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

I have read only the most recent few posts to this thread, but the whole idea of down sizing seems like a good idea: fewer chassis, fewer power cords and IC's, smaller rack, etc. It's nice to see that many others are thinking along the same lines.

So that I won't feel like I am giving up much in the process, I will probably seek out a system that tends to focus the listener on musical content rather than technical realism. If that "musical meaning" thing is covered, I will probably be less likely to worry about transparency, imaging, frequency extension, etc. Hopefully, I will net some left-over cash, too.

Larger, more expensive systems don't always sounder better--or give their owners the added enjoyment commensurate with their elevated prices, other than maybe gragging rights. I'd like to try the "less is more" theory and see what happens.

Great thread.

How much is enough? How revealing, how transparent, how deep into the sound stage can one go and feel satisfied? How deep should the bass go, and how extended should the ultra-sonic, high frequencies go?

I know a guy with a stunning system (Avid, Aesthetix, Cary, Ruark), but he has kept on improving it. The Aesthetix Io got upgraded to the Signature Mk ‘something’ version and he went to bi-amping the Ruark Excaliburs instead of a single pair of $40k monoblocks and changed out all the cabling to upper end Nordost, etc. OK, it was the best system I'd heard--including at CES and industry demos at stores--before he did all of that.

Are audio geeks (myself included) like the wealthy: A few million dollars is not enough; once you have acquired or accomplished a certain level, you always want more?

I am still considering my downsize approach (see my earlier comment), but I have ended up upgrading my pre-amp (same manufacturer) and trading up to the latest version of my speakers since I wrote on this thread last. I did not follow through with my own goal.

I am still searching for that workable integrated amp. So far nothing has given me *enough* satisfaction (do not expect equal performance) for me to replace my pre/pwr combo.

I did replace an Arcici S-1 Suspense Rack with a much shorter wooden rack from QS&D. It isn't a downsize in the quantity of gear in the room, but the smaller rack does make the equipment seem less imposing and more "accessible" some how. It's pretty lame to even bring this up, because I really did intend to downsize the gear, but the smaller rack has helped the room-gear proportions.

Bojack, Do you have a high quality EQ recommendation?

I toyed around with the tone controls of the MacIntosh 6500 integrated amp (on loan for audition) and found that they just mucked up the sound further.

A good EQ will largely avoid this effect, right?