I don't lean towards the notion a System is produced to be End Game / Ultimate no longer to be considered as it is not able to be surpassed.
I prefer to think of the Journey as one that ends with discovery and discoveries yet to be made are in waiting.
A Sound produced as a result of an Electronic Signal being sent for Amplification through a selection of Circuits with a Particular Topology via Connecting Cables is a End Sound that is in certain configurations of the audio devices able to make a very good impression when heard.
From my own experiences had, when the End Sound produced is able to Impress, I work to build on from such a Cornerstone.
The selected Speakers Coupling to a room is a good place to place ones attention. Energies created in the Listening Space are having measures put in place to the listening Space, with the intention to mitigate the negatives that can occur to the End Sound. A negative influence passed on by local energies can be easily detected for being audible!
As stated by myself in another Thread:
"Coupling a Speaker to a room is the way forward to create a confidence the speaker interacts at its best when transmitting sound through the physical structure of the room, including the floor, walls, ceiling and locally placed items.
The Speaker / Room Interaction can have a profound effect that is a negative impact on the quality of the sound being transferred. Creating effects like room modes (standing waves), Reflected Sound, Causing Local Placed Materials to produce sound. Each when being generated will be negatively affecting the overall acoustic characteristics of the room. "
When a Speaker is undeniably approaching or at an Optimised Coupling to the Space it is being used in, there is a substantial Positive Outcome. Earlier produced sound that was assessed as impressive is not longer wanted to be maintained, the notion to reverse what has been done and return to what was the previous interface will be speedily rejected as a practice.
With this new influence on place, opportunity to be further inquisitive are to become at the forefront to be considered.
End Sound can be Investigated / Toyed With, as there is subtle additions that can make impressions that are preferential and when discovered wanted to be maintained.
My Own System is with a selection of devices I am Loyal to, they are mainstays and then there are mainstays that are used for periods of time until Rolled for an alternative device to create a Variant of the End Sound.
Using my system and the configurations it can be assembled, as a result of devices readily available to swap out, I am able to experience a variety of End Sounds where neither is more impressive than another, but some are known with immediacy for what is to be created, as they are familiar configurations.
There is on occasion an experience created that the End Sound is quite unwanted, where a Purchased Device or a Loaned Device can't be synergetic within the system, bit this is extremely positive, as it is measure of the value of work already put in.
Experiencing variants to the End Sounds Audio Equipment is capable of producing, has been the most fulfilling when I have not being limiting myself to what is able to be created, expanding on what is able to created, is the most fulfilling.
Inevitably one will have equipment to run two systems and have idle devices or One System and a increased quantity of idle devices if this is a route adopted.
I am not shy to loan devices to others for extended periods, Turntables, Tonearms, Amplifiers, Speakers and Cables have all been under the care of others in the past and it is still do in the present. The period of the loan usually is an indicator an attractive synergy is occurring elsewhere.