Did you ever take a step back

Auditioning is a problem. However, when it comes to cables, it is a non-problem, IMO. Buy used wire. Listen. Resell. It's a zero sum game (or a very small loss...consider it a rental fee).

The same applies to electronics. Carefully buy used gear. Listen. Resell. Often, one can resell at no loss. Sometimes, one takes a small loss, but it's a minor price to pay for the ability to hear something in one's system.

If you like music, it doesn't matter what you listen to it with.

Pops, I'm in complete agreement that the search for the linear holy grail can lead you straight into a point at which there are so few things you can listen to on your system (because so little source material can stand up to a mercilessly revealing approach) that you may as well just chuck it and start over. I went over to Holland 2004-2005 with only a modest Linn Klassic system. Virtually every CD I played on it sounded at least pretty good, if not quite pleasurable. When I came back to my Wadia, Vandersteens, Audioquest cable, etc., many of my favorite CDs in Holland were suddenly unlistenable. That led to a great quest for a detailed, yet forgiving sound in a system, and virtually nothing of the old system remains. Ironically, I'm now using a CJ Prem 14 with a modified Prem 11, and liking it quite well...though I see that you stepped back further from the Prem 14. For what it's worth, I didn't like the Prem 14 until I put Mullards in it. Then it sounded really nice.

Regardless of the pieces used or their cost, its not a step back if the music sounds better afterwards.

A cheaper system with good synergy overall can outperform a way more expensive one lacking synergy.

If you like music, it doesn't matter what you listen to it with.
Markphd (Answers)

As noble as that sounds, I believe if everyone here answers honestly, we'd all admit equipment matters.

After all, this is an audiophile website, and if it weren't for the equipment, very few of us, if any, would have visited.