Even if you had unlimited means and a willingness to buy, try and experiment constantly with new gear, accessories and 'tweaks,' I think you'd find, as i have, that all of these activities may have little bearing on your enjoyment of your system as a source for listening to music. Audio is a hobby that can be pursued for its own sake, having little to do with listening to music for enjoyment; instead, the quest is to find 'better sound.' Nothing wrong with that, but at a certain point, it becomes more about the gear and tweaks than the music itself.
Like most things in life, there is a balance- a point that is different for each of us, depending on pocket book, interest, time and knowledge. I've actually found myself more able to enjoy my system now than at any time in the past. Yes, the system does some things extremely well, and has some limitations which I not only acknowledge, but can live with pretty happily. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in gear, but I'm more drawn to antiquarian stuff than the latest and greatest. Reviews are, at best, to paraphrase Mike Fremer, a form of 'informed entertainment.'
One thing having more time has afforded me is the ability to dig into the thousands of records I've collected over the years and listened to them, learn more about the artists and recordings themselves. If there's a place where I've spent money in the last few years, it has been on records- buying better pressings of records I like.
I'm not taking pot shots at those who want to spend time in gear acquisition and comparisons. But, having a fairly dialed-in system, I'm less concerned at this point with owning the latest and greatest- I'll replace a cartridge or retube a piece of gear when appropriate, but I'm actually having more fun, and getting more use and enjoyment out of the system now, than ever before.
Like most things in life, there is a balance- a point that is different for each of us, depending on pocket book, interest, time and knowledge. I've actually found myself more able to enjoy my system now than at any time in the past. Yes, the system does some things extremely well, and has some limitations which I not only acknowledge, but can live with pretty happily. That doesn't mean I'm not interested in gear, but I'm more drawn to antiquarian stuff than the latest and greatest. Reviews are, at best, to paraphrase Mike Fremer, a form of 'informed entertainment.'
One thing having more time has afforded me is the ability to dig into the thousands of records I've collected over the years and listened to them, learn more about the artists and recordings themselves. If there's a place where I've spent money in the last few years, it has been on records- buying better pressings of records I like.
I'm not taking pot shots at those who want to spend time in gear acquisition and comparisons. But, having a fairly dialed-in system, I'm less concerned at this point with owning the latest and greatest- I'll replace a cartridge or retube a piece of gear when appropriate, but I'm actually having more fun, and getting more use and enjoyment out of the system now, than ever before.