Have auditioned DACs and speakers this year, but the impetus for an upgrade has passed us by, both being very busy at work and travelling.
2026 might be the year we do something, but our system by no means sounds shabby and it would be easy to settle.
Still haven’t decided what to do about our office SuperUniti either. With a RPI, as streaming transport with digital out, it is providing sterling service.
To make an upgrade at the higher echelons costs so much money, which could be put to much better use elsewhere. Being content is a good thing. No black box upgrades for 2 years now 
I went out and bought new gear! No, I am not upgrading, but rather the opposite. I have decided to sell all of my Naim gear (SN2 and NDX2) as well as my Sonus Faber Electa Amator III.
I decided this for several reasons. One is financial. I find that I have a lot of money invested in my audio system. The second reason is that, I do not think that specialist higher end gear is good value; at least not in 2025.
I fear Naim and other specialist audio makers are headed towards a brick wall. Naim and other makers still rely on huge power supplies to power class A or A/B amps. This is expensive and requires larger and more expensive casework. They also tend to sell separates, which increases the number of cases and power supplies; thus the cost.
Class D amplification used to be awful. There once was a benefit to pay for higher end models like Naim. I don’t believe this to be true anymore. Class D has come a long way, and is the future in my humble opinion.
I have already bought my (much less expensive) replacement system. I know I will get some pushback for this, but it is based on my experience. I replaced my Naim gear and SF speakers with a Wiim Ultra amp and Fyne F303i speakers. The total cost for these is a tiny fraction of what my current gear sold for. The Wiim ultra amp is an integrated amp, streamer and DAC all in one. It produces 100 watts into 8 ohms, 200 watts into 4 ohms. The streaming section is much more complete than what Naim offers, and the app is better. It also does room correction and subwoofer integration is much better than my SN2.
So how does the new system sound compared to my current “big” system. In the same room, it sounds about 90% as good. There are tiny differences at best. You are really paying a lot for the incremental improvements. I do not feel I am losing anything. I know some will be angry at my saying so, or they will claim I a don’t have good ears. That is nonetheless my experience.
If you are happy with your purchases, then it doesn’t matter what others say or think. I am pleased for you. I also think you bring up a very pertinent point, your new system is 90% as good as your Naim system. You hit the nail on the head about how much it is to get an improvement; the increase in cost is much greater than the quality improvement. And the further up the ladder you go, the bigger the gap between outlay and improvement. I know it is not rational, but for me it is worth the spend, for practically all my friends it isn’t, those that do have a hi-fi are happy with much more modest systems. And for me, that is the important thing, that we are happy with our system at whatever price point it is at.
Well said Paul.
Me - apart from a connector repair on the WH Phantoms.
I had thought of getting a new DV cartridge this year but central heating boiler replacement (happening right now !) will defer it into 2026 at least. The deck is sounding fine so no rush.
I fear that I no longer qualify for this topic. Unfortunately my concerns about the ten year old Ortofon Cadenza Bronze cartridge came true and it died last week. However Steve from the Audiobarn installed a new Dynavector DV XX-2A yesterday and it is running in nicely.
It’s November and I’m still standing strong!
I’m tempted to buy loudspeakers for the AV setup though. Nice Neat’s, Totems, Proacs, ATC’s would be an interesting diversion from our mostly Naim Loudspeaker household. Where the TV is Naim Speakers don’t work unfortunately.
I think replacing a cartridge that has worn out is a 50/50 situation, a bit like replacing car tyres, just wear and tear rather than change for the sake of change. And buying a Dynavector to replace an Ortofon is more of an investment for your ears’ happiness than wilful upgrading. Due to these reasons, I think, as the thread starter, you will be issued a yellow card rather than a red card. Replacing a cartridge that was not worn out would have meant a red card.