AA for us

I feel that at this point that I am showing all signs of an addict and I am no longer a functioning addict, unfortunately.

If this is a real post, sorry to hear this.

IMHO, it’s the undefinability of it all. Whether you are unhappy and can’t find what you want or you ARE happy and curious about what out there is better.

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

To get off the merry go round you have to become immune to the hype. Some ways to do this:

1) Avoidance: Don’t read audio mag’s or go online.

2) Go about your search in an objective manner as much as possible. Do you like solid or stranded wire? Do you like the smooth sound of poly cone speakers or the punchy, clear sound of metal? It’s a good way to narrow down your options and eliminate most of the stuff out there.

3) Use money, or convenience, ergonomics, set-up, as a deterrent. You will often see people get to the point where they say "My stereo sounds so good I would have to pay 3X the price to improve on the sound" (the improvements are not worth the price).

Looking at it from the perspective "I have $10,000 to spend, what should I get?" is kind of missing the point IMHO. Are you trying to spend a lot of money or trying to get good sound?

4) Realize that deciding your preferences can take a long time. It is relatively easy to hear, or read about, differences between components. But not easy to decide if that is the sound they describe is what you are looking for.

Most people don’t care and just buy something and don’t think about it again.

As Bruce Lee the audiophile, not to be confused with the martial artist, said "At first a stereo was just a stereo. After I became an audiophile a stereo was no longer a stereo. Now that I understand the art, a stereo is just a stereo".
You want to get from point "A" to point "C". Right now, you are stuck at "B".

Kits are perfect for someone with a small budget but big aspirations.

diyaudio

LM3886 power operational amplifier:

akitika

LM3886 kit power-amplifier

GAINCLONE-Amplifier

Speaker kit - They do all the hard work. You just glue them together.

parts+express+speaker+kits

madisound speakers
This one always tempted me

                                       *** Introducing the world premier ***

                                                "The 80 percent rule"

I improved my OCD with a hot new concept I like to call "The 80 percent rule"

If I may, ghdprentice is a good example of this. Perfecting the last 20% when the first 80% is messed up. All too often, you optimize a fundamentally flawed system. This is common in HEA where "it’s all about that last 2%."

IME, get the basics right and the other stuff doesn’t matter that much. It puts things in perspective: 2%, or even 20%, is not much compared to 80%.

Go Single driver

I pulled out those Tang-Band recently and for the first time in a LONG, LONG time actually enjoyed listening to MUSIC on the real stereo.

With all due respect to those who say to listen to the music, I would submit that is not possible with many stereos. Not for me anyhow.

I usually get the first 20% completely messed up and then it's all downhill from there. 

As the saying goes, if you can't get all the components together right, might as well be listening to a boombox.

@ghdprentice 

You have interesting stories. I guess everyone has to find their own way. As someone said hi-end audio is 90% BS. You just have to find the 10% that isn't to you.