Did your system getting better the more money you spent or more experience you gained?

OP,

Congrats, I am in the same place. I truly loved the journey… although if I knew how much money I would have at this point in life I would know I would be spending to that level. 
 

It is very satisfying to have such a great system and time to appreciate and enjoy it.

@asctim , @mahgister

Exactly. This is one of the personal attributes you need to understand about yourself and the folks that are posting. What is your goal / personality / values?

I am a fanatic, if I can find a way to get a small amount closer to the absolute sound (what that sounds like is also personal value. I get tremendous pleasure out of it. If I can put in another hundred hours or another $10K… then it is absolutely worth it to do both. I am happy to do without a new car or fancy 🧻. Kind of the definition of an audiophile… frequently considered a disease, as opposed to a passionate pursuit or interest where rational boundaries exist.

Not surprisingly, I am like this about anything I pursue. Photography, bicycling, wine. I think most folks have an approach to all their pursuits and it is typically similar across the board. My motto has been “do or do not” for far longer than Yoda has been around.

I never forget being curious and borrowing a used top of the line Nakamichi tape deck back in 1979. It cost at least four times what I ever would consider (could reasonably afford ) putting it in my system.

I must have listened with my mouth hanging open and unable to speak for a very long time, shocked how good it sounded. It sounded so many times better than the highest rated (Stereo Review) tape deck I had recently bought… like cheap transistor radio vs real high fi. I became an audiophile that day.

Both. I have, in the very beginning tried to minimize cost and maximize effort (gaining experience) and found I wasted more money by trying to save money… I would try going low cost and just ended up buying three intermediate components and the final one. I definitely never invest less than 2x or more on each upgraded component… I have learned that is a great way to be very disappointed. 
 

However any purchase that was not hugely researched and considered in the context of my system has not been as effective either. So, you really need both to build better and better cost effective systems.

I suspect how much time you have / money you make strongly enters the picture here as well.