Impulsive audio purchase

I recently went on a tear of what I thought were rash buys ... I was hooked ... scanning New Today once every 15 minutes looking for a great deal. First it was a new AC3, then new amps, then speaker cables and stands. Every new part made the system sing unlike ever before. Then, last week a friend of mine brought a CJ pre over for me to listen to. I paid him on the spot and I am without the urge to keep upgrading. The sound is so far ahead of where it was the day before I can't stop pulling CDs off the rack and playing them. Now all I want to do is go buy newe CDs.

In response to Sarah's question along with something that fits into this thread, i ended up with 5 systems and plenty of "spare" gear due to "impulsive / compulsive buying syndrome" : )

I simply found really good deals on various pieces that i had always wanted to try out and experience first hand. Like anything else that i get interested in, it took off from there. The stuff that i liked, i kept or put into systems for friends. The stuff that i didn't care for went out the door. I ended up selling some stuff that i did like but just didn't have use for anymore a while back simply to make room for other gear that will eventually find it's way into my possession. It's getting pretty close to "house cleaning" time again though.

As to the five systems, I had the gear ( with plenty to spare ), so why not ? I have a large HT system (6000+ watts & 16 woofers) in the living room that my girlfriend and i make use of on weekends, a tri-amped system using six mono blocks (in a total state of dis-assembly now) in the listening room, a system consisting of 800 wpc monoblocks and omnidirectional single driver speakers in the puter room, a bedroom system with "tiny" Quad electronics and stand mounted monitors with dual subs that my girlfriend listens to every night while reading or relaxing and a basement system using large modified horns that will probably end up going all tube.

The nice thing about this is that each system has different "priorities" and "flavours". As such, i can listen to something in one system and come away with specific thoughts and feelings about that recording and then pop it into another system at a different time and come away with a whole new perspective on it. I'm not limited to having only one take on a specific recording or type of system. I can simply get up and walk from a "detailed" system to one that is "musical" or "dynamic" or "smooth", etc... I have them ALL at my disposal. Quite honestly, i could have never afforded ANYTHING like this if it wasn't for shrewd shopping and places like Audiogon, Audioweb, Audioreview and Audioshopper. Like most of you, i've built my systems up slowly and done it for pennies on the dollar. There's been a LOT of trial and error, but hey, that's half the fun... : ) Sean
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Wow Sean! I'm glad you don't live here in LA. The rolling blackouts would never stop! To be serious for a moment, it sounds wonderful. Maybe someday...

Todd