Why did you purchase the equipment you have and what do you like most about it?

Decided to move on from my 7.2 home theatre in my listening and TV room to a 2.2 music system about 3 years ago.  Visited dealers, online sites and YouTube channels to listen and research.  Upgraded one piece at a time.  Ended up with all separate components.  Now streaming mostly with occasional CD playing.  Bought new and used local and online.  Important that I could buy, listen in my room with my system and return if necessary.  The equipment Has to sound good and look cool.  Even started selling some of my gear along with giving some to family and friends as I upgraded.  Love the sound and look of my current system.  Know I will keep upgrading and tinkering over time.  It’s a great hobby.  Loving my musical journey.  

@inna totally agree! Aesthetics are a big second factor only to sound. Speakers should look like speakers and not robots or spaceships. Sometimes I find myself just sitting and admiring my rig even when nothing is playing😬. So I won’t even audition equipment if it doesn’t pass the eye test. 
 

I have bought most of my gear just based on reviews/advice from folks here and online. It has rarely led to any buyers remorse as I have been mostly pleased with every purchase. I did audition my current speakers (Revel Be) before pulling the trigger. I was out of the hobby for 15+ years (divorce forced me to sell my rig), and just within the last 5 years was in a position to assemble an all new system from scratch. I just went straight back to Dynaudio (their Audience line was to date my holy grail of speakers) without even auditioning, Excite then Evoke. Much to my surprise Excite had a more forward sound than I remembered and then went to Evoke. Although I found Evoke to be warmer and closer to what I remember from Audience, it still wasn’t the same. That led me to start auditioning speakers again, which ultimately led me to Revel. 
 

The rest of my rig (DAC, Processor, Amp) have all been purchased without auditioning and I am happy as a clam-thanks to many here!

Came across a good deal on hifishark I couldn't pass up. Used Audience front row phono cable. Easily the most transformative cable I ever experienced.

Dealer? What dealer! 

I retired.  The plan was to buy a decent set of Bluetooth. speakers, Edifier S2000 Pro.  My son, who also loves music, came home.  Can we listen to music?  The big system is not even hooked up.  The preamp was noisy, it was all unhooked.  We spent an hour trying to hook the speakers up.  We listened to it, not good. We'll I didn't want to spend money on a preamp.  I bought a passive preamp.  I also bought a Bluesound and didn't realize the volume control on the Bs was not good.  Lots of others were still not interested in streamer playback..  I had Klipsch RF3 and an AB International amp so I could play music!  Sounded good.

Then it happened.  What kind of speakers?  I had to read lots.  I ended up with Crites Cornscala, now called Type B.  Sold the RF3 to the guys bringing the new speakers.  These things are efficient. I did have the volume thing figured out yet.  If I played it loud, it sounded better.  The left speaker didn't seem to play as loud. Image was off center.  After I repaired the DIY Marchand crossover that was gone.  New volume controls and RCA jacks.  Oh boy!  Big step forward.  I wasn't a fan of passive preamp with no volume remote control.  Got a tube buffer, didn't like that.

Got a Khozmo with remote.  Amps.  I tried a Schiit Aegir.  My speakers are 99 dB efficient. My son kicked it out.  I did too.  Sold that, got a Pass XA25 and that's it, very good, I mean superb.  Added a Topping D90 somewhere along the way.

Just this past couple months, I got an Innuous streamer and a Denafrips Pontus 2 12th. I am still soaking that in but love the sound.  This all started when I was fed up with the BLUOS app.  Amazon was not that great, so I tried Qobuz. Jammed up with BLUOS.  Now, I can sit down and start it up.  No frustrations.

Along the way, I added several tweeks:  Internet filter, Furman, springs under speakers, sound treatments. All these are worthwhile. 

I am very happy with the outcome.  5 yrs later. 

5 1/2 years of delivering the Washington Post in grades 7-12 gave me the means to purchase my first stereo (Advents, Sansui 2000x, Dual 1215S, M91E). I spent months in stereo shops listening first. Reading the very first edition of The Absolute Sound gave me the idea to purchase a second set of used Advents- double Advents. My first Audio show, where I met Saul Marantz, Jon Dahlquist, and James Bongiorno at the Dahlquist/GAS booth from reading an article in Popular Electronics about building the Ampzilla and another in High Fidelity by Bascom King about the amp, led to my purchase of the Ampzilla kit and building it (I still have it) and my first piece of high end gear. That booth led me to corresponding with Saul Marantz about modifying my Marantz Model 7 pre and purchase of used Dahlquist DQ10’s and adding two Dahlquist subwoofers.

 latest purchase was preceded by reading lots of comments here and happy experiences with my N100H. I just installed an Aurender N200, purchased intentionally new from a terrific store that I wanted to support- Comman Performance AV in Falls Church, VA. Sorry about the lengthy post but my purchases come from lots of homework and from others being generous with their knowledge with me. Thanks, Jeff!