When did you put the most effort in setting up your audio system?

I started on my first true high end system not too long after I got my first professional job after college. I think I spent at least two - three years getting my first system put together. There was a lot of swapping, as this component or that would not really do it. Incessant reading and trying to get the lay of the land. I took out my first loan to buy a Threshold s500 amp ($5K…. $19K in todays dollars). That became my first “permanent piece”.

That held me for about ten years until I got out af graduate school and got a job. Then maybe a year and a half upgrading my system to the next level. Including probably 500 hours into evaluating cables… how they differed etc.

Next cycle took less than a year. Next about a year.

This last one after I retired… the choice of components really quick, wires quick, then about a year of slow methodical positioning, vibration control, and room treatments.

@newbee what took you a year to set it up? Just the room acoustic issues?

@markalarsen @ozzy As Mon Acoustic speakers are all in aluminum cabinets, I can relate to the carrying issues head to toe myself. we thought of getting those electrical stair dolly, but wow they cost $10k. I'd rather buy a new turntable. Always think about how to move your components before you start lifting up. 

@inna how is okki nokki cleaner? I am looking into a LP cleaner these days, so many choices. I need to free myself from manual cleaning.

@czarivey You mentioned it, now show off your record collection. Come on. I am far from getting there myself. 

@mahgister You would have to be resilient in learning. I respect you learning all those after retirement age. I recently met someone who started learning audio mixing and sound engineering(hobby level) at the age of 64, I respect! True passion that moves your body and mind like you! 

@ghdprentice You need to share a photo of your system after putting so much efforts into it. I think the more you get to know of each component in your system, you want to perfect it or get the full capability out of the system. I started this audio passion purely out of the asesthetic and as a desired routine of my after work daily ritual. Then I start noticing the rooms for improvement. Then the buying cycle begins again, haha. The usual rabbit hole.

OP, 2 things about setting up the Quads were 1) Controlling the back wave which included finding the correct distance from the back wall, toe in, and finding the correct height off the floor. This last item was the most difficult, everyone thought they sounded best on stands (which came with them) which I found, after long experimentation, no to be so (in my room at least). 2)Figuring out how to handle the back wave was a bit time consuming, but when done I had an outstanding soundstage. And, FWIW, I was fairly anal in those days. :-)

The most effort? Hmmm....that's a tough one.

Learning patience and wisdom when thinking about making a purchasing decision.

That includes (especially) used gear.

It can be an expensive journey.

One of the most interesting journeys for me has been the constant refinement of the system, not by adding or changing components, but by fine tuning things like speaker placement, adding direct 20amp circuits, etc. That's what's taken the most time and experimentation.

Every little change makes an impact, and while I will continue to tweak the above, have really enjoyed learning about how everything impacts and plays off one another.