The argument against upgrading

What’s your view on the benefits of upgrading? How can we reliably assess whether it is effective?

Maybe it helps if you have a specific goal, a target to shoot for.

While many started small then built/upgraded over the years, I started late so my plan was to: 
find out the sonic presentation I that resonates with me (make you sit down, engrossed/lost in the music) then try to create at home within budget.

After years of intense research, I searched and demoed the best speakers at audio shows and stores to find the sound I love which were the Magico and YG with top SS electronics. Unfortunately my budget says otherwise.
At AXPONA I demoed the Magico A5 and Rockport Atria II which sounded subpar due to hotel room setup conditions, I subsequently purchased the great sounding AXPONA demo speakers Vimberg Mino D after my dealer negotiated a deep discount AND I raised/blow my budget big time.  I view the Vimberg as a neutral sounding speaker.

I favor dropping the noise floor to hear better.  

For electronics, I went with SS Constellation Inspiration Pre+Stereo because it was on TAS list. I was going to upgrade eventually since the Inspiration is entry level of 4 levels, so seems like a lot of higher sonic options.

It is a struggle to find the next SS sonic uptick with my budget. Top SS companies Constellation, Soulution, Boulder 2xxx, CH Precision, Dartzeel, Gryphon APEX, etc were out of my budget.  I was targeting a rare used integrates CH Precision, Dartzeel, but they may not come up for sale in NAmer voltage.

Audionet created the STERN preamp and HEISENBERG amp as a project where time and cost is not an issue- so to create the very best possible with no constraints.  Reviews were extremely positive, amongst the top electronics in high-end audio.
Then Audionet took their R&D expertise to reduce the cost into a single box while maintaining Sonics - the Humboldt.

The Humboldt integrated garnered fantastic reviews, indicating reference type Sonics.  I view this as the best SS Sonics that can compare with the very best SS components, but at a much more reasonable price. But new price was still out of reach.

Finding a used Audionet Humboldt was daunting as few are available in my NAmer voltage. Luckily I found one in Canada and just recently received shipment. I’m soooo happy and am optimistic it’ll meet my sonic preference. Maybe someday I’ll purchase an additional amp for variety with different Sonics like GanFet, sliding class A, or punchy like Gryphon. 

Shipping/tariff: I barely knew what I’m doing so I hired/paid a Canadian shipping firm to get it across the border, but I got a letter from US Border Patrol saying I owe them money - I’m calling them tomorrow

It doesn't take much to enjoy music-I've done it listening to AM radio in a car with the windows rolled down. Lots of folks enjoy music with a $50 bluetooth speaker and would think its nuts to spend a grand on audio equipment. So, I don't think the question is whether you like music, or like upgrades, or like equipment. It seems obvious that if you can use whatever resources you choose to apply to this pursuit-a function of capacity and priority- in a way that yields higher quality reproduction of the music, you are likely to enjoy the music more. At least that's how it works for me, otherwise I'd still be listening on the AM radio.

What is judged to be an upgrade may in fact just sound different.  
 

Also, of course,  any higher price tag alone can legitimately be called an “upgrade”.

In the end if one feels better about things than before, it’s an upgrade (for them).

What else even matters?

Food for thought. 

Many thanks to everyone for taking my question seriously and giving such thoughtful relies. Just to reiterate some of what has already been said and add a couple of ideas of my own.

Firstly, the importance of distinguishing between better and different. There’s a danger of changing components for superficial changes in sound character rather than fundamental improvements in quality. In my opinion, the way to avoid that is using the Tune Dem method. Listening to a short passage of music before and after the change for which it is easier to follow the tune.

I’ve never felt the need to change speakers or power amps in 25 years. In that time, all my upgrades have been with sources, pre amp, crossovers, network and digital signal processing as technologies have advanced. That’s where I have found the biggest improvements to come from. If you can get the loudspeaker system right in the first place and stick with it, that stands you in good stead for the other upgrades.

Tom Martin points out the manufacturers traditionally strive for incremental gains from reducing noise and distortion, while paying less attention to imaging, dynamics, bass in real rooms and undesirable digital artefacts. He emphasises the importance of these issues in achieving believability in audio sound.

It makes absolutely no sense to most people that audiophiles put so much effort into fancy systems when it is perfectly possible to enjoy music on a humble bluetooth speaker. Yet clearly we enjoy listening to better quality sound. This is the contradiction at the heart of my worry that we are not achieving anything with our upgrades. I don’t necessarily think we are wasting our time. It’s more I think we should be cautious, especially as the upgrades become more expensive.

As has been said, the elephant in the room is the room itself. Furthermore, it’s always helpful to listen to the best mastered version of each album. 

Happy New Year.
 

PS. Having said all of that, I am still envious of a guy I know who has just taken delivery of a new Klimax Radikal for his LP12. But I have my daughter's wedding and my wife's bucket list to worry about.