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

Pubul57, what I object to is the presumption in Phd's post, "where others have used sound judgement."

I like people with passions and do not find most lack responsibility. There was a time when I did not have the luxury to invest much in my hobbies and I was into racing catamarans, photography, and audio. I am landlocked now and no longer willing to have more than a pocket camera. When our children left the nest, my wife and I agreed that I would take my stereo out of the living room. We bought a house with a game room where I now have my system. She does miss St. Paul Sunday morning, but our home radio is always tuned the NPR.

I don't think getting of the merry-go-round would deal with the guy he mentions.

Were this thread to suggest inexpensive audio products, rather than to suggest that some are merely in the game for impressing others and wasting their money, such as blackwillard says, I probably would have never taken exception.

Pubul57, thanks for you question. You already know that this thread is followed by a great deal of people in the USA and most of the free world since it is kept current by recent posts. You have already reached celebrity status including TBG as well as Drubin for starting this thread. There are folks riding on every word as if its playing out like a soap opera. Maybe you never thought of it that way. I can't give out too much information, maybe someone in Saipan is just waiting on a social security number. I'm relucant to share too much info on the internet but if you read back I have mentioned my occupation.

TBG, its ok, your not being singled out because you spoke your mind. You are acting as if you feel guilty because you choose to ride. There is no shame in it since I mentioned earlier there are resposible people involved in this hobby. Just because I'm satisfied with what I have doesn't mean that I myself am pulling away from this hobby. It means that I will be investing in more music as that is what really matters to me now.

To be fair to Tbg, I don't think spending money on audio is simply a search for bragging rights, though it might be for some; it is not a bad thing in itself and to some degree there is generally some incremental improvement that comes with spending more on gear,though it is not guarantee, you must match well, and the improvements are far from linear, but that is the luxury market. On the other hand, you can have a great system without having to spend a fortune, a relative term, I know, and to me getting off the merry-go-round can simply mean to enjoy one's system that is well matched and thought out and decide that you don't want or need to be so compulsive about it that you can only feel satisfied by spending more and more money chasing the dream; which is not meant as an indictment for choosing to spend money on your equipment, but keeping a realistic sense of what that money spent actually get's you and not exaggerate what it all means.

You have to be somewhat wealthy to have a really expensive system.

Enjoyment of music is not the province of the wealthy though by any stretch. Being wealthy or having a mega-buck system is obviously not required. An appreciation or love for music is.

OF course many profit in the music and audio industries, just like any other. THat's what makes our world go round I suppose.