Great thread! I turned 70 in December and I have been in this hobby for 50+ years. My current system is not the most expensive that I have put together but it is the most satisfying I have had. I don't think my hearing is anywhere near what it was 20 years ago but I can still hear great details in my current setup. We love and enjoy our music and that makes our obsessions worthwhile.
After fifty years… amazing. What high end audio can be.
I am just enjoying my system. I am in awe of what an audio system can be. I have been listening to Bill Evans in the 60’s and 70’s on my system (see my userId). Having relentlessly pursued the high end for fifty years, alway stretching to achieve the next level. It is so rewarding to have a system that completely surprises and delights me each time I listen to it. What a treat…personally, really well worth the thousands of hours and dollars to achieve it. At 70, glad I did it.