Most eye-opening upgrade and what you learned

For me it was q-tips, what a difference!

The biggest eye (or ears) opening upgrade I made was ading Bybee Quantum force filter to my interconnect, I never tought my system could do restitution like that!

A minor epiphany occured when I upgraded from Kimber 4tc speaker cable to Analysis Plus Oval 9. Then, I tried bi- wiring the Magneplanar 1.6's using both the Kimber & Oval 9's. Even better. Swapping the 9s & 4tc between woofer & quasiribbons changed things, each is different & equally interesting. Now the epiphany was this: synergy is everything. With every previous upgrade, you wonder just how much better can things sound. If the component doesn't gel synergistically, it's just different, not better. But when it clicks, eureka! However, it's both depressing & exhilarating. After the sonically enabled release of endorphins, the realization kicks in that this could be a never ending quest for the holy grail of audio euphoria. Like you, my wife & I are in the field of education & must go for "high value" products.

judith: welcome to the 'gon! having been at this hobby for roughly 35 years, i've had quite a number of eye (or ear)-opening experiences. i'll share a couple:

first, listening to my lp's on a decent turntable after they sat neglected for a couple of years during my first "digital epoch." the vpi hw-19 with a grado arm and grado reference cartridge simply blew away every cdp then available. so, for several years after acquiring this analog rig and upgrading to a tnt/ sme V/ lyra clavis, i had no cd player in my ever-evolving system. (FWIW, my current analog frontend is much more exotic.)

second, hearing a great one-box cdp in my setup. the first of this ilk was an accuphase dp-65, replaced after 2 months with a dp-75. thus began my second digital epoch.

for about a month and a half now, i've finally able to get world class digital AND analog performance with my purchase of a boulder 1012 pre/dac. this beautiful box, coupled with compatible lp and cd transports, provides the best from both my music collections.

i hope, tho, that i continue to be amazed by newer and better stuff. i especially look forward to the production of more great recordings of music, whatever their format might be.

-cfb

Yes tireguy, but were they active or passive q-tips?