How do you know what your weakest link is?

Thanks for your thoughtful contribution to the betterment of hifi and audigon. 

When did you know your gear started to outclass itself? At this point I'm purely judging on cost. Are there any other indicators I should be looking at? 

@petg60 thanks for the insight as always. I may have a decent phonostage as I'm guessing and a table/arm upgrade may be in the cards. I refuse to get rid of my Hana ML though as I love this cart. 

@tablejockey I had a dealer tell me there isn't going to be a major step forward going from my $1500 Nova III to the Modwright 9.0/x. At double/triple the pricepoint from 9.0/x how can this be? Anyone else please feel free to help educate me. 

I may give the 14 day trial Modwright as I'd like to test the unit, but I'd prefer to avoid half steps and if it takes $4k+ then I'll wait to make the move. And surely the Nova III is a nice unit, but it equals a unit twice a much? I don't buy it!

@russ69 I should probably set up my virtual system on here. Either way: Focal Sopra 2's, Clearaudio Concept Wood, Hana ML, musical surroundings nova III, linear power supply, Primaluna Dialogue Premium pre with Shunyata  Venom V12, Primaluna Dialogue premium HP power with Shunyata Venom HC power cable , Ps Audio P10 power regenerator with Audioquest Thunder power cable, rocket 88 speaker cables. 

@tomic601 very small 9 x 13 x 8 ft room. Two diy acoustic panels made from rockwool and burlap. It sure ain't no Gik, but it seems to help. Isolation is a good call. All components are on a solid steel rack. I guess it couldn't hurt to try some isolation devices under some components. I've considered ordering a set of those asc tube traps as well to see how they do.

@tablejockey 
I'm almost sitting on them. 46" from front wall and 25" from side walls. Bass is slightly boomy, but bass traps eventually. 

So cost isn't always a factor, and maybe not within someone's "taste", but at this level it isn't indictive of more resolution, depth or space? I figured the midfi is where everyone is fighting over to gain market share and sonics are held over lifestyle brands. I'm off the mark I take it?

@johnss I've considered the Chinook, but I've seen many reports of noise, picking up fm signals and more selling them than keeping them. I'm hoping a Modwright will alleviate all of that and it will be a keeper. We'll see where I go from here I guess 

@tablejockey I'd be interested in doing a pool for gear. We should get some people together so we can all experiment and try gear. Let's start with the Hagerman. 

@russ69  I actually updated my profile after I thought about it. I'm still thinking the bigge changes will probably come from my table or phono so I'll be starting there before the PL.