Can one ever be "done" in this hobby?

I am done.

I was done before and just sat and enjoyed the music for about 15 years, with a system that I was happy with. I cancelled my subscriptions of both the main audio mags in 2003 and never missed the never ending monotonous 'lifted one more veil' BS for 'only' $40K invested.  I just sat and listened to my system ad increased my music collection.

When I moved three years ago, I had the opportunity to create a new main system and did so, retaining only my analogue front end from my old main system (many components flowed downhill and are used in one of the other two reasonably serious systems I maintain).  It took me a couple of years to reach a point that I was happy with, and now I am there.  I foresee no further 'upgrades' in my future.

I have observed over many years that attempting to be in the 'bleeding edge' of advance in audio doesn't guarantee you good sound, although it does ensure an empty wallet. There is a lot of quite inferior sound at audio shows generated by gear with stratospheric price tags.

The guy sitting listening to original Quad electrostatics driven by 1950s amplification is certainly missing the bottom octaves of the music, but I'm not so sure that he is missing out on the music itself.

Now playing with what I would have thought were subtle tweaks for pennies.

However not so subtle at all.

Raised my phono stage up and placed ceramic cones under it.

More detail but a little etched and definitely a loss of bottom end slam.

Placed Les Davis 3D2 pads under said ceramic cones.

Holy crap!

Truly impressed, have all the extra detail AND even more bottom slam than previous and mids brought forward a little.
Overall a very pleasant and immersive presentation.

Never would have thought such small changes at chumpchange level could yield such pleasing effects.

Always learning.......

Oh and i do have a Shakti Stone sitting on top near the rear as well.

The concept of "being done" with audio reminds me of the famous line by Mark Twain regarding smoking.  He said, "Quitting smoking is the easiest thing in the world to do; I've done it hundreds of times!"
Personally, I've been "done" upgrading my system at least half a dozen times, as is my present state.  Oh.....wait.......I just saw this awesome refurbished Revox reel to reel deck...........

Lmao.

Glad it is not just me who is cursed with the addiction of scouring the classified listings even when I need nothing new.

It is good fun though!

My habit of constant experimentation and upgrade stopped a few months ago, when I decided to stop seeing all my "audiophile" friends, after drawing the conclusion that whatever $$$$$$ they spent to "improve" are like brewing coffee on an camp fire using $20 dollar bills.