the one that got away - how do you handle grief?

I just beat myself up for being a c×nt when I shouldn’t have been and keep it moving. Almost invariably, I’m then energized to go find another one and pay more...as a type of self-inflicted punishment.

Over forty years, I occasionally succumbed to the temptation to chase a fantasy product either for aesthetics or supposed extreme performance. Meh. If you are not prepared to build the rest of the rig around it to make it sound reasonably good to excellent, it’s not worth it. YMMV 

Don’t get the idea that you will drop your fantasy product into your rig and it will outdo all others. The odds of that are vanishingly low.

If you’re buying it because you think it looks cool, don’t expect great sound.  

Find an Audiophile psychotherapist which may be difficult but not impossible.

@douglas_schroeder - I’m working my way through your book. Most of it would be helpful to newbies who might be swayed by false and nonessential beliefs. So for a newbie it offers good tips.

I differ at the dismissal of isolation devices. While many may have questionable benefits, HRS and CMS isolation seem universally positive results. Controlling electronics micro vibrations has positive sonic results.

Also, not everyone is seeking top level Sonics within budgets. Many enjoy trying out different components aka sideways movement for variety. The same goes for vintage gear. I myself have strived for a top transparent SS system, but I also have a second system centered around my 100db speakers to explore tube midrange magic starting with flea watt SETs. Maybe someday I’ll try to build an Eleckit or a speaker kit.
Hobbies are simply meant for personal enjoyment. 

Kenny

Thank you for your comments.  Perhaps you would like to set up some testing in your room to see if the isolation is audibly influencing the sound. The book will give you direction. Take care that with speakers they are height matched if testing footers.

I understand your appeal to sideways movement for variety,  and it could be argued that I have done so in multiplying different genres of speakers versus seeking "the One." I find regarding components, given the multiplicity of system configurations and vastness of the performance spectrum, even in seeking variety one need not settle for a sideways move. When I upgrade electronics,  it must advance all my speakers (genres). Sometimes it can be done more economically than at other times. :)