Does it ever end?

Because of the extreme variety of "recording quality" in our musical collections/streams, from poor, to mediocre, to tolerable, to enjoyable, to "wow factor", audiophiles are trying to match/compensate with their buying adventure, for weaknesses/differences in the recordings. Unless of course, the speaker/room/listening seat is compromised somehow, and many are. The "true character" of a violin, when heard live and close up, will never be duplicated through a sound system, at least none that I have heard, including mine. BUT, here is the kicker! Listen, to the violinist, PLAY the instrument, rather than trying to duplicate the "tone/sound" of the instrument, and the "location" on the stage being created. Hearing the bow excite the strings, what is actually happening? The violinist is performing for us. So, listen to the "playing" of the instrument, as a 1st priority, and everything else will follow. Whatever combination of gear you put together....at any price...in any room, with be compromised by the recording. Enjoy the "music", through the reproduction chain you put together. Musicianship...Composition. These are "a given" to us. Everything else will show up too. Enjoy!

@mihorn , I appreciated the Chris Isaak. Very familiar with it and it sounded nice through my headphone system.

Does it ever end?  NO.  But you can learn to live with the addiction. 

Have you tried AA? Audiophiles Anonymous?

As long as you stay interested in this hobby why should the endless journey for something better end? I believe a part of this, like any other hobby, is to try to stay current with whatever the state of the art happens to be and thereby begins the audio curse to improve on what you have.

I I hope it doesn't end . As a now "senior" audiophile the "weight" of high quality gear becomes challenging.  I find the hobby endlessly educational. Learning about both the gear and the "pressings" I, for one enjoy physical media and will often play vinyl over a CD. However, there are cases where the CD outshines the vinyl. All these years later, I'm just discovering "target" CDs. Glad I bought all those first press vinyl Blue Notes when I did  :)