Does anyone really need to spend 10k on power

We all have limited time to burn. Just gotta get ones priorities in order to know how to best spend it.

Polls are showing 70% + of people want everyone in congress tossed out these days, except their own congressperson, 40% still like them. Same true about their lawyers. Prime candidates for 10K power conditioners as well, maybe? :^)

Agree with Charles things like this is nobody's business really. But we do disclose such private matters here at our own discretion, so that's a personal choice as well.

Personally, would I like to have the discretionary spending ability to afford a 10K power conditioner? Absolutely. But personally I doubt I would even if I could.

Everyone needs to spend money on things like food, shelter, and health care.

Most of the rest is optional, including power conditioners.

Anyone can spend on whatever they like, including charity, although being charitable might not be considered optional as well to many.

Luxury items are what they are. Some beter values than others. No different than the rest in this respect. What's there to debate? Specific items maybe. Bigger stakes though...more feelings to get hurt maybe, so why bother? Generalizations won't get us far. We all covet something. Why not a 10k power conditioner? Whether one "needs" it or not is a different story. What luxury items are there that are "needed"? I can't think of any. That sort of goes with the definition of a luxury item. Its not needed, just wanted perhaps.

Onh,

Yes, I read that cnn website article just yesterday. Hard to argue with most of it.

Regarding home audio, the fortunate reality of home audio as it has always been pretty much is "shades of grey" in terms of buying options, from the cheapest speakers at the local dollar store to the grandest and most expensive stuff out there to be bought for home use today.

The other thing that will never change is the role that knowledge and common sense plays in making buying decisions under the assumption that the reality is except for the small % of mega rich perhaps, the options availble to all of us are limited.

"What I question is whether the proliferation of ultra expensive products is good for the long term health of the audiophile world?"

I have no problems with the prices specifically in that companies have to make a decent profit to stay in business, but I think there is a lot of BS that often goes into it, and too much BS is probably not good for long term health of anything. Gotta at least try to cut through the BS. I think its that simple.

To answer the OPS original question, for home use (not larger scale commercial applications), I doubt there is any real, in terms of being quantifiable, need to spend 10K to fix ones power.

But I can't prove it, and I'm sure there is someone out there with a big thirsty power amp or amps, power quality issues, the needed budget, and bothered enough by the problem as perceived, who would disagree with me. If done right, which might be somewhat costly, I would expect results to be no worse than before, at a minimum....an expensive (audio) insurance policy per se, that provides peace of mind at a minimum. How do you put a price on that?

Of course, one might argue that one (ie the audiophile) is a little nuts in the first place to worry so much about such things, but that is another story for another conversation.

I will be the first to admit that I have overspent most likely on audio gear in the past mostly as an insurance policy against inferior performance so as not to cut any corners.

++ Jmcgrogan2.

"This hobby is ripe with insanity, why ask why???"

Isn't that a good reason, to cut through the insanity and get to what really matters and why?

Otherwise these forums become riper ground for charlatans and other forms of deception. Plenty of that to go around these days. Audio ain't so special, just more fertile grounds than most.

Asking questions and discussing the answers is always a big part of the learning process. The truth will always speak for itself one way or another over time.

"Whether someone wants to spend $10K on a power conditioner, gold plated toilet seat, or diamond studded dog collar, why does it matter to you? Who are you to think that it's your business to "fix" them?"

Well, I don't know how to fix those in particular, so that settles that. :^) Can't speak for others though. I'm only one participant.

Lots of audio things I would like to be able to spend even way more than 10K on. Why? Mostly just because its cool stuff to own, look at and play with. Might even sound better, but don't really care.

List includes:

1) Lots of expensive tube gear from ARC, VAC, others just because I think tubes are way cool

2) esoteric speaker designs like German Physiks, mbl, and maybe even some other cool looking, high performing but less esoteric designs as well.

3) the fastest and best ultrasonic record cleaner I could find so I don;t have to manually clean my records when needed.

4) Some really cool looking stands and shelving to put stuff on

5) The best DCS digital audio gear money can afford

6) various really expensive phono carts just to hear what they might sound like. Plus the tables and arms needed to make it happen.

However, my audio budget is already mostly tapped out and things are sounding pretty good as I want them to already, so I guess I will be spending my money elsewhere on teh more mundane things needed.

Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention that no worries power conditioning unit that can only help make things sound even better, whatever that is or however much it might end up costing.

Admit it, so called audiophiles! How often is better sound REALLY the only reason we buy the stuff we do? I am much more than just an "audiophile". "At least, I think I must be"!