Have any of you done this

Not me, I'm never on AudiogoN. 60% of the time I'm on AudiogoN 0% of the time. :^)

I think it's time to try out some new/different upgrades.. Now that would be normal audiophile behavior.

That's funny, I've been thinking the same thing myself. There's tons of days I'm here and not listening to my system. I think it's just a reflection of your/our love of the hobby and the equipment. It's part of the hobby.

Walking away is great, I have been out of town most everday for a couple weeks and the time away makes it better when you listen again, so walk away for a bit here and there....your gear will be there when you return.

i think it's the realization that regardless of what components we buy the difference between listening to recordings and hearing the instruments directly is so great that the best stereo system is often disappointing.

in addition, today's high end, highly reolving stereo systems reveals so much of the flaws of recordings, one becomes aware of the dubious quality of the recordings and the reult is also disappointment.

what's the answer ?? probably better quality recordings and more musical, yes "colorful" components. unfortunately, designers don't cooperate. i just returned from ces and will post my observations. in a nutshell, much of the sound was poor to mediocre. with the exception of a handful of stereo systems, gross timbral inaccuracy was the rule, not the exception.