Words From the Wise

1.have fun with the whole thing. In a sense hi-fi components are tools for enjoying music but they're also toys. when you take home that piece, you should be excited and happy (like a kid at xmas), not anxious and worried about how much $ you just spent. decide how much great sound is worth to you before buying.
2.audition stuff at home as much as you can, with your own components and room interacting with the auditioned piece
3.use your favorite music (stuff you've heard a million times) to audition things - that way you'll be aware what a system or component is doing (or not doing) - the "wow, I never heard that before" effect
4.audition things in a relaxed situation, take your time, then put the thing-to-be-replaced back into the system at the end of the audition to see the contrast again
5.find a dealer who 1) has stuff that sounds good to you and 2) you can trust (i.e. will let you take things home to try without charging your credit card). you'll pay more to buy from 'bricks and mortar', but until you're educated and confident about this stuff, the information and help the trustworthy dealer gives you will be enormously useful

No one else's opinion is superior to your own ears.

If you don't have the time, patience or ability to discern a difference in a component, tweak or upgrage - don't buy it.

1.) Your goal should be the enjoyment of music, and not the acquistion of the most expensive equipment.
2.) There is one absolute in this hobby: CHANGE!!
3.) Patience is a virtue...If you missed that once in a lifetime deal, wait, there will be another one around the corner.
4.)If I had a dollar for each time I or my audio friends said "After I get this next "_____", then I'm finished.", I would be rich.
5.) Remember we all have/had a job; an audio reviewers' job is writing about audio equipment and/or music.

NEVER EVER EVER ASSUME that more money spent on a product (I don't care what the dealer tells you) indicates a superior sounding product. A lot of times this may be the case, but I have found many items that are very very affordable that will smoke much more expensive gear. Moral of the lesson: TRUST YOUR OWN EARS.

Regards,

Mike

1-3 as per Swampwalker.

4. Try tweaking (placement, supports, etc) present equipment before investing in new equipment

5. (Most important) Invest in MUSIC. Keep the system playing, listen to live music of all kinds, purchase lots of software. Equipment invariably changes and could let you down; music remains true!