Down-graded and happy?

If it helps, there's a whole thread somewhat dedicated this this. It's the Perpetual Merry-Go-Round thread. :-)

I change gear a lot, just because it's fun to try different things. One thing is when I change it is not always an upgrade, sometimes quite the opposite. I don't call it a downgrade,(by definition I guess it would be) but a lower priced piece. Something that I have found to be true, is that you don't have to spend enormous amounts of money to achieve great sound.
Well thought out reasonably priced components that play music can give you just as much, if not more pleasure than the most expensive stuff.
So the answer is yes, you can downgrade and be quite happy.

It would be really hard to downgrade, but it would be nice to simplify.

Here is what I found works best and has taught me a lot:

I buy one component and then I buy all the direct competitors, one at a time, in the same price range. I keep the better of the two each time. This way, after trying a few, I have the best in that price category. You would be surprised how much difference there is between them! If you don't have the best at a price point when you "upgrade," then you are aimlessly wasting money.

In addition, you get to try them out in your system and with your ears so you KNOW what is best. This is the only way to do it.

Doing this, I have come across some components that are silly good for the money. i keep them in mind in case one day I need money or space and can "downgrade" without losing much quality at all. Good luck!