Started out thinking I was spending major bucks on an amp and preamp combo for about $1200. I soon realized this was peanuts. I've probably laid out 10X that over the years on the current system, but retail value would be twice that. I can honestly say that i have spent a lot of money on checking out tweaks and "playing". THAT has been the best part about learning about this hobby. That and having the gaul/audacity/balls to pick up a soldering iron and learn about schematics and parts selection.
The fun these days is not about swapping out components, but in learning how they work and possibly improving on them. Yeah, the engineers side of things but with a decidedly open mind about things that are more audiophile and less textbook. In any case, it has opened a whole 'nother world about this hobby that has made it far more enjoyable than before.
enjoy,
Bob