The logic of writing a list of gear you'd like and then saving the money to buy it wouldn't work for me. Chances are if your trying to put together a "dream system" time will run out on you before you save the cash. A dream system for most people would be rather expensive and by the time you got the money saved, the pieces you were looking at may be discontinued, or upgraded. I have been doing this stuff for 30 years and if I were to try to put together a dream system, say even 15 years ago, I find out what I wanted then isn't what I want now. My feeling is to get a general idea of the type of gear you want, perhaps to match the type of music you listen to. Find a dealer that will let you audition this stuff in your home, this is real essential. Chances are real good that what you hear at the dealers showroom and what you hear at home are going to be completely different. This is a great hobby for me and for many others. For me a great part of the enjoyment I have gotten from this is to audition gear in my home. Good luck and enjoy the music! ----->Ray
What is your upgrade philosophy?
With at least 4 or 5 (perhaps as many as 7) components (plus cables) comprising the system at any given time, certainly one is the best at what it does and one is the worst, and the others in between. When you have the fever and spare cash, do you prefer to take the one weak link and vault it to the top of the pile, or would you for the same money upgrade perhaps 2 components to middling status? Seems the former yields a better system long term, but the latter would provide more immediate improvement. Is there a method to your madness?