There is some point for everybody where diminishing returns set in. Probably everybody at this site sees a point in spending at least a couple thousand dollars per component before getting to the knee in the curve, and probably more than that if budget doesn't have to be totally dominant in the equation. If / when you get to the point of a couple to a few thousand dollars per component, you're in a range where you could upgrade a component OR buy a couple hundred or several hundred pieces of software for the same money. If you've opted for Option A more than once without ever opting for Option B, you really ought to try option B once. If it's really about the music, go out and buy 500 CDs or LPs over a few months and get drunk on new music.