Sean is correct. If you know which parts make the biggest difference in the sonics of each component, the upgrade path can produce excellent results at a cost savings. Too many of the mods that I have seen while being very good, cost too much and more parts are used in not critical areaas then there has to be, running up the cost. System matching also pays a key role in obtaining good sound. That being said, in my recent expereince and what has already been covered in many threads, room treatment and AC conditioning plays an even bigger part of getting your system to sound better. My local tech and audio designer has designed some capaciotrs to install on each of my dedicated lines and the system improved a ton. He also designs resonable priced cables and isoaltion devices that compete head on to the big buck items and I have been installing them to a much greater effect then when I had the higher priced gear. I am now wondering what that gear would sound like with what I have done to my system now. I also think that there ar too many reviews of equipment on Agon that are really usless unless the AC and room is up to speed. I am hearing differences in cables, cords, equipment that were only minor before. Not that I think the more you pay for an item the better it is, it comes down to the quality of the design and how it is implementeed. My tech guy has a modified Pioneer PD-65 that is an eye opener for what Sean has already stated above. It killed a few higher priced CDPs we comaprd it to. Same with his ICs, power cords and isoaltion devices. Most designs seem to only address one aspect of the problem. If you look at the different manufacturers, they all have very good ideas but it just seems like they have never put them all together in one cord, cable or device. You have to go up the ladder in price to get what you needed in the first place. Isn't funny how cables and cords are costing more then your components. Wire does not cost that much and most people are trying to use wire as a tone control to obtain the sonic picture they are looking for. It is better to begin by treating your AC, room and component vibration first and then selecting your components, cables, wires, etc.
Happy Listening (my two cents).
Happy Listening (my two cents).