Has the cost of HiFi gotten a bit too much?

@tomcy6 

"When you’re in your early twenties, it is much easier to enjoy just about everything. It being Friday was reason enough to have a party and throw caution to the wind. Everything was funny. You had girlfriends who were also in their early twenties. Who at 70 wouldn’t want to be in that situation again?

Each to his/her own. I for one don't feel I enjoy music any less now than I did when I was in my twenties. As for all the raging hormones and emotional drama that go along with Nature's drive for procreation, I don't miss that either. I no longer have the energy to sustain such wildness/chaos and wouldn't choose to if I could. Ultimately I've found peace more beguiling. 

@khughes 

"Sample gear, listen for yourself, and find the gear that speaks to you. Learn some acoustic and treat your room. And forget about what anyone else thinks.

I think you'll find that you can build a far better system, at a far more reasonable price, today (well, when the supply chain gets unfutzed) than in years past. So if you want "Hi End, sniff, sniff," yeah it's going up."

+1 

@agisthos

You may be right about new hifi brands-- I'm most certainly no expert. You neglect to  define what you mean by "normal" but it is still possible to buy gear from established companies (Marantz, Creek, Rega, Cambridge, for example) that is better than "consumer audio" but is not ultra expensive like Boulder, Gryphon, etc.