end game audio system -- how do you know you are there?

aKnyght

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having spent the past 2+ years slowly and methodically building / upgrading my system, i must say that at this point i am really, really enjoying it. when listening critically, i no longer find myself thinking that i need to upgrade this component or that cable, etc. instead, i find myself thinking about things like the quality of the recording.

honestly, i do not think embarking on another upgrade cycle would increase my listening enjoyment one iota. so, i may have reached my version of the proverbial end-game.

however, that being said, the tinkerer/hobbyist/audiophile in me says this is a heck of a lot of fun -- keep going!!

just curious how others here know when they have reached or will reach their end-game -- and once there what do you do?
 
Will stop when they pry my cold dead fingers from my checkbook...:-)

Cincy

lol -- i was afraid that would be the answer...

i have also heard it said: there are certain things one does in this stage of life that just simply equate to a smaller inheritance for the kids.

;) :D
 
When you can no longer justify the costs associated with the next upgrade. The decision has nothing to do with having the funds rather is the expenditure asking you to cross a arbitrary line you have drawn in the sand for each component.
 
I really enjoy changing different components and seeing what it does to my system. I have set a limit of about $10,000 per component as this allows me to sample more equipment. When will I stop? I'm not sure, I bought my first system in 1973 and the fun hasn't stopped yet.
 
having spent the past 2+ years slowly and methodically building / upgrading my system, i must say that at this point i am really, really enjoying it. when listening critically, i no longer find myself thinking that i need to upgrade this component or that cable, etc. instead, i find myself thinking about things like the quality of the recording.

honestly, i do not think embarking on another upgrade cycle would increase my listening enjoyment one iota. so, i may have reached my version of the proverbial end-game.

however, that being said, the tinkerer/hobbyist/audiophile in me says this is a heck of a lot of fun -- keep going!!

just curious how others here know when they have reached or will reach their end-game -- and once there what do you do?

me too, in the modern era of internet, forums, etc it's easy to get 'sucked in' to the merry-go-round.

as an active and competitive shotgun shooter I've said the same thing when it comes to the latest and greatest clay gun, haven't bought a new shotgun in over a year, guess I'm due ..........:snicker:
 
This Is akin to a relationship. When you are “there” you are happy. You don’t need anything else.

But... all relationships are dynamic; never static. Things can change with time and then who knows.

Spoken from the “happy” side... for now.
 
My two vices in life are being an audiophile and a photographer. As an audiophile, I haven't reached end-stage system yet. Though I do have an end-stage system in mind and a plan to get there ...

As a photographer, however, I haven't upgraded my body/lenses in close to three years now because at a certain point, I realized that the image quality coming out of that camera was frickin' amazing and I felt like it wasn't the tools holding me back anymore.

I'm hoping to get to the same point with the stereo when I reach the same "plateau" as I did with my camera gear. Say, around 2023. :)
 
Wow, boy can I relate... I think I am so close... I absolutely love the sound of my system... I am completely astonished that a step down in speakers would actually bring me to nirvana. Then something inside me says... but but, maybe just more power, or or this or that... but honestly at this point I am not sure where else I would go.

I was thinking that everyone says I need more power for the Magnepan's, but then I listen to the "little" T+A and see it provides more pure power than I will ever need and it sounds sooooooo good... but but but... then I realize this system sounds amazing to me.. maybe it is time to just enjoy...
 
having spent the past 2+ years slowly and methodically building / upgrading my system, i must say that at this point i am really, really enjoying it. when listening critically, i no longer find myself thinking that i need to upgrade this component or that cable, etc. instead, i find myself thinking about things like the quality of the recording.

honestly, i do not think embarking on another upgrade cycle would increase my listening enjoyment one iota. so, i may have reached my version of the proverbial end-game.

however, that being said, the tinkerer/hobbyist/audiophile in me says this is a heck of a lot of fun -- keep going!!

just curious how others here know when they have reached or will reach their end-game -- and once there what do you do?

If you strike oil sonically, then you should stop drilling. However, if you uncover a bottleneck in your system, it should be addressed.

Best,
Ken
 
Or maybe have fun assembling a new system for another room. maybe base it on a different front end or a different type of speaker system. main system remains the primary and the new one opens up a lot of fun and tinkering. you could also go crazy and make it surround sound with video.
 
I will stop when I cannot justify the upgrade cost. I will stop swapping gears when I stop reading posts (I have an itch for upgrade/change when I see someone saying good things about the gears they have) and just enjoy what I have.
 
This reply isn't exactly what you are asking, but it works for most of my RoomPlay clients, and has for me for many years:

When I am voicing a client's system to their room, I am listening to tracks that I have heard many thousands of times. I actually think I know exactly what happens in the next few nanoseconds as the music unfolds.

Even so, when I find myself falling into this music that I have heard countless times, it's time for me to turn and say to my client, "we're done."
 
lot of really interesting and insightful perspectives here.

i don't mean to say that i can't improve upon the SQ of my comparatively very modest system. rather, i just don't think there will be greater toe-tapping, head-bobbing and overall enjoyment from the listening experience with any further material system upgrades.

on the other hand, there are other parts of this hobby that i find quite enjoyable: the tinkering, research, learning, experimenting, etc with new or different types of gear and technologies. there is still plenty of fun to be had in this area. it is always the journey rather than the destination -- right?

just curious about the thinking of others on the topic ...that and maybe just looking to give myself permission to indulge further.

;)
 
The end game for me is when your health dictates your hobby goals, be it audio, photography, cars, golf, fishing or anything you enjoy. Its then that you know your priorities in life.
 
The end game for me is when your health dictates your hobby goals, be it audio, photography, cars, golf, fishing or anything you enjoy. Its then that you know your priorities in life.

I like that, well said! Luckily at this point I am fit as a fiddle!


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