I feel your pain. Experience and time have made me wiser. I have learned the following essentials : 1. Listening position and speaker position to be optimised . 2.Clean Power from the distribution board to the equipment . No need for power conditioners. 3. Cables ; power cable , interconnect and speaker cable of decent quality. If possible all from the same range. Try cleaning the contact surfaces of cables 4. Room acoustics. Bass traps for full range speakers and diffusers at first reflection points. Need not be expensive. Room symmetry helps. 5. New components need burn in and cables need to settle .6. Check if old amplifiers and preamps need recapping or new valves .7.most important is that if you like the sound and nothing irritates you then relax and enjoy the music. Nothing is perfect. The more you spend the greater the expectation. Should the above fail consider trying insert a different component/cable , one at a time. This may entail repositioning speakers.
Is it me? Will I ever be satisfied?
As we have become empty nesters, we put together or are putting together a nice dedicated two channel system consisting of B&W 804 D3, Levinson No. 333 ( this is an older amp 20+ years old), McIntosh C22 (just purchased) in which I have already upgraded the tubes, Linn Lp12 TT, Blue Sound for streaming. I am using Transparent balanced cables and Transparent speaker cables - not sure of the exact model, but all Transparent cables are close to 20 years old as well.
My questions, while I think the system sounds good - even really good. I don't think it sounds great. I recently purchased the C22 to be used with the No. 333 which I replaced a McIntosh MA252, which i really like and use in another system, it didn't have enough power. My room is our garage which we converted to a playroom years ago. It is approximately 25' and 20' wide. We sit about 12' from the speakers which are at one end of the room .. While I realize that this hobby or lifestyle can be never ending.... I am considering upgrading the cables next and last but not least, add a new Amp, McIntosh MC462 or MC312.
Wanted to get some feedback, thoughts, in site, advice what you experience, am I missing anything? Thanks