There is a used Gryphon Diablo 300 integrated amp for a price similar to that new Luxman. The Diablo 300 used to be considered THE best integrated amp until it was bested by the Diablo 333 and other higher priced gear. Check out the thread on this forum.
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I am going to change my answer. Oddly, I think I hit endgame on three of my three systems here in mom’s basement. Moving from one to another is very interesting. I watched One Battle After Another finally. Theatre seemed tight for being 40 years old. Speakers anyway. Desktop system is amazabob right now. And the big room, seems nice. I may not buy anything new until next year.
They are pretty quiet about sending the new 9K record cleaner to us poor Americans. Dang it Degritter, wade through this. Sigh.
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I wrote to all the brands that I love asking them to cease bringing out new products or even upgrades. My letters were most compelling, AI assisted and centered around the request for sympathy.
No replies yet however.
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I actually wake up every morning with excitement to be able to put on my headphones. Then I am excited for my wife to wake up so I can play my speakers. I think it’s important to have something one is passionate about. I have had this passion for audio since as far back as I can remember being 5 or 6 years old listening to the radio in the kitchen. I have had a passion for audio since always and then audio gear took a hold at 12. There were times when my audio obsession caused some grief being an addiction I found myself chasing but for the most part the ride has been fun. I now have a carefully well built medium system that I am satisfied with. At this point I just enjoy.
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My post in Next Upgrade this morning:
“…I crossed over into perfect sound forever when I installed DSP9 speakers last year. [However] Every time I try a successful upgrade, such as the 3-Tier Diretta isolation link into my streamer, perfect gets perfecter without any clue as to when SQ might plateau.
Just when you think that you’ve finally arrived, another door opens. I love this hobby…”
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“A man’s got to know his limitations.”
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Unless something breaks and can’t be (economically) fixed, yes. At most, I may experiment further with inexpensive power cables, but probably not until I have to start drawing down my IRA. I’m pretty darned happy where I am.
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Endgame? I hope not yet! My endgame audio system will be whatever system I’m enjoying when I take my last breath. And I hope to be taking a few more breaths and making a few more tweaks in my system before I’m done.
But I’m feeling very mortal right now, as I steel myself for serious heart surgery in less than three weeks. So what’s an audiophile supposed to do when facing a life-threatening medical procedure? Order new audio equipment, of course. So I just ordered the new PMG Signature Preamp to replace my current BHK preamp. Aren’t we supposed to “Rage, rage against the dying of the light”? I’m just doing what I can because there’s so much I can’t control.
So keep raging, all you audiophile friends!!!
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Good luck on your surgery, and come back to the golf courses later. 
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+1.
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Keep raging!
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+10!
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Best of luck to you with the surgery and recovery…
Cheers
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Triple-bypass survivor myself, back in 2020. Stay positive, follow the instructions before and after surgery—especially the aftercare—and you give yourself the best possible outcome. You’ll be back in the game before you know it!
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Thanks for all the support and encouragement for my upcoming heart surgery. You guys are great! I had a mitral valve repair (plus a single artery bypass) 22 years ago, but my mitral valve needs replacement this time around. Now that I’m 75 and in constant aFib, I’m not looking forward to the surgery and months of cardiac rehab.
I didn’t have my current Innuos streaming system 22 years ago, though, so I’m hoping that mass quantities of music will be part of my rehab – all at the press of a button on my iPad. And I’m definitely hoping that my current audio system does not turn out to be my “endgame” system.
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Earbuds and an iPad is how I got through the cardiac rehab grind when I had to repeat it last year.
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I believe I have hit my component end game, three new PMG boxes. One at a time, I swapped out BHK Pre, PST Transport and finally DSD MKII to their PMG successors. Am keeping all three, more detailed report to follow. I will say I was on the fence on the transport before ordering, but was very pleasantly surprised at the obvious increase in SQ.
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I’m coasting with a PST and DSD mk1 APS modded powered with a Keces P3. It sounds good.
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Happy Cake Day!
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Happy Cake Day, Mitch!
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