I just read this article about coffee, and chasing that last few percent. And  I think a lot of what's said here rings true in our world as well.

There is a point, where no piece of gear, cable, or intricate setup is going to do any more than the source will allow us to draw.

https://tonx.org/frequency/brewing-perfection?campaign_name=140506_f34a83e92f&cu...
stomer_id=100,384

(only partially related to the 'can't improve on a limited source' idea)

For me, with music, striving for another few %.... "Good enough" is a price point.

Yes, I want the best bang/value/sound for the money.

Yes, it takes exponentially more money to get another couple % "improved" sound.

Yes, passing my budget limits makes me reflect, is what I have "good enough"? (And, did I spend wisely, in the right places?  Unfortunately, you have to ride the merry-go-round for a while in order to gain the wisdom to even guess at an answer. Or follow the advice of others who've been riding longer than you.  )

For these reasons, I read and read about dsd/pcm for example, and wonder how close to that bleeding edge do I want to get.   (side note... I just broke down and got on spotify...and I tell you, the convenience of having so much so accessible even at lower quality... it's reduced my drive to build my lossless music collection)

5% from the goal line can look like eternity.

Oh if only I knew much earlier what I know now: I would have found a way to just get the Torii Mk III, the HR-1s, and the PS Audio power components and DAC. Though I had a lot of fun along the way (and I have to factor in that for a long time there WERE no HR-1, Mk III, PWD, PPP, etc.!) And I would have never stopped spinning lps or gotten back into them much sooner.

What I've learned is that with these great amps and speakers you need great clean power and the very best front end you can afford.
They will reward you!

Hindsight is 20/20. But oh well, the journey has fun moments.

Yes, that 5%, we don't need it right? We can just stop, right?

Hmmm. . . sure makes sense to stop but somehow I think we'll keep working towards that 5%.

I'm thinking "The mathematician is single, the engineer is married."

I'm running XLR now, and really enjoying it.

When Steve makes a CSP3-XLR or CSP4 with XLR, then I'll jump in.

I wouldn't mind being able to switch between tape and oppo.

Thinking of this again, chasing the little increments of improvement. I'm beginning to lean towards the mathematician's viewpoint, what's the point, we'll never get there, it's always a changing 5 percent as well.

But I know I'm more like the engineer. It's crazy, a money drain and really not behavior one should recommend. But it is what it is.