[Freestone]

When I was first ordering my system, I wanted to get the "best" configuration within my budget. I thought it made sense to go directly to the Giscours and 300b amps that I have now, and the Latours I aspire to.

Jules Coleman, a good friend and a well known reviewer, convinced me otherwise. No, he said I should start with lower priced components and only after living with them should I trade up if I so desired. That didn't make sense to me. Why waste my time? (Fortunately given Matt's trade in policy it wasn't why take the depreciation which would have been a key factor for me).

Jules argued that one can only appreciate the great as one understands why it is better/different than the other models. Layer on the improvements.

I took his advice for the most part, but probably rushed more than he would approve.

But he is right. I appreciate the 300b's much more now, for example, as I know how much they differ from the gm70's. If I had gone directly, I never would have learned or understood that.

So my recommendation is that taking the time, and enjoyment, of moving up the ladder and learning about the components and their strengths, is better than just jumping there. Jules is right. Especially as there is no cash cost. (If there was depreciation, I would probably just jump to the desired endpoint).