Retail: estimating $9,000
What I paid: $3,500
What is hard for me is that it's totally addicting and I just want to keep upgrading. Shoot, I usually buy something already knowing what the next upgrade will be. Since I started this craziness 8 months ago, I'm on my third amp, fifth pair of speakers, second c.d. player, fourth pair of speaker wires, third pair of interconnects in addition to a dac, and a pre amp.
I used to say video games are digital crack. I take that back now and would say video games are like digital weed and stereo equipment is more akin to digital crack. I'm looking in to an inpatient rehab, just I upgrade a few more things. |
My most expensive system cost $3,000, with the speakers accounting for half of that. |
$ 230,000.....don't tell my wife.....especially you, 'snook2'.. |
Retail is appox $35K but due to the fact that I usually buy Demo models or get really good deals from dealers (i never have paid full retail even for brand new gear) I actually have paid only $15k. |
About twice what I paid. The only two items I paid retail for are preamp and one sub (first of two). The preamp is a steal at retail, so no regrets there. My second sub (same model as my first) was less than half retail from same manufacturer so when I consider outstanding quality for both and combined price, again, no regrets. I am a lucky dog! |
58,000 US Dollars,wife thinks I am absolutely nuts,and asking is there anything else.No dear!.
Patal |
$4,000 for the 2.1, but thanks to some older parts and craigslist, the total expenditure was between $600 and $700. Of course, I'm at the first round of a two-channel system, and both the retail and out-of-pocket costs are expected to grow soon, based--in part--on the help from this community. |
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Whelp puppies I have been sent into exile my "big rig" with $7K speakers and $ 5K amps total about 20 grand is in my one time home. I will be reunited with iot but not sure when? Current rig about $1600-1800 total mostly vintage except speakers. My collection of just 5751s easily eclipses that value if taken at "retail" which for tubes isn't all that easy to pin down. I own quite a few, even here, couldn't pass up a good buy on a quad of NOS Sylvania triple mica blackplates. |
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Not gonna like this...lol.
Krell amps 350 FPB mono blocks...........$ 7000.00
Raysonic CD228............................$ 3000.00
Torus RM15................................$ 3000.00
Upraded Xindac MNE mono amps..............$ 4000.00
TTWeights Turntable.......................$ 6000.00
B&W 802 Matrix 11 new crossovers..........$ 3500.00
Bogdan Audio interconects/speaker cables..$ 3500.00
YS Audio preamp...........................$ 1000.00
ok im at $ 31,000.00....wow it really adds up...lol...Who started this post anyways???lol Cheers.. |
20-30K. I included a price range because I've never seen the MSRP of SX-1 monitor's individually listed. They were originally sold with FX-1 cathedral organs. |
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Based on MSRP...about 80K
(not including all the tweaks,etc.)
Frankly i've never equated the price of a piece with its sound quality. I go with what sounds good in my room and for my tastes. If it happens to be expensive,(one mans expensive..is another mans economical), I'll try to get it as long as my bills and mortgage are paid. |
McCormack DNA 1 deluxe amp-$950 used
NAD T773-Surround receiver-$500 used
Sony DN900SV sacd/dvd/cd player-$150 used
Oppo 983 sacd/dvd/dvd-a player- $150 used
PSB Stratus Goldis-$500 used
PSB Stratus Minis-$300 used
PSB Stratus 5ci-$150 used
Various cables-$150 used/new
Paid $2900
Retail approx: $10,000 |
$1,700- tried new Rotel/Paradigm stuff but sold it. my Marantz/klipsch/Rotel/Technics/Grado is old school and to me it sounds better. |
$40k retail. Investment cost of used gear $7500. Cost to me $0. How is that? OPM. |
Right around the $25k mark for my 2 channel but will probably break the thirty mark when I settle on an amplifier.
It has taken me a while to get here, but I think I'm nearing completion on this rig. When I have a larger place I'd love to build a second system though focused around bang for the buck equipment. |
About $15K or $30K if you include the offsetting jewelry purchases my wife decided were required with every purchase of audio gear. This came up as a point of discussion after I bought my second piece of gear about 10 years ago. What the hell, it's cheaper than a divorce!
My wife loves my system and encourages me to purchase upgrades whenever I please. (with the offsetting jewelry of course) |
Roughly 20K on HT and audio setup. this is the price of the current setup, not taking into account the various buying and selling. CDs and DVDs are not included.
Split is 11,000 for the Audio
9,000 for the HT. |
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Speakers- B&W 802 Diamond-$15,000
CDP/DAC/Pre- Burmester 089-$30,000
BDP- LG590-$350
Cables- Transparent Reference- $7,000
Powercords- Bybee-$8,000
Plasma- Fujitsu 50"- $6500
Siamese cat- Suki- priceless |
I have Bryston equipment and 804 B&W Nautilus speakers. The speakers were about $3000 eight years ago, the 4B amp was 4,000 new, preamp was 2500 used, and CD player was 2500 new. I have used Acoustic Zen cables: Double Barrel speaker cables were 800 and the Silver II interconnects were 400 each for 2 sets. The total is about $13,500.
IÂ’m happy with the set-up; however, I would like to upgrade to B&W 803 Diamonds but donÂ’t have the funds at this time. |
$20,725.00. Never really thought about it. 2 channel stereo only.Increasing slowly but with great fun. Like they say "its about the music" not the equipment. The music sounds better on better equipment.Long live 2 channel/vinyl audiophiles. |
Lemme see... $2000 for PSB Stratus Gold. $700 for Carver Amp. $600 for Yamaha CD player. $150 for Pioneer PL-6 turntable? $100 for Shure cartridge? $150 for wiring/interconnects. $3700?
Paid $600 for the PSB, $175 for the Carver, $150 for the CD player, $30 for the wiring. $25 for the turntable, $40 for the cartridge. $1020 all-in for the two channel only. |
Robertwolfee,
I understand your position and somewhat agree, especially with the part about some very expensive systems could possibly cause ear bleed. However, the same can be said of systems at all price levels.
Audio from entry level to the most costly can sound extremely good or extremely bad, depending on components, matching and most of all, the room.
Nrchy was possibly upset with your sweeping statement. The way it was posted one could conclude that you think everyone with an expensive system is an ego freak and cannot determine between good and bad sound. That obviously is not true.
I will agree that in some cases a lot of money is spent and the results could have been had at a fraction the cost. I can also say that I've heard some absolutely amazing high end (expensive) systems that achieved levels of performance that are not possible with lesser components.
My experience may change with time, perhaps I've just not heard the exception to the rule, but I've heard a heck of a lot of systems. |
Arrogant does required knowledge and insight to make it elegant. However, ignorance does not need anything; just plain stupidity.
How many of the people would take a straight answer from first, a salesman (any salesman, be they the car, stocks, real estate, etc.), second, the lawyers (they are just interested in prolonging the bleeding and last, the so-called "stereophile guru" (they want only big advertising dollars).
A simple LP playing system with a Linn LP12, AudioNote integrated and some efficient bookshelves would just be enough.
I had tried numerous CD (YBA, Sony scd-1, Mcintosh, Esoteric, etc), DAC (Meridian, Audio research, Esoteric, Mcintosh, etc), preamplifers (YBA pre 1, McIntosh C2200, Audio research Reference 2, Conrad Johnson ACT, etc.) and power amplifier ( Pass, XA60, X250, YBA 1 & 2, McIntosh MC2301, MC250, etc)
All the above are excellent gear, yet, the only one sounds natural, real and good to my own ears are the following combination.
Tentlabs CD player, VAC preamplifier (upgraded capacitors: Mundorf Gold/Silver/Oil), Sonic Frontiers Power 3, AudioNote SET, Maggie 3.6
This combination compares to systems costing over $200,000 (Mcintosh, Sonus Fraber, Wilson Puppy, Audio research, etc)
; it just sound much better.
I compare all the system to real, live music, and if your ears tell you to continue to listen; that is a good system. |
Robert, I guess they just aren't as smart, or maybe just as arrogant as you! |
Money should be no object if perusing the real, live music here.
I have listened to systems costing well over $300,000 and it just doesn't last for more than 30 minutes.
My ears would bleed.
The ego of the owner would be sky-high because he, definitely is a he, would love and adore his systems because all the components are "Stereophile" endorsed and definitely be "Class A"
How stupid can that be?
Those people are cows and they like to be leaded by a ring in their nose.
Just cannot stand by with those "money bleeding" snake oil scam. |
28,000 - 30,0000. Only good thing to come out of divorce. Freedom to spend. |
$50k for Cd / Dac/ Pre / Power / Speakers and Sub - I cant afford to even think about HT ! -- I take it there is a Lock Out System on this site to stop Wives / Partners coming on Audiogon and seeing these figures ! LOL. |
Hi Ahendler,
What did you have in your $100k system? How about now for 1/10th the price?
It is very interesting to think about because ten years ago for $100k you could end up with some really kick-ass speakers like Watt/Puppies, and some serious amplification, and a killer front end turntable setup.
Cheers! |
$10,000
Ten years ago it was $100,000. The current system sounds much better in everyway than the high price one |
$6100. I am quite happy with the sound which I bought for this cash. |
It's just a question of interest Ebm, relax. ;) |
10-09-09: Ebm
HOW does it sound is the important question money spent does not always mean great sound!!!!
Amen... Ebm |
$44K for 2 channel. Another $16K for home theater. Only $3K in debt at the moment, so I consider myself a model of self restraint. My wife, however, does not. |
$8500.00
MAGNEPAN 20.1 SPEAKERS (used). 4,000.
AUDIO RESEARCH VT-200 II AMP (used) 2,000.
AUDIO RESEARCH SP-9 II PREAMP (used) 800.
AUDIO RESEARCH CD-2 PLAYER (used) 900.
AUDIO RESEARCH LITZLINE CABLES & INTERCONNECTS (used) 200.
THORENS TABLE (used) 300. |
paid about 40k, retail 55k due to price increase over last year... magic rate RUR/USD )))
I gave myself the present 1 year ago after 10 years of working. Got a good bonus. Since then it became a mania
My wife and I chose together the first purchase. Though she is not happy with my new permanent spendings )) |
Ebm,
I totally agree! On a very meager budget, I built a system over the course of years that I am very satisfied with.
Cheers. |
HOW does it sound is the important question money spent does not always mean great sound!!!! |
Qgap Wow I would love to hear about your system that was so inexpensive and yet is able to fool others into thinking it retails for several thousand dollars! |
Hi Thermonicavenger,
Thanks for your comments. I was trying to understand why the person would ask this question. The only reasons I could think of were to get free marketing information from this forum, or to give people the chance to show off how much money they have spent on their systems. Perhaps it was asked in earnest out of curiosity.
I appreciate your stories on how to build decent systems using resourcefulness rather than cash alone. Actually, I built my turntable set up for about $800; I got the tonearm for free -- someone was throwing it out because he thought the bearings were shot. I decided to try it, and it still sounded fine to me; there was a tiny bit of play in the bearings. I built the turntable from used parts -- VPI is good for this. And, I bought a reasonably priced cartridge.
For my amps, I bought a Dynaco St70 with Pas3 pre-amp, dirt cheap, and have modified them extensively. I was also given a Fisher 400c pre amp by a friend who's parents didn't want it. Nor did any of the siblings. Lucky me! For speakers, I got a pair of Kef R102's dirt cheap off ebay.
Of course there are great alternatives to buying new equipment. For turntables, a person can get great results from buying an AR. My first good turntable was an AR that came with a Grace arm. I sold it for what I paid after five years of enjoyment (~$300).
I tend to get emotionally charged sometimes about audio, and loose my sense of tolerance. I was probably perusing a thread on "audio grade" fuses right before I viewed this thread. My apologies for my acerbic comments.
By the way, I am lucky that my wife appreciates my stereo. She even likes the way it looks -- "industrial." I think I won her over by the sound. This was the first time she heard some music she liked on properly played vinyl. There are women out there that appreciate good audio. Best of luck finding her; don't loose heart, she is out there! Now if only I can to convince her that I should buy Quad Esl-63's. |
Maybe around 15K. (btw, I feel better now. :-) ) I'm still using an older power amp I bought used. I was up at my dealer last night and they were just setting up the new McIntosh preamp combo--$12K. Gorgeous (especially when paired with their newest tube monoblocks--yikes) but it's all so far past my means that all I can do is look at it in awe. |
26,105 including rack, ic's, & speaker wire. I took my time and put it all together for 12,630. It's well worth taking your time, and saving 13,475 just for waiting sales. Cary tube amp and preamp, Linn for the sources. IC's Audiometallurgy, Speaker wires Morrow Audio SP 3, Salamander Archtype 5.0 amd 2.0 rack. |
$22,000 two channel, plus another $10,000 for HT |
I found one...and she will listen. |
Gentlemen I once got into a very short argument with a FORMER girlfriend. It went something like this. You love that stupid f#@king stereo more than me, That's it! I've had enough! It's time to choose,me or the Stereo!
My instant Answer: So when are you leaving?
I think more of you should exercise your regressed alpha male testicular fortitude. My stereo never says NO! Could explain why I'm still single though. Oh to meet a woman that understands and accepts as big boys we NEED big toys. |
More than I would ever tell my wife. |
