The simple answer is you find what works, and stick with it. That means know when to stop.
Like many (most?) here, I've bought and sold more hi-fi components than I can count, trying this new source, or swapping one amp for another, changing these speakers for those other ones, etc.
For me personally, I got off the merry go round when I found components that sounded simply spectacular, and everything else I was trying just didn't sound as good. Of course it's a subjective thing, and what sounds good to me, may not to you. Not to mention the different listening room shapes and sizes that will make a component sound great in one room, but not so good in another.
FWIW, my "I got off the merry-go-round" components are the following:
Tyler Acoustics taylo reference monitors
Decware Zen Torii mk3 integrated amplifier
North Star m192 mk2 DAC
Slim Devices Transporter
The transporter is connected to the DAC via balanced AES/EBU. All interconnect and speaker cables in my system are from Blue Jeans cable. Power cables are generic IEC hospital grade.
I'm in listening bliss, nearly everything it plays is the perfect balance of detailed, musical, warm, and massive 3D soundstage. I have no desire whatsoever to change any of these components - I don't even browse the equipment classifieds any more. I couldn't be happier!
Again, this stuff is all quite subjective, so take it with a grain of salt, but now you know my experience.
Like many (most?) here, I've bought and sold more hi-fi components than I can count, trying this new source, or swapping one amp for another, changing these speakers for those other ones, etc.
For me personally, I got off the merry go round when I found components that sounded simply spectacular, and everything else I was trying just didn't sound as good. Of course it's a subjective thing, and what sounds good to me, may not to you. Not to mention the different listening room shapes and sizes that will make a component sound great in one room, but not so good in another.
FWIW, my "I got off the merry-go-round" components are the following:
Tyler Acoustics taylo reference monitors
Decware Zen Torii mk3 integrated amplifier
North Star m192 mk2 DAC
Slim Devices Transporter
The transporter is connected to the DAC via balanced AES/EBU. All interconnect and speaker cables in my system are from Blue Jeans cable. Power cables are generic IEC hospital grade.
I'm in listening bliss, nearly everything it plays is the perfect balance of detailed, musical, warm, and massive 3D soundstage. I have no desire whatsoever to change any of these components - I don't even browse the equipment classifieds any more. I couldn't be happier!
Again, this stuff is all quite subjective, so take it with a grain of salt, but now you know my experience.