Have you reached your end point with this addictive hobby?

I agree that synergy is a key part of an end point setup.  I've been close for quite a while, and thought I was there more than once, but seem to keep finding some minor refinement to pursue.  Perhaps we're not truly done until we just stop working on it.  

At this point in my life I can say that yes, I’m done upgrading and refining my rigs.  Final addition was summer of 24.  I’m in a happy place with both my stereo analog and digital surround set ups. Of course that does not mean there will not be occasional tweaks and adjustments of the existing pieces. 

Enjoy the music. 

I am definitely done (cooked to crackly crunch) having completed an upgrade in '24.  No need to go any farther down this road, the system sounds fabulous.

Any "upgrade" could easily be a downgrade.  It is really nice and warm and cuddly to be comfortable in your own shoes.

Getting to old for the motorcycles so more time will be spent driving the vettes for pleasure.

One of the posts posits that if you're still reading this forum you ain't done yet. Let me say that I enjoy this forum and who here hasn't read a Playboy mag, maybe still do.  Did you expect to find a piece that you just had to have, money be damned or was it just for reading pleasure?

Regards,

barts

I started my latest system in 2013 - committing to tubes and all separate components.  I just finished a major upgrade to it - speakers, isolators, rack, conditioner, duplex socket, power cords, & new transport (CD, SACD, Memory Stick).  I like the way it sounds now, especially better at low volume.  I buy everything used (except the rack, IPAD), so, that really helps the pocket book.  Since I am committed to tubes, I doubt I will upgrade much in the coming decade.  If I decide to pay for true high res steaming instead of exclusively using my transport for my many personal high res songs, I may upgrade the DAC and my IPAD streaming setup.  As the streaming technology continues to improve, that is where I see my future money going...  Currently, I am only streaming "low/medium" res.  

I have two systems I'm extremely pleased with.  One is my studio set up for my work (EDM producer,audio engineer, mastering engineer), and for my mains, I continue to find improvements.  Just recently went from an Odyssey Kismet amp to a Pass labs XA30.8 and I gotta say what a fascinating change.

Odyssey was so warm and full bodied but the pass labs just seems to sound so realistic from a tonal and soundstage perspective.  But I also see how the Odyssey had some extra warmth that was nice for listening, but for work I think the Pass let's me see in to the mix more.  You guys think it's bad when it's just your hobby.  When it's your profession and you are trying to use the equipment to help find a sonic neutrality to help your mixes translate to other systems.  Now I have to readjust my hearing for the new amp.  Will be a while before I can trust my mix decisions again most likely.  But it's so fun to see your music in a new light even if there is an adjustment period.

But after this I have to be done for a while.  Budget is screaming at me but I am super happy with my system right now.  But maybe these interconnects need upgrading hmm...