There are actually 2 seperate hobbies here.

For example, I just bought a rare mono jazz LP from 1955 - Gene Ammons All Stars (Rudy Van Gelder, engineer) on the Prestige label. Cost: $7.95 + $4.77 shipping (from EBAY). Another seller had one listed for $150! Getting an original Gene Ammons so cheaply makes my day!

The perfect system is 100% system and no music. With no music no one can ever prove its not perfect.

I am half and half right now.

But I will go back to 80% Music and 20% Gear by the end of this year.

From next year, I will try only inexpensive tweaks including tube rolling.

My 120K$ system already sound excellent with recent renovation of 20K$.

I have not decided yet whether to spend 15K$ more on upgrade of DAC.

I had spent 2.5K$ on buying 1000 redbook CDs during last 6 months.

It had been good time to do bargain hunting on CDs.



Even without any hardware change, I will be happy with new collection of CDs.

If you keep spending on gears, there is no end.

That is like drug addiction.

I am old enough to be wise.

Thomas

100% music side.

The thrill of conquest when searching for the next great thing is what I enjoy. It could be finding that rare or special / sentimental record, or tracking down a highly sought after perfect piece to the equipment puzzle. Sometimes it’s just figuring out what the next pursuit will be. It’s all a great big, exhilarating adventure that never has to end and will always have surprises waiting to be found.