With all your knowlege you have gained over time,

I'd buy more records and CDs (and keep 'em all this time) and start simple, but buy the best performance I could with my upgrades. Maybe go from a NAD 2600 to a Krell FPB. Point is I spemt a lot of time and money assuming I would be satisfied as I went from a Sansewer (oops!) to a Carver cube to a Hafler DH220 to an Audionics CC3 to Precision Fidelity M8 to a c-j MV75a1, etc. Each time I wanted a better amp! I was much less neurotic about speakers...only have owned four. Funny enough...only one turntable in 27 years! But it was a good one at first! Buy better stuff sooner! Try to reduce overall costs of upgading. Actually I have spent far more on records and CDs than hardware...as it should be! I like 2 hear the music not look at equipment.

Excellent comments from everyone. I'd find some "audiophile" friend or friends whom have a vast inventory of equipment sitting around and have them put a system together for you. I'm sure something nice would emerge. Then buy music/go to concerts/enjoy the friends and family around you and forget the equipment and enjoy the moment. Honestly, I have no regrets. Life moves on.

Hi:
I really can't relate to that. The more time passes (If, in fact, it does pass)...the less I find I know.

Sincerely...
I remain,
Clueless

What would I do differently??? Being that I started this hobby 30 years ago, I was already buying the best technology I could afford at the time...with much enjoyment and no regrets. With today's knowledge I would put much more emphasis on wires and power conditioning, however, wire technology wasn't developed yet then, and power conditioning wasn't needed since power line pollution wasn't prevalent. To put it simply, I wouldn't change a thing.

Brownsanandy,
Greetings,
If I had to sell off all my gear, I'd have much larger problems in life than listening to pretty music. So, I'd likely not continue to be an audiophile. If we can't adapt enough, we die.

If I had the knowledge I had now starting out, I'd have a better system sooner.

If you're asking for experienced person's equipment recommendations, you'll get a million answers and be no further than at the start. I have found specific component questions to be far more helpful, i.e. one I asked recently, "What's the next step up from the Rega Planet 2000?"

If you just enjoy philosophical discussion, your question is a good one. But it won't help you actually put together a more satisfying system to your ears.