Hi-Fi can be less expensive than anything

Taters, you must already have a great set-up. Ten thousand especially in used dollars is a lot of money.

French knives? Folders or fixed blades?

Douglas, where is your analog front end?

I see, very nice looking knives. I prefer fixed blades, though have two folders too. All custom, handmade American. I wouldn't call it collecting, I use some of them but not all. Buy maybe one or two knives a year. Now that's expensive, about $500 a piece on average, and that's second hand but not used. I enjoy sharpening them on a natural Arkansas stone, that's music to my ears, and I do sharpen by ear. Kind of hi-fi too! Every knife sounds different on the stone.
Anyway, yeah, records and cds can really ruin you financially especially if you want original pressings in mint condition. I try to be very selective and keep only what I listen to often enough. Sometimes there is a track or two that I really like, that's where my Nakamichi deck comes into play. No, it can't take everything that my Nottingham table is capable of, but often it is close with Maxell Vertex tape. The deck just can't give me the same soundstage, though not bad at all. Varies from recording to recording, of course.

Well if you bring real estate in, then it does become very expensive. As for me, I don't need a dedicated listening room - good size living room is just fine.
There is a lot that you can do with furniture, curtains, books and carpets. No it won't be perfect. When I want and can afford perfect I'll ask Michael Green to fully tune the room. Besides, if you are not living alone your music should be available to others. With dedicated cave-room it won't be really.

Nonoise, thank you. I get all my knives from one dealer - Nordic Knives in California - and almost always select blades made by mastersmiths. My preferences are Jim Crowell, John Fitch and Harvey Dean. Take a look at the Dean's website - great pieces, top quality and true artistry.
Schubert, thank you. Having said that, I also understand the need to sometimes escape into a dreamland and dedicated listening room can help. So maybe the best solution is to have two set-ups in totally different rooms.

Czarivey, I sympathize. I never found myself in a situation like that, but I always have to self-regulate. I can't play loud music after certain hour, not only because it is an apartment building but because others want to have some quiet. I could have a dedicated room, the second room is not really used and it's not small, but this wouldn't change much. But sometimes I just say that I am going to play this record now and I am going to play it loud. Yeah, but one record not five in a row. I use headphones too, mostly at night, but you can't compare. Besides, with the phones on my head I am asleep in fifteen minutes at just about any volume.