I've had two new items returned in my journey so far because I could. Others were sideways improvements meaning different not necessarily better. These items were bought used and I stuck with them but that was a good thing. It helped to get the experience learning what different gear sounds like. Some things I'd like back and won't forget em. I've had much more of a rewarding experience tuning, tweaking, learning it's not always a component right off the shelf new or used that's gonna get me there. I would say my "success" rate is damn near a 100% percent because everything is a learning experience. The one true surprise/failure was my one experience with a mc. Nails on a chalkboard to my ears. That was through a step up into my Quicksilver. I didn't even think it was worth trying to work with it. I will try again with something else. The other surprise was a 2k ss phono that was cool but the heavens didn't open up with a choir of angels either. Gonna just enjoy the music now for awhile. It's not perfect but I know it's weaknesses and its strengths. The Decca super gold whispers in my ear at night tempting me from Grado though.
New Component Upgrade Success Rate
I like to try a new component once in a while when the upgrade bug hits. Cables, tubes, power cords, power conditioners, headphones, maybe even something major like a preamp or a DAC. I've noticed my successful adoption rate is pretty low and I usually end up returning the new component. About one out of every four or five attempts is a success. I'm batting about .200. What is your successful adoption rate when you try something new?