Have you reached your end point with this addictive hobby?

No, still exploring 

I know that my current system is capable of reproducing 98% of what my 61 year old ears (with tinnitus) are capable of hearing.  Does that mean I’m done?  For the moment, yes.  But never say never.  Though with the rapidly increasing prices, I find myself constantly asking “Is $xx,xxx really worth another .5% improvement?”.  

+1 @jimmyblues1959   My system is fairly mature after years of buying, enjoying, and then selling, to afford the next perceived step up the ladder.  Now large purchases are probably in the rear view as retirement is approaching (though these darn cartridges believe they are large purchases 😬…)

@drrsutliff 

 Chasing gear has always been a large part of the Hi-End audio hobby.

Why? IMHO, because it’s just an incredible amount of fun.  There’s also the aesthetic component to this hobby which increases exponentially the further up the price ladder you go. 

A lot of Hi-End audio gear (Dan D’agostino Audio comes to mind here) is as much art as it is an electronic sound reproduction system. Dan’s gear, at least to my eyes, is absolutely gorgeous; and comes with a price tag to match. 

Does it sound that much better than a nice system that could be built for say $30,000? (not an inconsiderable sum to say the least).  I think that’s a matter of subjective opinion.  

As I’ve gotten older,  perhaps the greatest irony that I have noticed in this hobby, is how many enthusiasts, as they age, have more disposable income in which to spend on more expensive audio gear, while their hearing capacity diminishes to some degree each year. And since the primary reason for spending astrobucks on the best audio gear available is to be able to hear the most subtle differences in the music we listen to, I decided long ago to enjoy the gear I have, since I listen to the same music, whether it's through my audio system or a mega buck system that would require most people to take out a second mortgage on their home.

Anyway, this is just my humble opinion and as such should be taken with a grain of salt. 👍

The question on whether you have reached your endpoint has been asked and the observation that the hobby is an addictive journey of continual improvement without satisfaction has been stated in this forum many times using different words and phrases to mean the same.  I have responded in general the same way each time.  Yes, I have reached my endpoint.  No, I do not believe I have been subject to the addiction of the desire for continual improvement.  Over the past four years I undertook a project to update my complete system for retirement.  The length of time was  dictated by budgeting the spend.  The system that was updated was a 1997 vintage system where I only updated the digital front end twice due to technology changes.  I attribute my long term satisfaction with my systems to how I approach system upgrades.  As a retired medical device regulatory affairs, quality assurance, and quality engineering executive, I view everything as a process.  In approaching upgrades, I set a goal for the improvement in sound quality I wish to make using my perception of live acoustic music I developed from attending concerts.  I then research trade journals to identify equipment that potentially will meet the goal.  I then audition the equipment to validate the goal is reached.  The process of setting goals and achieving those goals helps lead to long term satisfaction.  This process is consistent with the psychology of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.  Two of the many causes of dissatisfaction are rumination, and hedonic adaptation.  Rumination is the passive comparison of one’s current situation with some unachieved standard which can manifest in self-critical thoughts … there must be something better; fear of missing out (FOMO); I need the next best thing.   Hedonistic adaptation is the the tendency to quickly return to a baseline level of satisfaction.  The joy after making an upgrade fades and you return to dissatisfaction.  By setting well defined goals for improvement and achieving those goals, I have not been subject to rumination and hedonistic adaptation.  I am lucky that I feel I have established a system that is natural, and true to the music, that lets me focus on the musical composition and performance, not the system.  I recommend developing your impression of how recorded music should sound by listening to as many live acoustic performances that you can and then approaching improvements by setting goals that will get you closer to the real thing.