When does one know it's time to upgrade?


Good day members,As the title is open ended and is extremely loaded question, I had to ask to see what others have experienced.
For the reference, I am 30 but have been building 2 channel systems for half my life. Not to mention having ample home theater experience and working as an systems integrator with servers I wouldn't call my sell a beginner when it comes to AV and technology in general.

But what i can't wrap my head around is how anyone has any sense of direction when it comes to pairing equipment.

Current Equipment list:
Speakers: KEF Q350 on KEF S2 stands
AMP : Heed Obelisk SI 3
DAC : Chord Qutest
Turntable : Rega P3 elys 2 M.M. cart & Herbie's Way Excellent II mat
Streamer: Primare NP5 Prisma
SACD : Marantz DV7001
Phono Pre-amp: GoldNote PH10
Rack: SolidSteel S3-4
Power: IsoTek Multiway G2 strip w/ IsoTek Evo3 Premier IEC

Cables: Speaker- Nordost Super Flatline
Interconnects- Nordost Purple Flare RCA's Digital- Nordost Blue Heaven , AQ Toslink
Power- Silnote Poseidon GL IEC

In the past 10 years I've tried these products for 2-channel. PRE-AMPs: NuForce P8s, schiit Freya+ w/ upgrades, Rotel RC1572 . POWER-AMP: Parasound Halo, Hypex Ncore500, Rotel A12 integrated, SOURCE: several SimAudio Moon Dac's and phono pre-amp's. SPEAKERS: Klipsch Rp500, MartainLogan electrostatic's, MartinLogan Motion 60, Definitive Tech SM350& D11, Audioengine a5, B&W 685 M&K75's and KRK Rockit6
I do a lot of research before i buy things and yet most of it has been lack luster (to me)
I dont think my standards are too high because I dont have a specific sound im looking for.

I really enjoy being surprised and wowed by dynamics, sound-stage, separation and weight of the sound.

I am pretty pleased with my system as its for a bedroom listening area that has a space of L15' W14' H10' (Feet)
What i'm worried about is this.... Lets say for example my speakers are the weakest link right now. Yet, i do like the q350's because they were such a surprise (to me). Had good dynamics, created a very good phantom speaker, bass is a bit boomy and a little thin, yet it has personality which helps keep me from being irritated at them. For under $1000 i have been happier with these than most. But, they are a little messy at times, and don't bathe you in sound like some speakers can.

On a philosophy perspective. I dont believe speakers are more important than gear. I do however think, that its critical that one should have some quality speakers that can reveal the quality of gear. But not to the point where they should be 50%+ of my system cost. This is because I have been in a place where i tried building my system around a pair of Martin Logan Motion 60's and it came to a point where I felt like the tail was wagging the dog.

Thanks for reading and any insight/thoughts is good and very welcome.
128x128tk949
Upgrade once a year is not a bad approach if you know what you are doing. I usually upgrade every two/three years. I have had the same speakers for twenty years, modest speakers, and they keep giving me better and better sound. Step by step. But I am close to their limits, I think, so next upgrade should probably be the speakers. And this is expensive and not easy to figure out. So this time my next upgrade may be in five years, not usual two/three.
Excellent subject to discuss, by the way.
When things do not sound good and it bothers you and issues with current gear have been either out-ruled or no way to determine if one or more components are operating properly up to the norm.

Having spare gear helps to isolate problems when they occur. Switch each suspect component out one at a time...called regression testing. SO if you have a problem and no spares time to perhaps pick some up otherwise you are out of luck.

Selling gear that may have issues is an option, but then the operating condition can not be properly stated to establish value and that can lead to problems as well.
Thank you to everyone that commented. Every bit was helpful, even the sarcasm which reminds me how we cant take this hobby too seriously.
This is why i wanted to ask, not because there would be a clear cut answer, but answers which would provide insight towards the different approaches have been applied when selecting gear.

@ghdprentice  Thank you so much for taking the time to explain your journey and also the experiences you have witnessed others engage in. I wish the linear length of time wasn't such a large factor in the process/journey this takes. It really helped my overly analytical mind shift perspectives. In the world of AV, computer systems and other areas of technical engineering it is pretty straightforward to troubleshoot as long as you have the knowledge and experience to know where to look.
With HiFi, I still after years of tinkering, reading and data analysis I do not feel any more confident in my assessments.
I believe the reason for this is the school of thought or philosophies that people have towards sound. There is a huge realm of those that believe that measurements and specs are the key. Then there are those in between and others who ignore it all together. This is where i notice myself struggling because today's market forces us to shop for technology based on features and tech specs. This is method is extremely efficient and provides a pretty accurate way of determining what product is right for you. However, audio is so subjective and even to the point where you might have the best specs in the world, but it doesn't sound "good" .


I also thing it was great that @artemus_5 mentioned that i always hear is to enjoy the music. I frankly can see how it is really easy to get lost in the chase. I can say with confidence i only do it for the music. I only stream as a passive listener for background music. Then i purchase media for critical/active listening enjoyment.

@samadhana  I agree, and this was something that happened to me a few years ago where i built a system after trying several pre-amps and sources and was so disappointed by the results I quit listening to it. That was a really dark time for me because I really enjoy music so much, that the fact that the gear ( around $8k) was so awful to me i couldn't touch it and eventually sold it all.

@jjss49 the ripple effect is exactly what is so daunting. It really could be the most disruptive event, to me, in this entire process. But thanks for the suggestion on the LS50's. I have considered it as a really easy no brainier path. I was originally going to buy them, but my local dealer had these on closeout and the deal was too good to pass. At the same time I am concerned that the LS50's aren't enough of an "upgrade" to make it worth while. I know the LS50's are amazing for the money and have tons of reviews and i forsure would notice the difference. Which just makes me then start wondering if something like Harbeth p3, Sonus Faber's, Kef R3 Warfedale linton, Focal Chora, and so on... would be more of a "future proof" options.

@inna When you are saying you think you are close to the limits on the speakers. Are you sensing that because you aren't seeing a similar change to sound as you had seen in the past with prior gear changes? Or is more because its the "oldest" component in the system and therefor seams to be the logical place to start?

@mapman The idea of having extra gear is something i was interested in as well. I really avoid having gear laying around that isnt being used. At the same time i absolutely see the point and use this technique in diagnosing misbehaving computers in the office regularly. At the same time, in the world of separates i find it overwhelming to even begin to consider how to know what pairs well with what. Not to mention maybe you change your speakers and the gear doesn't play nice with it. Then at what point does someone give up on swapping gear or give up on the speakers?