How does one get off the merry-go-round?

I went to a dedicated headphone system to cut costs. For about 1/10 the cost of my conventional system, the system suits me:

EVS modified Panasonic S47 DVD player
Meier Audio PreHead preamplifier
Etymotic Logic ER-4S earphones
Virtual Mode Clear Power 1 and 2 conditioners
Signal Cable PCs
Joe-Zen ICs

I have, however, disconnected and stored away this gear. After not having listened to it for months, I have gradually conditioned myself not to miss it. The hardest thing for me is selling good gear at an appreciable loss. That is what keeps gear around; and when gear is around, I start listening to it, then I get compulsive about upgrading.

Right now I have a ($250) PIMETA Home headamp, a set of ($20) SONY MX-500 earphones, a ($39) Signal Cable "Analogue Mini-" adaptor and some ($30) RA Design isolation cones that I listen to at work. I listen less critically at work, so this relatively modest set-up is more than adequate from 9-to-5. The key for me is to have no at-home set-up, and to do something else with my time. Right now I am signed up for correspondence graduate courses in Theology, which take up my free time at home in the evening. I'm getting a lot more out of my time this way.

Of course, I must mention that, after having admitted that I have a compulsive buying disorder when it comes to audio equipment, and feeling the distress of that kind of helplessness, I prayed quite a bit for a way out. It has taken time--about two years--to get to where I am today, but I am not as restless and consumed as before with the endless quest for more and better. Granted, I have to avoid temptations--kind of like the alcoholic refaining from the first drink, but not having the system up and running, and having a worthwhile diversion (for me, studying) helps.

If you are really serious about kicking the habit, you have to get ready to deal with the acute pain of loss and resulting feelings of self-diminuation before you see a turnaround of any lasting value.

There is no escape, it's like the Mafia, you can't quit. You can settle down for 6-12 months (in remission) but it always comes back :-)

"Just when I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in."

Getting hung up on detail, not music will keep one constantly wanting to upgrade to improve "sound" but will this improve the "music"?
Is detail musically important? How much detail is necessary? Can overemphasis on detail draw attention away from other important problems like driver integration, even frequency balance, or ear fatigue?
When auditioning I'm in "analytical mode" and judge a stereo on analytical sound. But then I get home and want to listen for enjoyment of music which may or may not be related to the analytical reasons I got the stereo.
Also I think justifying the sound on a price basis is a road to dissatisfaction. Like saying "For $8,000 this better blow me and all my friends away". It probably won't or won't for long. Then its on to the next "fix". I think spending the money should not be a bargaining point for sound quality. Spend what you feel comfortable with, not trying to justify anything.
I have also found that when my stereo sounds good and I want to make it better, I have a 50/50 chance. That is, I have as much chance of making the sound worse as making it better.

One December several years ago, I found myself with four or five of every type of component: amp, speakers, cables, preamp. Ok, just two turntables. No room for ME in my house! So I made a rule: I am not allowed to own more than two of two component categories. So if I have two amps and two pairs of speakers and I want to try a new pair of speaker cables, well, one of my other redundant components has to go.

It worked to a great extent. I can still suffer too much churn (buying a new cd player too often, for example, and yes selling the old one first), but this has not been much of a problem. Buying is easier psychologically than selling, as you probably have noticed.

My rule has made a HUGE difference, without eliminating the fun of the hobby.

Art