Burned out Audiophile - Trying to Find some Zen

does this sound more real to you..." no matter what I buy ,or how much more i spend i cannot find the sound i want or am looking for"....

Trying to run away from your problem or taking a break will improve your outlook(on nothing)LOL....it will certainly not get you the sound you want.Keeping searchng, it's out there.

Rich, I know exactly what you mean. I went through very similar feelings of hitting a wall; spent too much for diminishing gains. I reached a point where even though the system might be 'better' in some audiophile respects, I wasn't really enjoying the music to any greater degree.

A few things helped me. For one, I cleaned house and got rid of things that were fuelling obsessive behaviour more than bringing respite. In my case, I unloaded (horreur!) my vinyl and accoutrements. Yes vinyl sounds better, but the amount of use didn't warrant the storage - and I was buying vinyl I'd never listen to...

Then; major break through - I threw the T.V. and all AV stuff out of the den as well - mostly I just channel surfed anyway.

Downsized to a good CDP with a nice integrated and tasty monitors...

At the same time I did work on some Zen things to try to break that cycle of restless acquisition; enjoy the moment, instead of thinking ahead, waiting on something better to come along...I highly recommend Eckart Tolle "The Power of Now" on that score. The title might sound like the usual pop-psych pap, but it is truly deeper and simpler...

Can't claim a cure, but in remission. Just in case I sound smug...my wife says: "Every time you decide to simplify, it costs me money!"

Rich-

I recently experienced a similar feeling. After much contemplation, I decided to "simplify" my system to ease my nervosa.

I kept my Exemplar 2900 front end. Sold my Pass preamp and amp (that was hard to do) and replaced them with a Cary SLI-80 Signature Integrated w/ NOS tubes.

Thought I'd have to sell my Revel F-30's because surely the Cary couldn't drive 'em.

Well, my downgrade was no downgrade at all. I pocketed a bunch of money, the Cary drives the hell out of the Revels-even in 40 wpc triode mode!- and my system sounds better than ever.

I guess I'm lucky that my "downsizing" brought more musical joy and money into my life. Zen? Contentment?
Not quite, but a pleasant surprise.

Good luck in your quest.

The only cure is to stay off this website, and others like it.
I feel your pain, believe me!

Yes, I've slowed down and simplified. For the most part I simply got tired of chasing something that I could never really identify. I also found a sound/system that I like a lot (!) while also realizing nothing is perfect so why look for it. It also helps if you can find a brand that you like the sound of that builds a full range of components and settle into that kind of system. For me it was Audio Note. A relatively inexpensive pair of speakers, some good wire, an integrated amp, AN digital, and music. Good and good enough. I'm sure I'll always have an interest in audio equipment, but I've found something that gives me immense pleasure musically and I'm going to stick with that for a long while.

Anyway, for those with cash to burn that doesn't mean that they should stay on the merry go round forever. All of us should have an interest in many things in life and not obsess over any one thing.

One thing that you could work on if you get the itch soon is the room. That's an area that I'm sure most of us can make inexpensive worthwhile improvements.

Let me add that if indeed you don't know what to do with yourself without the audio chase then it ia clearly time for you to move on and expand your horizons!