Did you notice that most of us "old farts" have been playing with equipment for a long, long time and hope(I can only speak for myself)to do so until we can't hear any more. I feel like a pup compared to some of you elder statesmen!
Perhaps no finish line, but certainly a place and time for complete contentment in a system that can last for years.
Soundlab M1 speakers with a powerful (600 watts/side) SS amp and nice tube preamp has taken me to that place. I am certainly done for now, but perhaps not finished for life.
Gotta say, I have no current plans for major changes. I have owned the Aerial 9's for about 5 years, Lector for 3 yrs. and Tom Evans Vibe/Pulse for 3 years (off and on - I have owned several of them). I have only had my Clayton amps about a year, but with the upgrade to current product, I cannot imagine wanting different amps. The only possible near-future changes I foresee would be with my source, where I am currently going between the Lector and a MUSE, and also by potentially adding server based music.
To get here required some stops, starts and sideways moves to try new things which usually were not aligned with my sonic preferences. I have found simpler to be better for me, by staying mostly away from tubes, simplifying support options with Herbie's products, and getting off the cable merry-go-round. In summary, I will not say I am totally done forever but, for now, I will move forward at a much slower pace since my current system sounds great to me, I am a little tired of the upgrade process, and I have other ways I would prefer to spend my time. To answer the OP question, I started upgrading my previous system of 15 years around 1999, so it has taken 12 years to achieve my current system.
The 'end' you think, but I've been at this for over fifty years and there is no end, but the grave. Looking forward to heaven, when music will be endless.
It has taken me six years of effort to cludge my system together to the point of complete satisfaction. (I still wish to install dedicated lines but that is for completeness rather than seeking out audio improvement.) During the journey, never having excess money seemed to cause great frustration for me as I knew what direction in sound to continue to improve towards but could not get there fast enough. But looking back on it now I feel it was a blessing as it forced me to do far more investigation and be very disciplined with my selection process. Limited funds kept me from purchasing "flavor of the month" gear and instead forced me to rely more on my own ears than others' opinions. I still lost some money on some of the items I've replaced over the years but each replacement was always a great improvement towards the sound I was chasing.
Finish line! There ain't no stinkin finish line! There I said it, I have been at this for 35 plus years and have yet to see a finish line. You do get pit stops, some long ones a few years and some short ones only a few months but that is all. The never ending search, that's the fun of the trip. For me anyway.
Over 60 years and during that time have had 5 "Final" systems That is also why tubes are fun because you can change the sound of the system by tube rolling although that can also get expensive. My power amp has 16 KT-88's
I say I feel the same as you do , However the influence of ones financial health cannot be overlooked. Get too healthy in that area and it always becomes easier to justify a little more expense at least easier than it was to do it all the years that financial health wasn,t there and still did it anyway. So I,ll say I'm done...... at least till I'm "healthy" enough to afford a kick ass all tube system and enough tubes to roll for the next 30 years!
I can remember my first "system" back in the late 60's. Hope to God I never find that I'm satisfied. I look here daily to see what else I can play with hoping that I'll find something that will "move my soul"
Just Started about 2 years ago. I like where I am now but the search for perfection is ongoing. Isn't continuous improvement what this hobby is all about?
If one could go to the store and by the perfect system in a single visit, it would not be much fun.
great. i've been setting up systems since 1975 and will never quit even if i win the lottery. ha. i have recently got to the point of diminishing return i can stand and would have to spend a lot more money to get just a bit better sound. so for now it is just experimenting with room treatments, and a powercable and.........ha
I have been at this for 35 years, and just recently got to a place where I feel like maybe posting my system in the "done for now" category. For me, a series of recent acquisitions produced the synergy I had been looking for. In particular, a pair of Wilson Benesch Curves are the linchpin to my new-found satisfaction. I am hoping to be done "fiddling" for good long while.
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