How often to Audiophiles upgrade their equipment?

Over the past year I've upgraded quite often because it had been about 20 years since I upgraded before that (high school). It wasnt so much upgrading as it was exploring how things sound differently. Some were upgrades, some were side-grades. Right now I feel like I'm just fine tuning, but unfortunately it's the fine tuning that can get expensive and become the proverbial search for the grail.

I think the trick is to find a sound you like and play within that realm. For example, if you like the "tube" sound, as if there was one, you can experiment/upgrade with different types of tubes or brands. Once you find a sound you like -- dynamic, romantic, warm, detailed, whatever -- don't try to upgrade too much beyond that because you may lose it. Some components just click into place like the wheels in a slot machine and you'll keep them for a long time, or at least you should try to resist the urge to replace them.

Also, if you think you might upgrade fairly soon you should consider stretching your budget and going the next step up. This can sometimes save you worry and money.

And don't forget tweaks and room placement. These can really make or break how you like your system, whatever it is at the time.

Upgrading? You mean there is a term for never stopping.

As often as they

'cuse me, the UPS man is here

can afford

-sorry, gotta go, its FEDEX

A serious reply.
I have had systems since 1965.That first one lasted 15 years when I sold everything and moved across the country.
Another pickup system lasted about three years, it was all junk but provided music.
I started my current system in 1984.
I totally got the bug and sold all the starter stuff and moved up, I bought some Infinity RSIIa for $2,200 on sale. they lasted 20 years. I just 4 months ago tore them apart to sell the bits and pieces as I got WAY more money for those than I would have for the whole speaker system.
I am using some Maggie MGIIb I got at a steal price of $200. from a LOCAL dealer, clean and new covers!!
My amp bought new when it was raved about ?? 10 years ago?? it is a Forte 4a amp that is all I will ever need, for ever unless it breaks. same with cables. I do not play cable flavor of the day.
I dumped my Counterpoint pre because it broke twice, and got a SS Adcom. That was a few years ago, and again it will be it until it goes to stereo heaven.
I added last year a Sony SCD777ES player and sold my Rotel transport that was 4 years old.
I wore out a Sony 87Es 5 disc (played everyday all day while I was gone for my pets, for 10 years) and bought a replacement in a Sony 7Es, added a Sony 9ES that was a sudden opportunity/steal at $110. (again for my pets)
The last six months just got into vinyl and a used AR pre pre , Denon 59L and Dual golden one plus an Ortofon OM20. and LPs lots of used LPs.
The Maggies are currently using automotive wire for cables because the AQ midnite cables I have need retermination.
So the NEED vs the DESIRE can be difficult to determine.
I say if you HAVE to spend something, buy ONE really GOOD thing at a time. Instead of a bunch of slightly better stuff together.
Say a dynamite pre that you can say will last you at LEAST 10 years.
You do not have to plan to have a system that the cost is more than a new Mercedes!!
Think about what level of stuff YOU want, and stick to your plan. I do not NEED better stuff at all.
I probably will replace the Maggies with something in the $3,000 area in a year or so. Right now I am grooving on the LPs I am totally into that.

I guess I fall into the camp of making fewer changes, but more material changes when I do make one. Like Rcprince, my equipment usually stays in my system about 10 years on average. (I lived with a beautiful pair of updated Marantz 9 amplifiers for 25 years. Speakers on the other hand seemed to have lasted about 8 years on average.) I have avoided making minor incremental changes in favor of fewer more significant upgrades. I've also consciously limited myself to a single system so any of the limited financial resources available could be maximized in that one system.