How close are you to being to your endgame? My system outline and I'm almost there.

You have assembled a great system and obviously done it very thoughtfully. Congratulations. I’m sure you will derive great enjoyment from the music. What is your room like in terms of dimensions and treatment? 
 

You really do have top-notch components in your system, and I congratulate you on getting where you want to be.

Nice work pursuing, and obtaining the kind of sound you want to live with! For me, it is more like I have reached a place where everything is "good enough." Humans are curious creatures, and I believe we are wired to be dissatisfied with what we have - it is probably a survival mechanism.  So, I think I have a very enjoyable system, good enough to investigate new music, and to feel very moved by the art. But then my brain says - "hmm - I've always wondered what omni speakers would be like in my room." And then I look up those cute little omni speakers from Decware. And that little itch starts up.

But truly, my system could be end game enough for me if I am able to let it. I really get a kick out of the good things it does. If I could just "Full Stop" after that last thought, it would be end game indeed.

I guess you're right with the "good enough" statement for sure. That's how I feel about mine. There is plenty better out there than mine but I don't know if I would even buy it if I had unlimited funds. I really like what I have at this point and I like the sound signature of the whole system. Maybe a better dac at some point but I'll have to save for years lol my system is good enough and will especially be once I get the newer cartridge. I watch videos and read about the newest and greatest this or that but I think mine can hold its own and is plenty good enough for me. 

Next I'll work on finishing my room this winter. Right now my system is in an open basement. The whole thing is I think 32' wide and probably 40 feet from the front wall to the only wall behind my chair. I have it setup where it's about 15' wide and from the front wall to my head is probably 20' feet or so. The ceiling is about 8'10" and the right wall is sheet rock. The left side is all my record shelves to make a makeshift wall. The front wall doesn't have sheet rock yet. I have about 15 more sheets to hang at some point this fall when I get more time. The front is concrete with studs and mineral wool insulation with fabric over it. So like a whole wall of absorption which is not ideal. I know things will get better with some more reflections eventually and gain some soundstage width and depth when it gets finished up. The floor is concrete with a large thick rug in the center of the listening area. This winter the goal is to finish that last couple of walls and then start really finishing the whole thing with carpet and furnish like a really finished basement. I have to do everything slowly because the wife hates spending money on the basement and really hates everything to do with my stereo lol. 

I have reached endgame and I did that last year on my first send with speakers after endgaming my portable audio stuff @aj1735 

My system is posted on Audiogon. The only component I'm interested in replacing is my Chord Dave DAC. 

I have  not changed anything in the living room system for 20 years aside from styli, some "rolled" tubes and drivers and a few new runs of the "same" speaker cable due to cat damage.

Next step is a simple SS setup with the same TT and CD deck and more conventional speakers (if I ever get around to it).

DeKay

Great to hear you are approaching your end game system. It would be great to see it. If you would post some photos and ID your components under your user ID in virtual systems we could see it... and as it comes together while upgrading the venue.

congrats on your system. Definitely sounds like you have built it wisely

I'll try to get some pics posted after the zenith mk3 shows up tomorrow and I get it all together. I'm just hoping to get some extra time to actually listen and enjoy it. We have horses and the kids are always busy wanting help with them. Seems like in the summer I don't get into the house after work and the barn until after 10pm usually. Just always something to do outside in the barn with the horses or cows after working all day. I definitely start feeling it more as I'm getting older lol 

Probably close in theory but in reality I’m always looking to try something different just because so practically the game will continue to go on to some extent for as long as I am able to play. 
 

I do have hifi gear all around the house just to provide multiple places to have fun listening but will likely sell some of it off at some point as part of overall downsizing.
 

 I have managed to reduce my total investment in this stuff however in recent years by better managing price and bling  as influences in my buying decisions and focusing mainly on how things sound, enabling more cost effectiveness in achieving my ultimate sound. 

I’ve been end game for a long time, as I am not one for constant changing of brands/components. My system is essentially the same as it was twenty-five years ago - only the front ends have evolved. I’ve been happy to stick, but the game changes every once in while. Along comes some new development that pushes the envelope. I do the upgrades that I can afford, but don’t sweat about the ones that are beyond me. It doesn’t matter that I’m no longer keeping up with the cutting edge in respect of power amps and loudspeakers or even the turntable. I’d be content to live with the sound quality that I’ve got now for the rest of my life. 

Good to hear your end game system is almost there. It would be great to hear it if you post a link of your system video.

Have had multiple versions of 2-channel systems since 1975.

100% satisfied with my current system.

Endgame system? I'm there.

PS- 

@aj1735  Very nice system OP!

@tomcarr thank you. It really is pretty good feeling to not be wanting everything better. I've had my esoteric dv-50 universal player player the longest and I've never really had any urge to get something different. It works great, sounds even better and I even like the looks of it. Lol then my vpi aries turntable I've had the next longest. It's been the exact same way with it as the esoteric. It's plenty good enough for me and I'd have to spend a good amount more to try to get much better. So I haven't even thought about different tables because again mine works great, sounds great and I love the looks of it too. The the Rowland coherence ii preamp and bps along with the 8ti are pretty new in the system but I love them

I don't think I can or even could get much better than those. My newontech dac07 came in a trade to replace my old mytek Manhattan ii dac as kinda a short term piece but I really enjoy it. Yes there are better ones for sure but it sounds very natural and musical in my system without any analytical edge and that was even streaming from the wiim pro. So I think the dac is plenty good for some time. Then the innuos zenith mk3 should be from everything I've read, just the perfect fit into the system. So with all of that, I really don't have any urge or reason to want more. I would like to get a used ds audio w2 or 003 cartridge and energizer. After that my vinyl will be plenty good enough. Right now I am using an old denon 103r with an old project phono box ds phono stage that I've had as a spare foe a second system. Right now the vinyl sounds pretty good even with that.

I have watched some videos and read some things about people being at the end of their journey. It really makes sense to me 

Might as well have time to enjoy other things and just be happy to listen to some music when you have time. 

Looks like you will be in need of one of these
https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?p=2&product_list_order=price_desc&q=Usb

along with

https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?product_list_order=price_asc&q=Ether%20net
and 

https://www.thecableco.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?q=Power%20cable&product_list_order=price_asc
I am sure that going from a WIIM to the Innuos will be a jaw dropping and then a _____ eating grin experience. Enjoy the music!

@gkelly I hope it's going to be that kind of experience. I'll eventually get to the cables but that can be my play around time after I get all the major components done and purchased. I've never really played around with different streamers much. I had a microrendu before with roon and then the wiim. So I'm hoping this is that kind of experience and just another check off the list of gear. I really think that's where I'm going to be. I can always make a second system again for my daughter to play with and enjoy buying and selling for it but this main one is pretty good right now. I'm actually playing some right now and just smiling. 

Really nice system @aj1735 and definitely post some pics we do love ogling each others gear.   And pretty satisfied here I rarely feel the need to upgrade but may occasionally get the itch to hear something new. Next step is a pair of hornspeakers currently being built for me and after that I may be pretty much done. 

Good for you. My system is always getting there, I think. However my house of stereo setup takes it to another level. If you check it out, you can see I also run the Innuos ZENith mk3. With my setup, the USB connection is a huge step down from running it via a DDC I2s connection. The USB is like a heavy veil in comparison. Of course I have multiple add-ons along the line with different dac/equipment so no clue how it would perform in yours. You're not done, take my word lol.

Very happy for you @j1735   You are in a very good place that can be elusive so enjoy! Reading through your gear I can understand why the combo would sound great together.  

I have 2 audio chains, a main system and a flea watt system.

Since I’m retired, I tried to short-cut the trial-error process to start my main system  at near end-game level, targeting transparency and neutrality without sounding analytical/clinical: VPI Avenger Rim, VDH Grail SB,  Linn Klimax DSM/2 Organik DAC, Constellation Inspiration Pre+Stereo, Vimberg Mino D. 

After I set up main system after moving, will fix room and decide on future upgrades if needed.  Still deciding on budgeting for tweaks/rabbit holes: Ethernet filter, Ethernet switch, QSA, Schnerzinger

@grannyring thanks. I have had a ton of gear in the past but this is the best I've ever had it sound. I really think it's a synergy thing. The whole system just sounds great together. I'm definitely excited to get the zenith mk3 tomorrow. It will end up being a nice unplanned birthday gift to myself lol

@kennyc sounds like a great system that you have. I think just starting with a great system would be great and simpler than all the trial and error but definitely more costly upfront. I have to try and save up money and then sell something before I get anything new usually. The problem is that now I've sold most of the extra gear I've had sitting around. So money will come a little slower now. I've definitely enjoyed the journey of the different systems though. Learned some things that I like and don't like. I don't think I'd change much though along the way. It's been a great process. 

Nice gear, enjoy the music! With me, just because I have a dream car, doesn’t mean I don’t have a dream car 😂

Congratulations on approaching your end game.  You have some excellent, musical equipment.  I have been at what I consider my end game system for over a year.  I made improvements over two years prior to enjoy in retirement.  I do not anticipate any equipment upgrades.  Enjoy the music.   Post photos and a description of your system in your profile.   

Congratulations on setting up a system you love.  I upgraded to the Zen MK3 and it made a difference in the sound with my system.  I’m all set with my main system.  Working on the system for the TV setup at the lake house for the summer.  Setting up a new system is Always a fun part of this hobby.  For me It’s a musical journey not a destination.  

Well if I again say 'I'll never sell these' I will probably eat my hat (again).  That said, I do love my system. 

I'm pretty much where I want to be at. 

Speaker placement and room treatment still need some work but I'm pretty much done spending money unless something dies.  Every now and again I think about getting some new equipment  but then I turn on my gear and am very satisfied with it.  

aj1735, Your system is certainly of a higher pedigree, more complete, and more thought-out than my own. BUT the notion of "almost done" and "done, unless something else breaks", brings to mind software projects from my working days.

In engineering projects, and surely other domains of construction or development, the first 80 or 90 percent of the tasks tend to be much easier to complete than the final 10 percent or so. The endpoint has a way of creeping on the calendar, subtly moving from one month to the next.

In my own case, psychology of behavior seems to be significant. I've been reading about new and used audio equipment (and studying this board) for years. The hunt has become as much fun as the kill, I'm afraid, and now I admit that I cannot stop. YMMV.

Cheers!

Don’t really need to upgrade.  Have added things, no upgrades/replacements since 2011

Decware Mini Torii 2011

Ref 3A de Capo speakers 2010

VPI HW-19 mk iv with jelco SA250-st Shure V15VxMR jico stylus 2007

Emotiva ERC-4. 2020 replaced MH cd-25 that died

MHDT Stockholm v2 DAC 2021

Wiim Ultra 2025-loving this

Not using

Mac Tuners. mr-71, 67, 74

Schitt Eitr

Grommes PHI-26 (second system, saved from a forest fire)

The past year has witnessed a marked improvement in DAC and LAN networking.  I moved from cabled ethernet to all single mode fiber optics(via Microtik managed hub), from USB to I2S(replacing an Esoteric K-01X/Sonore Sig. Rendu Deluxe/USB combo with an Audio-GD R2R HE7 Mk3 with I2S), and above all a Pareto Audio music server with a Pareto Pi node that converts EN-over-fiber to I2S.  I don’t think there is another offering in the market with EN fiber directly into I2S.

Together these changes removed the last traces of digital artifice and shifted the base line enough to seriously consider retiring vinyl from my system.   That’s a finish line for me--at least with respect to the source.

Another milestone was a Manley Labs Massive Passive line-level studio equalizer.  

I’m there. Maybe add a second tonearm and mono cartridge down the road? Perhaps a different power conditioner someday? A six meter XLR run of Cardas Clear from the amp to monos might be nice too someday? But yeah definitely got the rig at the endgame stage!

@vuch and everyone else that's posted, that's so awesome that so many people are there or very close to it. I know with myself, it really is almost a relief. I don't even think about wanting anything more. Maybe play around with a second system or something like that for fun but really am happy now. Work on the room and tweaks if I'm bored but I was smiling last night when I was playing. That's all we can ask for 

I would challenge all that say they are done to print their posting and place it in the folder where you put new audio equipment receipts.   It may make you smile the next time you see it!