When and what was your last significant equipment upgrade?

Jond.  Well, that wasn't my speaker you heard since mine were not finished until after your visit.  However, mine are probably pretty similar to what you heard at Vu's store.  They use a YL Acoustic (Yoshimura Labs) horn and compression driver from Japan, and Vu probably had a set of those in the store when you visited.  Mine look very similar to the big Western Electric open baffle speakers that were in the same room.  Pictures of mine are on my AudioGon system page. 

salectric I actually looked at your system page after I posted that and they are indeed different yours are a much lighter shade of wood, cherry perhaps. The speakers I saw were dark brown maybe even black and with different grills. I am sure your speakers sound amazing I've yet to hear one of Vu's creations that doesn't. Sadly my room is far to small for horn speakers but looking forward to my AN/Jlx's arriving very much! Cheers and happy listening!

Jond, my cabinets are natural maple with walnut slats on front.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder of course, but I think they look really nice.  Their appearance reminds me of my old Martin Logan CLS.  They also sound really nice! 

I am sure you will enjoy your new Audio Notes.  I heard the AN-J LX in an all-Audio Note system at the Capital Audio Fest and liked it a lot.

Ah maple nice I took another look and I see what you mean about Martin Logans. They look great much more elegant fit and finish than the pair I listened to. And heard that same system at Cap Audiofest loved it and also at Deja Vu of course. Running an amp and preamp from Deja Vu that were built by their previous designer Pavel. Great sounding gear and bullet proof.

Today - Finally received my VPI 9" 3D tonearm for my Scout. With just a few hours on the clock, the sound is vastly improved over either the 9T or the 9" Signature tonearms and I can use my Lyra Kleos once again as it did not mate well with either of the above mentioned tonearms.