If you knew then, what you know now...

I agree with Dekay, I would be more patient. Instead of upgrading one step at a time, I would wait for my budget to grow and upgrade 3 or 4 steps at a time. In other words maybe buy 1 main item every year or two. Like replace the amp this year and then the preamp will just have to wait, That way I'd be able to live longer with the purchase and not have to go through the buying/installing headaches. Sean, you had a earlier post as to the headaches of setting up the system, and your right it can be a pain. So my advice is to try to have more patience than me, it will be much easier and more rewarding in the long run. Gotta go buy more cables. See ya.

I agree completely with all of the posts above. However, I will say that my botched purchases have taught me almost as much about audio as my good ones--at a price of course.

My two cents: I would have taken more time to make sure any components, cables, etc. purchased work well together--just because something is expensive and highly rated doesn't necessarily mean it will match with another piece of gear. And I wouldn't assume that what some expert (anyone) is telling me is correct--I would try for myself. Oh yeah, I almost forgot the most important part--when I do screw up--to smile about it, and chalk it up to experience $$!!

Lots of good components, speakers, and cables out there, but it's important to match them well. Recently I went to a high-end store and was surprised to hear such harshness coming out of > $25K systems --bright-sounding sources, bright-sounding amps, bright-sounding speakers. A few months ago, I upgraded my system with a very good solid-state amp, but things sounded tinny when using my well-regarded $18/ft speaker cables. The system sounded much better with my $4/ft cables, and better still with the $100/ft cables I'm using now.

I would have never purchased SS.

I also don't believe that more expensive equates to better sound.

A change of component may mean different sound but not necessarily better.

All of the audio equipment that's been in my life, for whatever reason, led me to the knowledge I have today. I would not be happy if I had not explored every opportunity. All was a learning process, even discovering what I did wrong. I do agree with one poster who said "save for what you want." I have never considered the price of equipment to be as important as the music it delivers. When I can get a bargain I am absolutely the first in line, but I will not buy a bargain if it does not deliver the magic.