Has anyone made the jump to $uper High end and were disappointed?

"The Jeff is Jeffrey Fritz Editor-in-Chief of SoundStage. After several years he’s looking to downgrade from a seriously expensive system. . . .  The fact that he’s concluded that the ultra expensive system isn’t worth it, sure makes me think!"

This is a false characterization.  

http://www.soundstageultra.com/index.php/features-menu/opinion-menu/739-jeffs-getting-a-new-stereo-s...

Jeff did not conclude this at all. He made clear that he was downsizing his system  for family obligation reasons, and that that gave him an excuse to focus on a higher value for money point on the cost curve -- to see what fraction of the sound quality of his big system he could achieve for a small fraction of the price of that big system.

PS: I give Jeff a lot of credit for rejecting the long term equipment "loan" regime in which many reviewers indulge.

And they are right, most digiheads will think it sounds good on their devices. I did hear an opinion that $1k Purist Audio USB cable is really something.

IIRC, USB cables need to have a characteristic impedance of 110 ohms to prevent reflections in the cable that can cause errors. Jim Aud (of Purist Audio) was telling me recently at RMAF that he had to use some really pricey test equipment to make sure his cables met that spec. This was in the context of hearing about a cable that was preventing the DAC from getting a lock (which was happening because it was not the right characteristic impedance).

Most recording studios are wired to keep out noise more so than audiophile quality. Thus, most studios are wired with Beldon/ Canare level wiring. Plus, using general data cables and hard drives ( although Glymph caters to the audio/ video industry, i would not consider them audiophile since same drives are used as in any orher system)

The thing you want to keep in mind here is that in the studio, most of the equipment operates balanced and supports the balanced standard. The raison d'etre of balanced line is to eliminate cable artifacts and allow long lengths as a result. So they are very much audiophile, in fact sort of uber-audiphile, since most high buck single-ended cables have far more artifact.

In a nutshell there really isn't much of a standard for single-ended cables, and the direct result of that is the way they are built can affect their sound. Over the years audiophiles have grown used to that fact and the need to audition the cables in their system. With it has come the hubris that the engineers in studios are clueless about cables. While that is sometimes true, its a bit of apples and oranges.

In my small home studio I use Mogami GOLD balanced monitor, midi and mic cables. I thought about trying Mogami's on my main home system as well since they sound so nice and are quiet as a mouse. Pretty much BlueJeans cables in main home system except speaker cables (Canare star quad)

I just ordered a Mogami mini stereo to dual RCA wire to connect a new Chord Mojo Portable DAC to my home system.   Expecting good things!  Cost way more than most sold to home users but not as much as many audiophile wires.   I want quality and performance from my wires, not a tone control.

Tomcy6  I will use some items I have actually personally purchased. First off would be a pair of altec  604E speakers for 1200 then would be a pair of atmosphere M 60 mono blocks for 1800 
 Then a pair of Phillips 12 inch sub drivers for 300Built some boxes for 100Sumo Polaris  amp to power those 200
dahlquist dq lp1 crossover 150(needed a pot replaced)
Bottlehead beepre preamp for 1500
ayre qb9 dac for 800(used original version pcm only)

Keen eye will notice I've gone over 5K but I am talking Canadian pesos so I should still be under 5K USD. I went digital because if I went with my analog rig I would be way over. 

The 604s are key as they are perfect for the otl's at 16 ohms. The otl's are a step up over everything I've ever heard  and I've heard a lot!