HOW LONG DID YOU HAVE TO WAIT TO GET....

No money spoke for me too; I started 25 yrs ago with a little Philips integrated TT with separate speakers. For years I added to the music collection and, when I could afford it, I upgraded the equipment with used items. I reached my "best" system 5 yrs ago (but had to sell that). Started again, and am moving up again... I can add that some items, such as a TT, could remain in your system for years: you reach a satisfactory performance level you can live with for a long time -- even as you upgrade the rest of the system. My 15yrs old Zarathustra TT has survived many tribulations. It's still there. There are many better TTs out there -- however, other items took priority.
As everyone has noted, the "absolute" component is a furtive concept... many mega components of yesterday are superceded by their replacements of today, etc, building materials quality often improves... IMHO, the fun is in the listening (to music), and how well we enjoy. Cheers!

WOW, maybe I will just stop posting... I didn't think that would get me a -2,-2..... Just trying to help. I retract my posts, go get a second mortgage and buy everything new right now ! There is that better?

No money, cant figure why you are getting negitaves. Checked out some of your posts and they are very good. Someone must not like something you said if so so what. Keep posting! This voting is silly as your negitaves prove.

Hey, No_money, don't feel bad. Same person (probably) came and knocked me off with a -2,-2 also. Someone just plain does not like us. This has happened before too. I can only hope the poor sick individual feels better now and I for one am happy if my neg. votes will contribute to their eventual healing process. Oh dear....the cynic in me is getting the upper hand. I should probably leave now. 2 plusses for you though, No_money.

Being a music lover the concept of owning a great system was a spector in the back of my mind seemingly from birth. Over the years various friends had nice rigs and the seeds that would one day bloom were planted by them.

In my early 20's a first step was taken with a Marantz receiver-based system. Loved it! That era was too short lived as soon after its purchase a burglar decided he liked it (and damned near everything else in the house) more. Though disappointed with this turn of events, the desire didn't die.

A gig selling audio gear immeasureably raised the ante. That experience taught much provided much insight into what level of equipment would begin to quench the still burning fire. It had a bad side in that for years that which fit the budget "wasn't good enough." Only revolution would do, not evolution! But a man can only stand so much and reaching the breaking point a mid-fi system was purchased. While better than nothing, it provided little to feed a musically starved soul.

An impromptu visit to an audiophile store a few years ago broke the dam. That little venture turned into a long series of auditions that spanned several years. The revolution had begun and it would be waged strategically.

This past year, more than 25 years from when the saga began the "dream system" became a reality. It's actually not quite finished and, as others have already said, it may never be. But for now I'm up to my ears in bliss.

So, to answer the question it took 25 years. Yes, 44 years old and I consider this my first "real" system. What's in it is secondary because everything from here on is icing on the cake. Pardon me, it's time to put a new disc on.