[GHM]

Hi Kevin...on this I agree. The experimentation really doesn't cost anything when you have some good audio buds around. It sure makes it easier to compare equipment. If I included all the equipment I tried from other audiophiles in my little system. I would have included even more amplifiers and speakers.

Now the fellows that don't live close to other audiophiles.Really have no choice but to buy and try components. If you buy used and smart. You can try quite a few components without any real loss in funds.
I've did this several times..it is fun to do.

I also don't believe in swapping for the latest and greatest thing..unless there's something it could offer that you feel your system needs. As long as you're completely happy..why bother?

On the other hand ..how many audiophiles are completetly content with their system? Not many  

[hmen]

4 DAC's in two years

[Mike Dzurko]

I got you all beat on the speakers. Sometimes many different sets in one month!  

[Carlman]

I think I've changed more gear than Paris Hilton has her panties.
However, I'm happy to say I've come away with a couple of real keepers: A PC for a source of music and digital room correction performed by a TacT.

I've learned a lot over the past couple of years... I've refined my tastes quite a bit and know what I want more today than ever.

I've learned that:
An amp can make as much a difference as a preamp, if not more in some cases.  
CD players all sound like there's some sort of digital edge to them... or like they're trying too hard to sound perfect.  
'Serious' vinyl isn't for me.  
I like speakers that sound alive and fun.  
Power conditioning and cords (and digital ic's) make differences in ways I hadn't expected.
HT is tough to get right
Room interaction can kill a good system... and conversely a great room can make a crappy system sound quite tolerable.
My next house will have a sound room built to my specs.
and on and on.....

[JLM]

UPS, FedEx, and USPS make it possible to home audition lots of equipment if you have friends (or friendly vendors/manufacturers).  Fall of 2004 I had 3 amps here for extended auditions.

And many of us are within driving distance of other audiophiles, making it possible to hold mini audiofests.  

A few would even drive a bit further to get our audio "fix".  I drove 8 hours round trip to attend the MidWest AudioFest a couple of years back and 14 hours to attend a Decware weekend Fest.  Those settings don't provide diffinitive answers, but are still very helpful.

[jqp]

My previous system was retired almost exactly 5 years ago.  With my new main system, I have replaced no components since I bought it - that's right, absolutely zero.  In fact, I fully expect this new system to last another 10-12 years without any changes/upgrades (keeping my fingers crossed)

Any and all money I spent since then has been spent on more music - plain and simple.  At this point, I would never think of upgrading a component unless it was kaput.  I got off that merry-go-round 20 years ago.  
 ...

I have replaced no components in 5 years also, only added some. I guess I have never really been on the merry-go-round, and I guess I am glad. I too put the love of music above the quest for the "ultimate" in gear. I have had more guitars in my life than stereo component upgrades.

At the same time, I have multiple CDPs, and I have listened to a few preamps. I have 2 different kinds of amps. I have 3 sets of speakers but have not upgraded my best speakers in the last 5 years. I have made my own cables and purchased cables. I have added a pre/pro for my HT.

One goal for this year is to  get to listen to several other systems other than my own.

[mgalusha]

This is one of those threads that I hate. I hate them because it requires a accounting of all the stuff I've bought (and only partially sold).

For about 10 years my system was unchanging. Primarily due to a very non understanding wife who damn near killed my interest in audio.    Fortunately I didn't get rid of my gear, just the wife.  

List does not count HT gear although one pair of speakers and CDP/DVD has migrated to the HT.

Amps - 5 - still own two of them. Transcendent OTL -> Odyssey Stratos -> Transcendent SC-150 (scratch built) -> Odyssey Extreme Mono's -> R.E. Designs LNPA 150's. Really happy with the LNPA's.

Preamps - 4 - still own three of them. Transcendent Grounded Grid -> DIY/Goldpoint Passive -> Grounded Grid (mods) -> Decware ZSLA (DIY) -> DIY copy of deHavilland UltraVerve (better IMO). Currently no preamp, SB2 direct to amps.

Speakers - 3, still own them all and in use in various places around the house. Vandersteen 2Ci's -> Vandersteen 3A Signatures -> Meadowlark Blue Heron 2's.

Digital Sources (CD/DVD/PC Audio) - 6 and still have 4 of them. Marantz CD-67 (plus modded version) -> Marantz CD-67/ARTDIO -> CAL Delta/ARTDIO -> Marantz CD67/ARTDIO -> SACD 1000 (stan warren mods) -> Marantz/DIO after SACD 1000 died -> Denon 2900 (heavily modded) | Audio PC with heavily modded Stereolink USB DAC -> Squeezebox 2 (Bolder mods and DIY power supply)

Turntables - 2, Music Hall MMF-5 -> Teres. I think I'm done here, at least with the table. Now as to the arm...

Phono stages - 2, Musical Fidelity XLPS -> Hagerman Cornet

Cables - lots but nearly all DIY. I'm just too cheap to spend big bucks on cables. Hell it was only in the past few years that I began to accept the idea that they could make a difference but I heard changes which convinced me. The most enlightening moment was a Chris Brady's (Teres Audio) place. There were about 7 people in the room and a change was made that most (including me) were unaware of. Several people asked nearly simultaneously what had changed. I was shocked to learn it was a power cord. I was 100% certain that a power cord could not account for the substantial change I heard. But it was repeatable and it made me reconsider what I knew and thought.

Other that tweaking my existing gear I think I'm done for a while. The Squeezebox feeding the LNPA's makes for some mightly fine music and I am pretty happy with how the system is sounding these days. 'Course I've said that before.... and so the saga continues.

I've also been fortunate in being able to audition a bunch of other stuff, due in no small part to the generosity of the great manufacturers we have on AC.  

[jon_010101]

5 years?  hmmm... go back any further than that and I am at the bottom of mid-fi!  -- I was too poor for audio until the last couple years.

Speakers -- Acoustic Research AR302 -> Axiom M3ti -> GR Research Paradox -> GR Research Diluceo (4)

Amplifiers -- Audiosource AMP1 -> Denon PMA 920 -> Dynaco SCA35 -> Consonance Ella -> Craftsmen 500a (5)

Preamplifiers -- Foreplay -> Consonance Basie -> Juicymusic Peach

CD Players -- Denon DCM560 -> Denon DCD1650AR (2)

Tuners -- Dynaco FM3 -> Denon TU800 -> Denon TU850 -> Scott 350C (4)

Interconnect Cables -- Bottlehead "Entwined" (1)

Speaker Cables -- Kimber 4PR (1)

I don't mess with cables, but I can hear differences.  The Bottlehead cables are too good to replace, and the Kimber is "good enough".

Except for better tubes, I am "done" for now.  When I get a bigger place, though, the first purchases will be high-eff. speakers and a cushy leather recliner.

[Digi-G]

I guess I'm not on the Merry-go-round either.  

I've upgraded my CD/DVD player to one capable of SACD and DVDA.

I've added an amp (Odyssey Stratos) and a DAC (Scott Nixon TubeDac+).

I'm pretty happy with it though.  If I were to upgrade anything it would be my center channel (my system does double duty).

[Hantra]

5 years is a long time in audio years.

For me, it's amps.  I've probably been through more than 2 dozen in 5 years.  At least 10-12 preamps have graced my room.  The constants now are a PC digital transport, a Nixon DAC, and my Piega C3 Limiteds.  I've never owned a piece of audio gear longer than the C3 Limiteds.

I concur with Carl's assessment though.  In those turbulent 5 years, I have learned quite a bit, and am now at the point where I know pretty much what I want, and I won't upgrade just to upgrade.