^^^^^ I respectfully disagree. The whole point of this hobby is to enjoy and be immersed in your music. Once that's accomplished, what more is there, really?
Maybe if someone wants to be "done" spending money on their system they should do something like a Clockwork Orange retraining therapy.
Commit to playing only Michael Bolton, Wang Chung, and Mumble Rap only for a month. Your interest in and spending on your stereo system will likely subside.
I have amassed a very nice system to date. DeHavilland UV3 preamp Lumiin D2 streamer Rega Saturn R CD player / DAC ( currently using as a DAC) My treasured CEC TL2 CD transport Pass Labs 260.8 monoblocks Rythmik F12 subs Audio Physic Tempo plus speakers Nordost Blue Heaven IC's and PC's I know I'm a little silly and "top heavy" for amplification but I never really need to worry about enough or power or the quality of the power amps when I'm ready to upgrade speakers. IC's and PC's I'm content with..... For now!
For me - the sound is just part of it. The music is another part. I’d take my favorite music on a lessor playback than best playback of a track I don’t enjoy. But the tweaking, the look, the stuff is likely the biggest part. I tweak about everything I have. Sometimes, I make it worse, but it is always fun to tweak. That said, we are remodeling a house right now and I can justify thinks for work, but for listening, that is not so easy. My computer streams and drives a Qutest DAC, using the fancy cables, Goal Zero 1000 battery powered (sometimes) Cary CAD-300SEI SET amp with way more power than I need, and some Watkins gen 4 speakers, REL sub, and Sony MDR-Z1R headset, with RODE mic. Its for work, as I said. When I leave work, I don't listen to it (but I get 8+ hours a day). I think about other speakers I might try, but have a hard time believing any bookshelf/desktop will be better for near the $ of the Watkins. So I'm done - for work. When the remodel is done I think I'll find some budget higher power tube stuff. If the wife enjoys it, it could become very expensive.
For me, the hobby has three aspects; the music, the gear and the technology. As a result, at any given point in time, any of the three may beckon. I usually ask myself, how much am I willing to lose when its time to move on and try something different. This allows me to make "no regret" type decisions and enjoy where I am in the moment...knowing that its OK to move on when it feels right to do so.
You'd think with all the improvements we hear about from one year to the next that the best audio system for a given price today would wipe the floor with the best audio system at the same inflation-adjusted price point from ten years ago. I'm not so sure that's true. In fact, I think we'd find the difference subtle. Which is a reason to pause. I only came back to this because my old system broke down. I did not find speakers at the equivalent price point that blew away my old Thiels. In fact I found quite a few that didn't hold a candle to them. As for amps - well the differences are subtle there even among current models. DACs have improved, I think.
Pretty sure my answer is quite definitely no.... doh!
Saw a listing for a set of Maggies, brand new in the box at a very fair price imho.
So yes I had to buy them as I always wondered how they may sound.
Placed them in system last night and deeply impressed, surprising bass extension and superb vocals and acoustic instruments. Another nice aspect is there is not a small listening sweet spot, I can move around the room and it sounds good in most areas, even right behind them!
I am thinking my room and its limitations especially on speaker placement actually worked much in their favour, about 3ft from back wall and 4ft from side walls and approx. 8ft apart.
Of course now I have to wonder just how much better some of the bigger Maggies might sound...…..
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