I need help with my Equipment addiction

Macdadtexas,
I seem to have spaced out on your question about what phono to go with your Ref3. Here is my response from another tread about phono preamps I have tried with my Ref3.

I purchased the VPS. I had the Pass AlphaOno. I listened to the Steelhead & the AR7 also. The stealhead was very good but sounded better by it self than it did going into my AR Ref3, sound best with rock music. The AR7 was too on the lean side for me, not enough bottom end, sounded best with classical music. The VPS had what I wanted, very neutral and has slam when it was needed. Very open and full sound stage with lots of depth. Also it sounds great with all music types I play.
Since then I also listened to the Nagra BPS it sounds very good and more analytical than the VPS and the cost is about half.

I think this addition only stops when people like myself lost their jobs, enter foreclose, and the pipeline of wealth ceases to flow.
Until this happens we will be always looking to 'reinvent the wheel'.
Terry

New tubes. Even more new tubes. Oh and some shiny brass footers. Telling yourself these things are pretty cheap doesn't work when you buy them all at once.

I think a little isolation might be the solution.
You need to look with-in and discover why you have not been able to deal with............"Still my temporary rack, 4yrs now." I know, I know it's been difficult to confront this situation but the process is just what you need. A new direction that will improve the current equipment's performance with endless possibilities(tweaks)footers, shelves, etc, etc!!!!
This should allow you to at the least maintain your wine budget, keep your mind occupied for months thus avoiding depression untill your system's ready for new kit.
Then re-post this appeal!!

You know what? After all the years I been on Audiogon I'm proud to say I still have the same speakers, everything else has changed though. Prior to Audiogon it was me and my music, nothing else. I was running Adcom gear back then and I thought it was the best (ignorance is bliss) and looked forward to my next music purchase. Audiogon changed that for the next few years. I started out buying McCormack gear and thought wow this is much better than what I was listening to and as things progressed over time I became more involved with the gear, not the music. I even purhased some test CDs just to make sure everthing was operating as it should. Well the point here is I lost my personal relationship with my music and became obsessed with the gear. I'm happy to report that I have made great progress and have increasingly been more involved listening to my favorite tunes and enjoying them more than ever. Yes I still have purchased & sold some pieces but have slowed down considerably, at least with the more expensive purchases.

I noticed with some long-term Audiogon members they have never been involved in the forums. I think it is important because if were not talking here than your probably browsing & looking to buy. Hint, hint.