Getting off the merry-go-round – AFRAID TO???

DON'T WORRY!!! It's just part of human nature that we are never permanently satisfied. Signed, a student of psychology

Fdalto--
Proverbs 27:20--"Hell and Destruction are never full;
So the eyes of man are never satisfied."

I majored in psych also.

If a person really believes that the purpose of the system is to allow him/her to listen to music and music is the primary goal, then it should be easy enough to get off the merrygoround. But if the equipment is equally important (or of greater importance) as the music, then the merrygoround goes on forever. When I read "it's about the music" (not in your post, I don't think you say that), but in the mags and online, I often cringe because what I see is more like "it's about the music being a justification for spending money on equipment". For people who it really is almost entirely about the music, they often care very little about the sound system and lots about music. And there are millions more of these kind of people than there are audiophiles. I believe that the depth and richness of music far exceeds that of equipment and that if I could put that into play (and not be distracted by the allure of the equipment) I would indeed be off the merrygoround and better off (no pun intended) for it. Good question.

I will try and get off the merry go round with you .... just as soon as I grab that blasted gold ring...

If you are satisfied with the sound of your two systems for the present, take a break and get off the upgrade path for the next 6 months. Spend the money and the time going to every live music concert you want to see, that is convenient for you to attend. At worst, you will end up with some great memories, a renewed perspective on how live music sounds, and maybe even the answer to the question of whether the time off has re-energized you for your audio hobby, or made you realize your systems are suitable for your enjoyment as they are now. Have fun.