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How often to Audiophiles upgrade their equipment?

I am eternally confused as to how and when I should spend my money. I started into this hobby a little more seriously about 3 years ago and have the bug in full now. I do very much enjoy listening to music. However, there is always confustion on how to spend my money. I am not being very clear. Let me start again.

Currently I have a home theater setup in the family room with a Rotel RSX-972 reciever, B&W 603S3 mains, LCR600 CC, ASW1000 SW, 602S2 surrounds, Sony 999ES DVD/SACD and Sony KP51WS500 TV. I have started a second budget system in the main living room for music only and it has Monitor Audio Bronze B2 speakers, Rotel 1060 Amp, and Rotel 961 CD player.

I am generally quite happy with this setup and enjoy them very much. But off course I am always thinking what can I do better and if I should at all. Having a young family, I doubt I will ever buy some of the very high end euipment or if I would want to. But I have an opportunity to uprgade my speakers now with a very small loss. I was thinking of the 604S3, but having looked at them, they are just too big and frightened me off. The next step up to the B&W CDM series is quite a bit more. But to go to that line, I should probably also upgrade my amplification first.

I guess what I am getting at is, how long do "real" audiophiles stay happy with their equipment and when do they decide it is time to upgrade. For example, I was thinking of always sticking with a budget, and stick with my equipment for say 5 years (unless their is something terribly wrong) and then get new equipment/newer models different brands but using the same amount of money as in the original budget five years earlier.

If this question makes any sense, please relate your thoughts and experiences.
schugh

Showing 4 responses by slappy

slappy
903 posts
 
Ever since i had gotten out of the military, i would upgrade whenever it made sence economically.
Several times i had a chance to upgrade in the past 2 years and i diddnt because i had other priorities, Before that i would Make 1-2 major purchases in my stereo over the course of the year.

No all i have is radioshack speakers, a decent preamp, and a denon amplifier that keeps producing occasional static when everything else is off, i keep expecting it to explode, so right now i really really have an upgrade bug.

Once i get myself a decent rig i will probably go another year before any new purchases.

First i need new speakers, amp, pre, etc. probably gonna build it myself. Tube stuff most likely.

Maybe a year after that i will look into getting a turntable some some blues on vinyl.
slappy
903 posts
 
Good words Aceto!

The reason i want to upgrade is that i have a hard time finding anything i really like about my rickety crappy system.

hell, i am actually in the position where i can "Upgrade" to a bose Accoustimass.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
slappy
903 posts
 
Thom_y

Well, im sorta in the process of that now. Never actually took the marrige plunge but i did have it scheduled.

Now im back in the market checking out various systems and definatly looking for a higher-end model.

Something a little slimmer in the mid-range with nice forward high end, and a ample low-end. Ive managed to audition several systems in the past few months but have not been able to decide on a new model yet. The problem is finding the correct mix of cosmetic features with performance. It seems all to easy to find something very athetically appealing that has a shrill high end. Sometimes you really have to look around to find the correct system.

Also, synergy is very important to me, i would like the synergy to be so great that the system repeatedly senergizes with me on a nightly basis and takes me to a world far better than the one i occupy day to day. A system i can really indulge in that would never get fatiguing or worn out.

Im also sorta interested in a model that i dont have to upgrade but the option is there if need be. The last thing i want is deciding on a system for life and end up getting some sort of a lag on the right channel, or having a tube blow out on me.
slappy
903 posts
 
Huh? Who? ME????
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