The argument against upgrading

Not unusual for upgrades to end up being "lateral moves" as discussed by @oddiofyl.  It can be frustrating to keep trying new stuff and not hear the sound you imagine you should be hearing.  You end up hoping the "grass is greener" as posted by @kennyc.  The more you upgrade, the harder it is to find something better and not simply different, IME.  It is like stepping half the distance to the wall, the closer you get, the smaller the steps. I used to sell one component to fund the "upgraded" component but more recently have been fortunate to be able to purchase the upgraded component first, and compare with whatever I have currently, and only after a direct comparison decide whether the new component is a worthwhile upgrade.

When comparing equipment, the level-matching discussed by @tomic601, is hugely important.  Also, I recently found the importance of making comparisons over as short a time window as possible.  By setting things up to compare two DACs on-the-fly, with the push of one button on my remote, I determined the sonic differences were not as pronounced as I had formerly believed.  You may find that the longer the time period between hearing two different components, the greater the likelihood that your predisposed biases will play a larger role in what you believe you are hearing.  As a result, my upgrade comparison process includes:

• thorough burn-in/warm-up
• long-term listening in my own system- at least a couple of weeks if possible
• putting the previous gear back in the system to try and determine whether the new item is an upgrade, or simply different
• multiple short-term AB comparisons between the existing and new components, with as short a time period as possible when changing from one component to the other

It would be a lot easier if one only had to account for the sound of whichever new component is being added. However, no component operates in isolation. No doubt more seasoned audiophiles will experience less of this, but speaking for myself, I never know quite what to expect when introducing something new to my system. I read reviews to garner general impressions but over time I’ve learned not to get my hopes up prematurely. 

As far as lateral moves and "improvement" goes, from my perspective, it depends upon what is gained and what may be lost. I don’t prioritize every aspect of the sonic presentation equally so I’m willing to give up something I prize less for more of something I prize more and I have no problem calling this sort of trade-off a "win". However, I understand this approach may not satisfy others

I have always offered this advice - only you know what you like and if you like your system the way it is then listen to more music.

We are manufacturers and we often tell customers that if they don't hear a big improvement in the first 30 seconds then simply sent the unit back to us.

We also do upgrades and modifications which to our ears can make a dramatic sound improvement without spending mega dollars on a high end components in direct comparison.  What makes one amplifier sound better than another one.  Usually not the parts inside if at all and not the price.

Only you can be the judge of a system upgrade.  But you also need to know what makes sound better in the design of a product and how that design is implemented.  In general, most people have no idea why something sounds better or different.  I love it when someone says built like a tank but they have never built anything in their lives.

Happy Listening. 

Lots of hepful perspectives here. I just demoed two DAC/streams that sound better than my current DAC and streamer combination. But the question then became, "Do the upgrade options I just heard sound $12,000 better than what I already have?" The answer was that they only sounded perhaps 7-8000 better. Therefore, I deferred the upgrade for later.

So, get over it: we chase "the absolute sound" NOT for the sake of the music, but for the sake of the thrill of the sound itself: for the thrill of being able to convincingly reproduce a symphony orchestra (for example) in our own living rooms.

There is no "absolute" sound quality, save if you design an acoustical architecture  especially to serve a high end chosen specific system...

 It’s a marketing ploy and a mirage.

Most people are not in ideal environment and must create a compromise with low cost..And optimization methods...

If you’re not going to upgrade, are you still really a hobbyist?

What make a hobbyist is not his budget for upgrades but his ability to learn how to optimize one chosen system/room...

Optimization basic are the same for all system....

I dont need to upgrade at all right now with a system around 1300 dollars...

Am i deaf?

No i dont need because the system i own work at his optimal level... It takes me one year listening to it and improving it ... it is now completed...

I listen music not sound changes , i crave for new musical geniuses not for new dac,amp,pre-amp or speakers... I miss no acoustic factor in the range of possibilities my system/room can give me once optimized...

Marketing ruined our brain ....

And if we dont have budget ceiling we dont even realize it and we claim that this hobby is about hearing 50 dacs and 200 amplifiers etc ... It is not....Save if you are sellers or  reviewers...I listen music and i am not interested by reviewing speakers....Mine are well tuned now and music is my realm not sound defects and upgrades...