Realistic end games tech levels?

Hi all,

i've just build my first sphere world - after about 40 turns to defeat all AI players but two, which are trapped in two isolated, mine-blocked systems, and about 200 more turns to research the necessary levels in stellar manipulation (1.66 stock), i wonder...

What is the highest technological level you have reached in games that you actually tried to win quickly without delaying your victory?
(Multiplayer or AI, mod?)

Somehow, my games tend to be decided by fregattes with level 10 depleted uranium canons, at most by cruisers with lvl 10 meson blasters and lvl 10 shields....