Sean,
You said it, and your post alludes to the experience that I've been having just this week. Staying up late, reading through posts about the latest and greatest in CD players and mods. I get excited reading about the A/B tests between various components, and the extensive and detailed reviews offered by enthusiastic listeners. Then, I see that several of these heralded 'best' players are up for sale within a day or two of the comments posted. And my head starts spinning, as I realize that I'm burning myself out with upgrade fever and accumulation of knowledge that only returns me to square one of an endless game.
I'm looking at our simple system: a 7W SET amp, a mid-level tube CD player, and a pair of 1977 horn speakers. It's a glorious setup, and so emotionally satisfying. I wonder what the hell I'm doing chasing down a better nirvana?
And that second system that needs a CD player???? Budrew, you hit the nail on the head. But hey, my wife wants to rock out downstairs, and needs the player. We're buying her one today, WITHOUT doing Audiogon research until 3am!
Yes, I'm a friend of Paul Klipsch W., taking this obsession one day at a time...
All the best,
Howard