How do you rationalize audio upgrades?

Then there’s a formula that audiophiles fail to consider:


Very little benefit is not equal to any amount of money


That is, OK, let’s agree something is better. Is it $5 better? or $500 better?

I may hear better many times, but the price and benefit to me and my listening pleasure is often out of proportion.

Sorry, last one.

The demanding mistress.

You buy a decent bit of kit, but it requires obedience in the form of many additional expensive peripheral components to sound decent.  Like a speaker which sounds OK with most amps, but finally sounds GOOD with an amp 2x as expensive as the speakers are.


Not for me. :) I like gear that plays together well for cheap.

Akin to this is the typical audiophile question of the ratio of money to be spent on Speakers, Amplifier, Preamp, Source, Cables .... and the usually "illuminating" responses :-)

erik_squires6,937 posts11-02-2019 5:55pmSorry, last one.

The demanding mistress.

You buy a decent bit of kit, but it requires obedience in the form of many additional expensive peripheral components to sound decent. Like a speaker which sounds OK with most amps, but finally sounds GOOD with an amp 2x as expensive as the speakers are.


Not for me. :) I like gear that plays together well for cheap.

I’m similarly aligned with Erik’s thoughts on this, but go one step further.

Learn about audio and figure out how to make changes that are essentially tweaks and cheap.

Ie, beneficial changes that are for the better, sonically... cost very little... and teach one much.

To figure out how to simplify the system and have that sound better. Less (gear in the path) is more (sound quality), in audio.

No, wait! We sell cables....so buy equalizers. Yes, that's the ticket...