I think the veils come off differently for each person. So, depending on your wallet thickness, you can have the veils off earlier or later. If you are really an audiophile, you just go into debt until you wake mornings in a sweat wondering how long you have till bankruptcy, then you know all the veils are off for sure.
When I was younger and less experienced in "Hi End" audio, I was going down this rabbit hole thinking the more it cost the better it was...wel up to a point maybe. I originally started out with Kenwood KA-801 integrated amp, Technics SL-1600MKII turntable, and Altec Model 9 series 2 speakers. I then heard a very nice sounding SAE system, so I bought a SAE integrated amp the A140. I enjoyed it for a few yes and then step up to SUMO Athena Preamp and Andromeda Power amp III. I really enjoyed this system until I noticed that at times on certain bass heavy note the amp would hit its limits. Looking back, I should have just upgraded the power supply capacitors to some slight bigger in value and this probably would have taken care of the running out of gas part.
I then upgrade my speakers to Vandersteen 2ce's and shortly after upgraded to the Vandersteen 3A's. I then started to experiment with different amps and preamps Thanks to my buddy allowing to try gear before I bought. I then got a Sonic Frontier SFL-1 signature which I regret getting rid of til this day. Ran this for a while then tried a Classe Audio CP-50 preamp. Very nicely built preamp and heavy and it was really nice sounding. Still think the SFL-1 was slightly better but I wanted Balanced outputs.
Then I went on a serious merry go round with trying amps. I tried ML, Gamut, Class CA-400, Krell 300i, Classe M700 (They were one of the best sounding monobloc amps I have had in my system) but weighed a ton or I would have kept them really good deal. Then I tried an unknown amp my friend ask to see it was good before he would put it up for sale in his audio store. It was a Edge M8 and when I got it home and put in the system, it was a match made in heaven and my search was over.
Getting back to my point, at that time before I had got the Edge amp. My system's value was up over 20K include all accessories, cables, and stands. I had a dedicated AV system with Paradigm speakers with Sherwood New Castle AV receiver and Sony DVD player. The Big system was hardly being used not due not sound good but just was watching TV more at the time.
So little by little sold off the "Hi End" gear except the Edge M8. Bought some tube gear kits and built my own power amp Latino VTA-120 and working on the Transcendent Sound Masterpiece preamp. As of right now I have Clearfield Continental by Counterpoint. I have a Schitt Audio Saga plus preamp and (Don't laugh) Crown XLS 1502 power amp. I'm really enjoying this setup more than my systems in the past and didn't cost me an arm and a leg. I got the Continental speakers on a very good deal here where I live and that was the key to the whole system. Some knock the Crown XLS amps but I did notice when first put into the system how it wasn't very good sounding and transparent. So I let it run for over 100hr and the sound improved greatly and have left it in my system ever since. I did try it against the VTA-120 even though to my ears the VTA-120 was slightly better in some areas, I really like the Crown better how it handle the music and lower end and have been enjoying this ever since. One thing the Crown does do is show bad records and shines on good recording, doesn't mask or hide anything
Now days, I just enjoy the music!