovers. I could go on but y'all know what I'm saying. So, for me it's not so much nervosa but simple curiosity. I think it's part of being an audiophile. Love of music is the driving force and, let's face it, we love the gear as well. Do you really need to upgrade? Of course not. Need has nothing to do with it.

I have just about come to the conclusion it is very similar to a sick addiction I had for decades.... Cars....
How much horsepower do you really need?

Who cares?

Old saying .... Too much is never enough!

I have likely blown hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years on the quest for more power....

It nearly makes me ill to think of it now!

Nearly ... Lol.

Sure was fun at times!

Piloting a 70 Old 442 on its back wheels for the first 60 feet of the quarter is an essential memory!

Wish I had that car now... Oh darn there we go.......

I was for several years a PCA driving instructor. Everyone gets caught up in the whole more power go faster rat race. PCA does a much better job trying to counteract this than any of the other programs, even going to the extent of calling their program Driver Education. PCA never has a Track Day. They have DE. They even discourage timing. All the focus is on education. Technique.

The connection I hope is obvious. Its not the equipment, its how its set up. Go to enough of these and you will notice, sure enough, lotta guys with "slower" cars lapping guys with "faster" cars. The difference between skilled and average is so great I drove a student's Turbo at a very conservative and comfortable (for me) 85%, he thanked me for showing him what F1 is like. 

Same applies here. Way too many guys waste way too much time talking about what class their amplifier is (Can I bi-amp my CD player? Which balanced cables work best with my iPad?) as if it matters whether you have SOHC or DOHC when you're still hunting around for the apex.