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

So you disagree with blackwillard? Owning a $50,000 system, I do think that a well sorted $5,000 system can surprise you with how good it can sound. As good as what I have? I don't think so, but not so much better as the price difference would suggest. Yes, there is more to pursue, and the quest can be never ending, and nothing wrong with that if you have the money and enjoy the quest. But you can easily choose not to get caught up in that and have a very satisfying stereo giving you many years of enjoyment; while using all that time and energy, and perhaps money on another pursuit that can also life enjoyable.

Tbg, I'm not suggesting that buying better gear is a bad thing but as Jmcgrogan2 pointed out, the main theme of this thread is to solicit ideas on how to remove yourself from the merry-go-round, it's contradictive to make posts otherwise.

One must recognize the fact that the pusuit of the perfect system has hurt some audiophiles in many ways where others have used sound judgement.

I can offer an example. Sometime ago I responded to an ad on audiogon via the sellers phone number. I called him and we briefly talked about the condition of the preamp and its sonics. He then told me that he would not be around to ship it. I asked why and he responded that he wanted to kill himself because the wife and kids just left because of his audio hobby. I must of been on the phone with him for an hour. I finally got him to go see his father who was the closest relative.

PhD in Psychology?

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.