Optimize or buy new gear..?

I've upgraded components and then felt justified in spending more on cables.  The cables have made a difference. 

I have not gone back and tried the old components with the new cables, but I have wondered about it.  The new equipment was better than the old gear using the old cables, but I do wonder how the old gear would sound with good cablrs

I always go through an upgrade sequence: components, positioning, interconnects and cables, power cords, enjoy for seven years of so.

The effect of wires can vary pretty widely. But I guess, in general, I'll get 80% of the sonic improvement from component changes... then 10% from wires and another 10% from positioning and acoustical treatments.

You have to balance the likelyhood that you will do some component upgrades. If you think this is likely, do these first... then follow with wires. You want the wires optimized for the components you own.

Optimize or buy new gear..?

I’ve spent considerably more than 50% of the cost of my system on optimizing via better quality cabling, power supplies, power conditioning, grounding, etc. The SQ has improved enormously over time. I’m very satisfied with following this path My modest system can run with some of the big dogs that I hear at audio shows. Yet, there are several important caveats.

1) My primary components were long-term keepers from the start. They were well-respected by reviewers, the marketplace - and most importantly, by my ears.

2) Simply buying a new cable doesn’t mean that it will automatically improve the SQ. The challenge is trying to find the synergy between the components and cabling. For some reason, some cable designs just won’t work out. I spent around 5 years auditioning many, many cables and power conditioners. This means an investment of money and time. It requires ’an audio fund’ for buying and selling gear. It requires patience as a new cabling burns in. Allow at least two weeks for a used cable - a month for a new cable.

3) It requires the type of personality that enjoys fiddling and tweaking. After all, this is a hobby. A hobby should be fun.

4) Be prepared to be not impressed with each purchase. Or each new tweak,

5) Be prepared to take a loss on re-selling gear that doesn’t work out.

5) Upon enjoying this hobby for 20+ years, I think the most important place to start is with clean power. The archives for the AudiogoN discussion forums are filled with a wealth of knowledge.

6) Re: Optimizing vs Buying new gear. Buying new gear does not automatically mean better SQ. It could just be different. New components also need to synergize well with each other. This is where trustworthy dealers can help out.

7) And of course, the room itself is extremely important - as well as the speaker placement. Many, many variables.

8) Your level of expectations. Are you trying to reproduce the sound of real acoustic instruments? Singer/songwriters? Grunge rock? Electronica/trance? Head-banging?

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Good luck on your audio journey!

i'll add to your comment with fix/treat your room. your room is half what you hear or more.