[ylee]

I love this thread because I'm afflicted with seeking the next upgrade and these thoughts go thru my head all the time. It's like customizing my motorcycle here and there each year or my cars/SUV/family van with something to increase their utility or capability. I do try to buy equipment from manufacturers who have a history of offering future upgrades as they update their product lines. Hence I chose the speakers, preamp, and DAC I have. But in other areas I do select the "giant killer" component with the hope that it will give me at least a couple years worth of enjoyment until I'm prepared to spend more. For example my current amp at $3k costs 1/5th of the monoblocks I'll take delivery of this summer, which by then I'll have had the current one for two years. Doing the math it's equivalent to keeping my upcoming amps for 10 years.

I have thought about waiting five or more years and then dropping a huge sum of money on a system once and for all. But that's like wolfing down a fine six course meal in a half hour! It's certainly the cheaper course to follow, but then my audiophilia nervosa wouldn't be satisfied and I'd seek a similar release with another hobby!