WOW. Love all the responses. I hesitated even posting because I sounded a bit crazy and it wasn't really about one set of headphones in particular, but man am I glad I did, this really IS the support group. Whoever collected all the funny bits did an amazing job.
And I appreciate all of the advice people have offered. My original post was definitely a little sarcastic (although I do see the 20 headphones hanging in my "can closet" someday).
I think the main thing running through me was the "awakening". So many people run around with those crappy iBuds in their ears thinking that they are really HEARING their Kylie Minogue (sorry to all the Aussies
). I've always been a sucker for research and getting the best bang for my buck, but combine those two with the passion for music and technology and holy nellie, this site feeds everything.
I'm not seriously worried about bankrupting myself (at least not quickly) on uncontrollable impulses. I just know that I'm utterly hooked now that I can appreciate the different sound signatures of different headphones and can't wait to spend the next few years sampling as many as I can. Definitely interested in CanJam.
In the meantime, I'll resort to reading these forums to keep my trigger happy purchase finger from ruining me financially. You all say this place is the instigator, but I think being able to read other people's comparisons and impressions keeps me at bay just a little longer, deconstructing every word as I try to meld someone else's thoughts in with my own tastes to see if that pair of headphones is truly worth my hard-earned cash.
Speaking of, can someone please compare the SRH-840 to the ATH-M50!