Do You Tell Others How Much You Have Invested in Your System?

First of all, almost nothing in the audio world is an "investment" with the exception of some rare pieces. Second of all, no one has ever asked me what anything cost but if they did, I'd likely tell them. We all spend our money on something.

Guitar player in my band thinks I'm nuts as he buys and sells guitars every 5 minutes and does the same with his Jeeps :)

He has a Visio soundbar.

I'll tell people if they ask. I've been frugal all my life and finally splurged. I still work my balls off at 55, I'll buy whatever I want.

51 years ago I bought a Fisher Model 222 Studio Standard receiver. A pair of Fisher 101 2-way bookshelf speakers. And a Dual 1225 turntable. Total cost about $400 as I recall. The most I’ve ever spent as a % of available funds. It started a nice journey. I now have much more expensive gear but it’s a much smaller piece of the puzzle. What you spend is only proportional to what you have to spend. You don’t need to share it. Just be thankful you can do it.

20K Plus. I just told you,,,

The price of my system is my business. 

I certainly don't go out of my way to let people know what my system is worth, but I have talked numbers with several of my friends.  In those cases, we are all generally on an equal playing field financially and we all just choose to make difference choices with our funds.  In most cases, they say that they would love to have a similar system, but have never actually convinced themselves to take the plunge.

I have one friend that has a comparable system (I think he'd trade me straight up!) and he's often my sounding board for my system so has been there since the beginning and knows pretty much everything about my system.

For reference, the retail value of my entire current stereo setup is probably under $10,000, so it would be a difference conversation if I had individual components worth significantly more than my entire system.

I get that question more about my watches.

I guess that's something that they can relate to more.

There is "the replacement cost" and there's "what I paid for it".

I rarely buy new so there is quite a difference.

Nope. Most of my friends are not audio lovers and the price would seem too high as most don’t have home audio systems. I have one family member that only cares about price, I never tell him because it drives him nuts. He’s the type that only judges quality of sound by cost, musical tastes by billboard ratings. Besides, it’s rude to ask and to tell. In the end I know and that is enough pain.

Well I never worry about security but I do occassionally put rough numbers to my system with others. In my mind to show the great value it is. 

I have happily lost count...

@mikelavigne 

I don't know if it makes a difference, I'll be 60 next September, but will you adopt me?  Absolutely beautiful audio room.  I can't begin to fathom the experience sitting in that chair listening with the lights dimmed.  Amazing.

I keep gear a very long time, but it is not intended to be an investment.  Still, certain parts of my system are probably worth more now than when I purchased them.  The Western Electric compression midrange driver and horn are worth much more now than when I purchased them around 12 years ago.  My amps and linestage are also worth more now because of the content of Western Electric transformers and other valuable vintage parts.  An Audio Note amp is currently listed at about five times the price I originally purchased it, so I would guess that its used price would also hold up.

I never tell anyone how much I spent on my system, and not to mention what I invested in vinyl records. When someone ask how much my equipment cost, I just give them the model numbers and tell them to Google it to get an idea. But of course I don't say I never pay full retail for some of the pieces. I also have a folder with all my receipts and I told my wife never to look into that folder before I pass on. Then she can look into it to get an idea how much to sell it for so that she doesn't give it away cheaply. 

Mando..

@bluorion 

“I don't even tell myself how much I spent on my system.”

😹😹😹

I told the Comcast cable guy I had 55k in my rig when he hooked up my new network, he ended up charging me $100 for a free visit. Never again…

I forgot get to tell you what my system is composed of. Here we go:

Amp (Mono Blocks), preamp, Phono Stage, CD player, Room Correction System, and Power Conditioner are all McIntosh.

Subwoofers are Rel Carbon Special.

Speakers are Wilson Audio Alexia.

Turn tables are Denon DP59L and VPI HW40.

Tape Decks are Studer A810, Revox B77, PR99 (MKI, MKII, and MKIII),  Otari MX5050B-2,  Tascam BR20, and Pioneer RT909.

Cassette Pleyer is Teac W-990RX.

Power cords are Audio Art Cables.

Interconnects: I have tried several high-end cables and still have a few. But I settled with my own. I built my own interconnects, both XLR and RCA. And i must say that I am very pleased with my DIY built interconnect cables. 

Mando.

The rare friends who are audio geeks already know what things cost, and those that aren't don't care. 

i just say….not enough….

Funny thing that happened when trucking company delivered my speakers. They should have per instructions sent a small liftgate truck as we live on a very windy narrow dead end street. Driver had to park 100 yards away up a hill. He asked what was in the pallet..i replied X brand stereo speakers…he said how much ? i said think of them as a new Z06 Corvette …. he looked at me like i was nuts…but surfed them down the hill safely with the pallet jack brake…. Dude liked a challenge… and Corvettes…ha.

Everyone except the wife.

As with many of us, my family and friends have no idea what my stuff costs, except my brother who thinks I'm nuts.   Although he will be the first to say it sounds great .... and he is often the recipient of nice audio hand me downs 

 I really don't want them to know, and if anyone asks I am evasive and change topic.   It's nobody's biz....

I think if you have any common sense you can look at some of this gear and know it's not cheap.   My buddy has a pair of downhill mountain bikes that cost $7500 and $8500,  so it's all relative...

No one has ever asked me. Most people don’t care. 

I tell people if they ask. I think most people are curious how much your stuff cost. Happy listening ! 

If they ask….and about cables, I might tell them what one costs, otherwise most people can’t wrap their heads round what these systems costs. Neither can I sometimes😀

Nope! No reason to.

@elangley01 

Precisely ...  

For audiophiles who have the same hobby, I'll tell them what it costs as they may be interested in buying that item for their system.  For others, I'll tell them to google it, don't want to shock them.....

Look at what thousands of more people are buying, hi end watches. They spend multiple thousands on these watches and I’m not talking Omega where even they can cost 10-30k. Does the average Joe know when they see one of these watches the price or would they say "how much did you pay for that watch"? I think not. Most people just don't care.

Almost never.

Have a friend who’s home was broken into shortly after he had some work done. The hit his only bathroom, certain drawers in their bedroom and his entire rig!  What really sucked is that they couldn’t prove who dun it.

If you break it down to cost per note, the true cost of our systems is really quite reasonable.

+1 northman

I haven't admitted to myself how much I have spent, so certainly not my wife or the neighbors.  Did I mention that we (wife and I) are going to Capital Audiofest this weekend?  Come to think of it she most likely has a better idea of the total cost than me.  When she brings yet another pair of new shoes home I just smile, bite my tong.  

Like Mike my system is also located in a different house from the main house. Best thing I ever done. The only people seeing it are people I choose to show it to. My wife doesn't even have a key. Last time she saw it was over a year ago. Bottom line it's my business. I take care of her, and she lets me take care of myself without asking questions. And if it's not my wife's business, it's obviously no one else's :)

I leave the price tags on. 🙄

Many years ago, after what must have been an effective demo, a customer said "yes" to purchasing at $1,500 pair of speakers. At the sales counter, he said: "You know these are going to cost me $3,000." After a puzzled look from me, he followed with: "After I buy somehting I want, my wife spends the same among of money on something she wants."

To:

Wife: "Honey, we can afford it; next question."

Casual friend/relative: "Can't find this stuff at best buy"

True interested party, looking to build their own: "I break it down by priority and retail vs used options."

I may mention retail prices on certain components, and then mention I purchased it used, not exact price given. I then go into how I built up system over years selling off the old in order to purchase the replacement.

When I think about the resources I've expended in this pursuit it offends my usually frugal nature. I feel like I'm apologizing more than bragging when I mention prices/value of my system. To think of all the billions who live a subsistence existence, I feel so privileged!

@northman   Very funny!

Geez I would be delighted if anybody even knew about my hobby.  Let alone ask any questions about it!  🤣

The question I get by the uninitiated is "How loud will this play?"  Loud enough is my reply, but that is not the point.

I have been asked the cost and I simply say I'm not sure.  There's one other annoying thing people do which is pick a track and then listen to 30 seconds of it and proceed to tell me (over the music) all about it.  That's my clue to turn it down to a whisper and then off.  Jeez...STFU already.

Regards,

barts

@sns +1

No one on earth knows how much I have invested lol in this hobby and my systems. Inc me.

@allenf1963, lol. Although, stipulation (consisting of part-time employment and vacations) comes to mind. I’m driving dat damn thang solo! Abandoned my stereo... nah never, for it now sits in someones (hopefully) rent-free room :-)

As for "tell others how much," certainly on occasion ... with my age, give or take.

I was asked once long time ago about the price of my Martin Logan quest when I have them? The visitor said they are unique and beautiful, then he ask the price? I said 4K, He told me Iam crazy, Since then I never invite civilians in my house. And never talk about my audio expenses to anyone.

I tell them I sold my boat to buy a stereo system.  The rest is up to their imagination.

Just my dog, he appreciates it...

ozzy

Naw.  I just make large posters and write the price in BIG RED NUMBERS on them and hang them from each component.

You know, subtle...

Cheers!

If they ask, and I know them well, I will tell them what it's insured for.....usually followed up by what I paid for everything.

I don't tend to invite strangers in off the street to listen to my gear, so I doubt it's a problem. Plus, like I indicated, it's insured.

I just say "I sold the dragster, so I need something to play with!"