Does doing what you enjoy immensely often make you a masochist? Depends, I suspect.
Obsessing about, changing systems is no more a "problem" in audiophilia than someone obsessing about collecting media. Mediaphilia, imo, can be as aberrant as obsession over the gear. I am certainly not weird, but Mediaphiles can be weird! ;)
I used to flip gear in search of the One, the perfect speaker/system. The masochistic aspect of it was self-imposed budget constraints, attempting to reach SOTA with a very modest budget cap. What's the definition of Insanity? (Please, I know the phrase; it's not necessary to respond to this rhetorical question.)
I finally woke up and realized that I never would be happy that way. I began to cultivate a collection of equipment to allow for variety of experiences. It has been a near perfect solution to RES, or Restless Ear Syndrome (my phrase to describe the condition of upgraditis), which can be carried out at the same cost as plowing money into an ultimately unsatisfying search for the One.
I get bored without progress, and I love the challenge of advancing a rig continuously. I also thrill to hear a performance become more engrossing, emotionally fulfilling, over the years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that - as long as there is integrity in my relationship with my wife, maintaining my charitable giving, and I'm not blowing the rest of the budget. YMMV
Obsessing about, changing systems is no more a "problem" in audiophilia than someone obsessing about collecting media. Mediaphilia, imo, can be as aberrant as obsession over the gear. I am certainly not weird, but Mediaphiles can be weird! ;)
I used to flip gear in search of the One, the perfect speaker/system. The masochistic aspect of it was self-imposed budget constraints, attempting to reach SOTA with a very modest budget cap. What's the definition of Insanity? (Please, I know the phrase; it's not necessary to respond to this rhetorical question.)
I finally woke up and realized that I never would be happy that way. I began to cultivate a collection of equipment to allow for variety of experiences. It has been a near perfect solution to RES, or Restless Ear Syndrome (my phrase to describe the condition of upgraditis), which can be carried out at the same cost as plowing money into an ultimately unsatisfying search for the One.
I get bored without progress, and I love the challenge of advancing a rig continuously. I also thrill to hear a performance become more engrossing, emotionally fulfilling, over the years. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that - as long as there is integrity in my relationship with my wife, maintaining my charitable giving, and I'm not blowing the rest of the budget. YMMV