Which system would you rather have?

akg_ca,

Easy there akg, I was not trying to offend anyone at all. Neither personally nor even anyone’s sensibilities if I could help it. But, I suppose I was taking a calculated gamble. My door number 3 quip was actually merely a half-hearted joke really, but I did intentionally leave some things open to interpretation. It is not meant as an insinuation of any kind, or to impune anyone’s motives or motivation. It’s only there as an out-of-bounds marker to a mostly - but not entirely - hypothetical consideration, if you will. That’s also why I specifically left all reference to money out of it - so that each of us is allowed to interpret the boundaries of the question according to the breadth and depth of our own unique experiences. Consider it merely my invitation to each of you to decide for yourselves here more or less what you want the question to mean and how to answer in an appropriate way. And if you still decide to stick to your original sentiment, akg, then your answer above is no less valid than freediver’s, mine or anyone else’s here...yes?? But, as far as I’m concerned, the question posed is not meant to confine or nullify the answer so much as to expand the discussion of the topic. It all depends on your take on it. It does begin with a sticky, either-or proposition and therefore it’s meant to provoke some thought, yes...but, hopefully just the *thought* and not the person behind it. But, like I say, if your answer is still the same then I say so be it, it’s still perfectly valid to me.

As far as freediver’s comments on the Chinese gear goes, I find his comments and the gear to an extent, somewhat intriguing. As of yet I have no experience with it. But, it doesn’t automatically mean he is necessarily right. I may get curious one day and try one out for myself (what better way to know, right??) and, who knows, I may think it’s just da bomb...or I may think it’s junk. But, when that day comes it will be my money riding on it, so I don’t really see the harm in trying it out for myself. But, my real focus here is what anyone is willing to add to the original discussion....including you akg!

I believe that if one is looking down the ultimate road regarding where one
ends up at the end and the associated costs, then most wouldn't even start the trip.
I opt for door #3, but, with the understanding that it is a journey. If the goal is about accurate sound reproduction, or as accurate as one can get, then the journey is also based on real-world financial expectations.
You get the best that you can afford and if you received the correct/accurate advice along the way, you understand that you will be upgrading many times in order to get "there".
So, you do the best you can at first. Find something isn't quite right and begin the long upgrade path. One is never "there", but there is diminishing returns after awhile. Also a point where to get to the next real level would cost a ridiculous amount of money that may not be worth it to you.
When you get "there", can you live with what you have? If yes, then there you are. After so many years of getting "there", take a step back and add up the costs all along the way. It would probably be really high. to the extent that If you were just starting out on this path, and knew the costs, you probably wouldn't even start out.