when are you done comparing IC's


i'm getting kinda burnt out on comparing IC's. found a pair i like but can't say "these are it". between the burning-in (yes...i believe in it),actual comparisons, buying and selling....seems i might be trying too hard. got me wondering what you veterans do?.

i've gone through 7 total in about 3.5 months. was fun at first and i did learn alot. tried a wide variety of cables that were within my budget. now it's getting old.

have always been a "get it done now" kinda guy. am doubting this attitude works on tasks like IC shopping.

do you guys knock it out?. buy a bunch of cables and bust butt to figure it out....one after the other? once you've decided are you done? do you stop looking/listening to new lines?.

or do you chill. find one you like (maybe not love), and slowly keep looking/listening. trying a new IC every now and then. is it always a work in progress?

think it's pretty obvious that i need to step away. question is...am i done? do i keep looking for near-perfection if such a thing even exists?

can't help but think i'm not "smelling the roses" and being a spaz about the whole thing.
levy03
speaker cable was much easier for me. third set i demoed screamed "i'm it"(az satori shotguns).
It seems for me that it is never over.Unless you buy used and even then you have to break in the IC's and that could be days or weeks waiting for things to settle in and then it may not be what you want.What works from cdp to preamp to amp may not work from other sources such as tv receiver,dvd/bluray or tape or phono.I am finding it really hard to get all them to give me what I want at the same time so my journey continues.
I have found out that you get a better idea right after first impression. It is not going to change a whole lot after (Break in may refine on the characteristics, but basic - like it or not- characteristics remain) that.
I've used or auditioned Kimber, AQ, Tributaries, Cardas, Transparent, Aperture, Monster, Esoteric, custom built stuff, home brew, etc, etc, etc... the trip stopped for me when I discovered PNF Audio. Absolutely the best value in cabling I've ever heard and they're CHEAP! The PNF ICON and Precision A ic's are both fantastic and a killer when you mate them with the Symphony speaker cables. You won't get better performance unless you can afford to have something liek a Bentley in your drive way.... I haven't messed with anything else in over two years.