Does upgrading you system have to be on a logarithmic curve?

Great sounding audio gear was built in past decades. That's what I buy and use! Present day stuff has little appeal.

shanesrain,

You might want to delete your post when you sober up.

keep crackin the whip @roxy54 !!

love it!! 

I experienced only incremental changes for around twenty years building a number of systems. At one point I assumed this was how things would be far into future. Then things suddenly changed with the addition of some rather peripheral equipment, its like I passed this THRESHOLD of mere audio reproduction to performers in room sound quality. This happened perhaps three years ago, additions since then have only increased sensation of living breathing performers in room.

So, only incremental improvements for vast majority of time, passing this threshold has been of inestimable value. It goes beyond a logical analysis into realm of the emotional. A deeper connection to the music and performers has great, great value.

Depending what you believe your time is worth, investing in stereo equipment can seem like very little gain for lots of money.  ghdprentice may have $150 grand in his current system but how much was the total expenditure over the last 50 years?  How many hours at the going rate were spent analyzing comparing  and even  growing as a listener?   If you add up all the equipment you went through and the time spent to get to your current system isn't that really the cost?

To me the real  difference in just throwing money at the stuff the hi end shop tells you to buy and really understanding the relationship of how the components work together comes down to appreciation.  50 years of experience is beyond value.  To bad that experience can't be bottled and passed on to the newbies with only 20 years of experience.