Does anyone really need to spend 10k on power

Jmcgrogan2,

+++++1

Thanks for putting a cap on this. Now, back to music!!

I'm with Charles1dad on this.

I am utterly perplexed at the selective outrage about how OTHER people spend their money. It's as pointless as the audio snobs who look down their noses at people with "lesser" equipment. I wonder whether people would keep up these postings if they knew how little the big spenders and the manufacturers of audio jewelry care about what others think. Ranting about his is like spitting in the wind. You just wind up all wet and pissed for nothing.

Another thing that gets lost in all of this are all the great audio bargains you could be talking about. (There are many, like the phenomenal $90 Pioneer speakers designed by the creator of the mega expensive TAD C-1's) But, instead, we'll just keep railing about the worst aspects of our hobby. Really attractive. Bravo.

I'd like to propose that making assumptions about decisions other people
make and then self-righteously condemning them is a pretty sketchy
practice.

For example, my wife and I own two cars that are more than 12 years old.
They get good mileage, look like crap, but get us from point A to point B.
We are quite happy doing this. We need nothing more. We have friends
who drive $70,000 cars. We don't feel morally superior to them nor do we
shame them for enjoying the heck out of those cars. Those cars don't seem
to drive much better than ours, but our friends clearly love being in them.
The companies who make those expensive vehicles employ a lot of good
folks. One day I might buy one of their cars when they get much older
because
they are very well made and are sure to last many years.

Finally, while my wife and I drive our "economically responsible"
cars that are barely worth $3,000 together, we also spend dozens of hours
a week enjoying the benefits of our $5000 power conditioner in the family
room. It's our choice and we are very comfortable with it. I couldn't care
less what anyone else thinks of our choice, but it disturbs me to think that
someone else might miss all this fun because they are embarrassed or led
away from it by the ignorant assumptions of others who haven't even heard
or experienced what they're condemning.

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming. ;-)

Tonywinsc,

Good story. The world would be a more peaceful place if we ALL admitted the varied and sometimes irrational motivations behind our decisions. I'm glad you can enjoy your "shallow" decision as much as I do mine! LOL

Tonywinsc,

I hear you. Some of my cheapest tweaks have been the most rewarding. I also help friends upgrade and finding good deals for someone else is plenty of fun.

I find all this "how dare they" froth about an expensive power conditioner odd in a world filled with $50k amplifiers and $90k speakers. When you haven't ever heard an expensive power conditioner in your own system and when you don't understand what they do, it's kind of hard to judge its value or lack thereof.

I know one thing; my $5k power conditioner is nearly equal to my $8500 amplifier in what it delivers..because they are *both* very good at handling the electricity that is vital to the reproduction of all recorded sound. Electricity and its proper delivery are fundamentally important if one wants to achieve more life-like sound reproduction. A good power conditioner aids and improves that delivery. Anyone can hear it if given the chance. Exactly how much that improvement is "worth" is up to each individual and cannot be empirically established by debate.

Tony,

In no way, did I think you and I are in any disagreement. I was reacting to
the comments by others that seem to obsessively focus on cost as a
measure of value and common sense. Sorry about the confusion.

Taters,

I certainly have no interest in convincing you to buy anything but you posted a question that implies others *shouldn't* buy such things or that something is wrong with them if they do. And you seem intent upon persuading others to adopt your point of view.

That's your right but it seems odd to be so concerned with the choices others make. You'll notice that no one here is calling your choice *not* to use a power conditioner misguided. No one is implying that you are too deaf to hear the difference. Why not refrain from judging the choices of others? I say "live and let live."