What improvements did you hear in going from entry level to high end Audio?

My system wasn't exactly entry level.  I had an Adcom pre, an Aragon 4004 amp and a Best Buy CD player with Polk SDA-1 speakers.    Then I added a Krell KRC-3 preamp and that made all the difference.  Crosby Stills and Nash, the first album had a song called Gwenivere on it.  Crosby and Nash sing a duet.  At one point they stop singing and I could hear them patting their feet on the floor.  I had never heard that before.  So much more detail.  It was like I was hearing the songs for the first time!  If I'm testing out a new component (among other things) if I can't hear the feet it's a no go.  Hope that helps.

The path to high end is long and expensive in most cases. Few push the boat out and buy a $200 000 system for example. Some get caught up what gear is reviewing well, hype of the back of it in shops Etc. All our ideas of what the ultimate is true high end vary greatly.  I like fast powerful clean sound that takes your mind away from everything else to it. That sweet spot sound at a concert where the engineer has it down. Loud clear but not harsh. So my journey has ended in big studio monitors with active crossover multiple power amps driven by a pre amp connected to good but not overly expensive source components. Some would say this array of boxes and cables are crazy but I go for performance first looks second and live with the mess. We all get a taste of a particular sound that gets us hooked. Then we spend or overspend to reach our sometimes unattainable dreams. Could say loads more but this is enough for now. 

Jbselector great post! I always tell people that your audio nirvana and mine are not the same. I’m the type that when I hear something great. It becomes my reference and I will try to get to it by spending less than they spent.  Less for some people is $500 for some people it’s 5k for some people it’s 50k. Depends on your income and or willingness to chase it. You attempt to find the match of cables and components that make it happen for you. The reason I started this thread and others is because I see a lot of posts that treat those of us who spend more to get there like we are foolish and that the manufacturers are selling us all snake oil. There are some manufacturers who charge way too much for what they sell. However, if it gets a person to THIER Audio joy then it’s worth it to them.  I asked if people had heard certain gear and combinations so that I could figure out what their reference point was and even that turned into a debate negatively.  They may hear a speaker with a different amp and cables and that could change everything. We all have our opinions so if you spend the money you make on what you want then my OPINION IS THAT OTHERS SHOULD STFU! But that’s my opinion!

20K is not essential or a guarantee of enjoyment.

@lfssbn1. That is true. That’s why I said right equipment and right match