Agree with totem395, biggest surprise over the years is how important, and in some cases fundamentally limiting, your listening room can be. Good kit in a great room can often sound way better than a great kit in a compromised space.
And how manufacturers specifications or reviewers measurements can/must often be thrown out the window once you combine a piece of gear together with components, wires and in a space that are different than where originally measured.
Oh, and how important power cords can be to overall system performance.
And how manufacturers specifications or reviewers measurements can/must often be thrown out the window once you combine a piece of gear together with components, wires and in a space that are different than where originally measured.
Oh, and how important power cords can be to overall system performance.