$23,474. Just did the paperwork today, as I'm "Done For Now" -- funny how I happen upon this post just now. That's the MSRP of all the components (and cables) in my current system as set up. What I actually paid for these same components over the years is $13,313, thanks in part to audiogon.
-sd |
I would bet that by the time you got it all added up, the numbers for some people's systems would have changed quite a bit. I know that mine increased to $190,020 with the addition of the Odyssee 1.4XL Motion Simulator for home theater, MSRP $25K. |
After showing hidden records in Palm, $64,546. The hiding records again from snoopy wife. Isn't it amazing how many people worry about wife? Don't they spend money on nails, hair, jewelry, clothes, etc. In any event, would love for someone to compute average cost per poster. Would also be interested in system breakdown. |
A paltry $3K, but I love it. |
If we equate points with US dollars, my current audio system was more than my IQ and less than my combined SAT scores, allowing for ensuing depreciation in all the variables mentioned.... And no, my current system is not an off-brand boombox or clock radio - thanks for assuming, though. |
~ $28k retail. Paid ~ $16k. Includes vinyl front end, transport/DAC, tubed pre- and power amps, speakers, all cabling, stand, after-market power cords, two 20-amp dedicated circuits and audio-nerd receptacles.
Don't do Home Theater, yet. Thank goodness; one obsession is enough...thank you very much. |
YIKES! I did a rough total of the values stated in this thread using actual amount spent, where provided, retail cost, where provided, and doing some interpolation, where necessary. I came up with about $4,625,000. This also assumes, based on a notion SDCampbell makes, that figures are not a reflection of guys stimulating their Johnsons! :-) Now, if one applies my local sales tax to that figure, the result is $381,562.50, or about 15.26 times the actual cost of my two-channel system. |
Roughly $30K for 2-channel and $12K for HT. Like Albert, the idea of trying to add up the cost of my software daunts me.
will |
Approximately $50,000 worth of two-channel equipment, which includes: Turntable set-up, CD transport, DAC, pre-amp, power amp, speakers, cables, and upgraded power cables and mains purifier. Also includes stand too.
Not including home theatre set-up as I am re-building this. |
$20K in 2-channel, Another $8500 in 2-channel HT, where I retired my entry level 2-channel system. I have not sold a single piece of equipment yet. These are, after all, my children. I suspect I am probably not done yet. |
OK. I'm over $11,000. But I didn't pay that much, since many pieces were purchased used or at a discount. |
Retail: 3.07 million Actually paid: 1.15 million
Does that drop anyone's jaws?
Damn well it should - it's in Japanese yen. Perhaps a more appropriate measure is that the system "retailed" for the equivalent of about 125 hotels on Boardwalk (cost me 45-50 hotels). |
$72,000 - 50% on front end, %25 electronics, %20 speakers, %5 on cables. 2 channels system music & ht combine. But this is it ! I am set for life. |
$162,850.00 for my home theater system, with the majority ($94,000) in the 4 pairs of Infinity IRS (V, Beta x2, Gamma) speakers.
I thought I would add it up and see how my johnson, er, I mean system measured up to Albert Porter, Adsal and some of the other heavyweights. I figured I had the speakers, but not the high end amps, processors and source components. Uh, I am afraid to think of it with Krell, Classe and Levinson front end components now...
I hope my fiancee doesn't read this thread. Hmm, notice how close fiancee and finance are spelled...
Mike |
If I added it all up I'd probably climb up on the roof and jump on my head, and if my family found out I'd be forced to do it at gunpoint - I apply that question about the rig to what Sir Paul McCartney said - if you know how much your worth you aint worth much...stay cool....;) |
I paid 5000 for mine and I'm not really sure that putting significantly more money into it would make it sound that much better. I have considered trying to make it sound better by additions but when I listen to it... I think why? |
Especially if you're married to Jane Q Public..... |
Yikes! I'm glad I'm happy with my kit. I can't afford what most of you folks spend on this! I'm somewhat under median - something on the order of $16K for 2-channel, another $18K for HT and around $12K into the room. (That room figure is pretty blurry.) In this crowd that feels like a "budget" system, but I suspect that Jane Q Public doesn't agree... |
Roughly 31K (2-channel, stereo) = Speakers, monoblocks, pre-amp, CD-player, turntable/arm/cartridge and cabling. |
Well Brianmgrarcom:
Here goes. Luckily, I have just a girlfriend and not a wife. Because if I had a wife, and if she knew how much money I spend on this stuff, she would definitely kill me. But nonetheless, guys deserve to have fun too, right??
Well anyway, here goes....
Audio System -- Approximately $7,000.00+*
Home Theater -- Approximately $3,000.00 (TV Included)**
The qualifications are as follows:
* -- This indicates that this is what my audio system costs as of this writing. As I have indicated here at "Audiogon" over the last few months, my system is in a state of flux right now. I am in the process of adding components (i.e. -- Turntable System/Cartridge, Phono Stage, DVD/CD/SACD Player) and the interconnects needed to hook these components into the system.
** -- And this indicates that while I may stand pat as far as my home theater system is concerned, be advised that I may be upgrading to a HDTV system within the next two years or so. So that system price is sure to escalate. Stay tuned.
--Charles-- |
with accessories and treatment 190k usd |
(two items i got as second hand)...
|
$16,300 and just getting started. I use the 20% rule. That means I tell my wife that I spent 20% of whatever it really cost me. Thank God she doesn't know my NT password to retrieve my Excel spreadsheet and doesn't know about this site.
My spreadsheet also indicates I have $21,550 (non-retail) left to spend to achieve what I'm looking for. But then again, like so many others, this number will forever be increasing. |
Kubla, that's the first response to this thread that I can relate to. I refuse to add up what Ive spent (a lot less than most people it seems, but a lot more than any of my real-life friends or relatives would think rational). I resent every dollar I have to spend. I would be very happy if wire was wire, bits were bits, and watts were watts. |
$$$$$ Jeepers, guys. ...just...i dunno. jeepers. |
Albert, how quickly they forget........ |
Memorial Day BBQ all right with everybody? |
Oops, we worked it out this weekend and came to the embarassing result of topping Albert's system by about $65000. It has also been a work in progress since about 35 years! We also managed to make some excellent deals, so the actual cost is less. |
$20,400 for my audio only system which makes me dizzy but happy. ( Is that delirious? ) And my wife approves! Under $1000 for the HT but I moved my NHT 2.9's over to the HT after I bought the Dynaudios so it increased by osmosis. |
what kind of jobs do you people have,i have a acurus a150 @$850,a amc cd8b@$400,a ps audio 4.5 @$650,vandersteen model 1 @$1200 and tannoy proto j's @aprox. $279 |
Psychic, what the hell are you talking about man? Value is relative, period. And weren't you the guy who was singing the praises of that chinchy, junky ass $50 power chord because it provided superior performance, but at a reasonable price? Quit foolin around with the good book, the only truth you've espoused is that you don't like being forced to shell out the big bucks for really high end performance. That of course is a a perfectly valid perspective, but better to start another thread to hold that discussion instead of hijacking this one, right? |
Those are Frank Van Alstine's words. So it's not me you have to ignore. Truth is most high end audio is a racket.
"What are we to do when the truth hurts? There's always denial, but truth in its essence is undeniable. To those who do not love truth, it's undeniability is like a scorching fire. In Proverbs 12:19 King Solomon not only encourages truthfulness; he ties it to long life." |
RECOMMENDATION!
Ignore Psychicanimal!
Do not allow this guys hatred destroy this fun post! |
Observation One: There was absolutely nothing displayed at the show that was worth the price being demanded for it; $20,000 amplifiers, $80,000 speakers, get real. The object is the music, not to impress your neighbors with expensive toys.
My Questions: How could anyone who could possibly afford the prices being asked for megabuck toys possibly be stupid enough to buy them? And, why were all the manufacturers, reps, salesmen, and magazine writers standing around smiling while their ears bled out? |
$25,000 and the mean is at $42,117 based on the 79 responses so far. (unless someone posted updates that i didn't catch) |
Paid $2775 and $3350, respectively. Can't wait to show this thread to my wife!!! No one should be embarrassed or overly proud. This is not a mine-is-bigger-than-yours (either price tag or enjoyment-per-dollar). Although, I must say, it sounds a whole lot better now after looking at so many 5 and even 6 figure systems ;-)
Hey Kitch, can you do median rather than mean? There are a couple curve-breakers in here ;-) |
Can you measure musical reproduction per money spent? |
Dinan, thanks. You give credibility to my next upgrade (stereo --> mono power; + 8K). With LKFroad's commendable retort, I may be able to get this one past the wife. |
Dinan,
Looks like you have your priorities straight! |
$110,000 for 2 channel, $6,800 for video(my priorities are obviously skewed!) |
My system for two channel is around 20k+ and climbing. I work with it all the time so time and money spent doing curcuit upgrades I don't include. |
Kitch, thanks for the stat. With help from Psgary, this makes me just about average --- a great excuse for getting my next ruinous investment (power amps) past my very significant other, etc.
Cheers! |
Am I allowed to post in this heady company? My system would retail for $4400 but who pays retail? I get great sounds, even though my system is so "modest". Of course, of course even in this range most friends wouldn't think of spending so much on a system. On the other hand, I think 20k is nuts to spend on a car. Different priorities. |
for those of you scoring at home, the current average is:
$45,915.
Next thread, what's the ratio of your systems retail to your net worth.
I don't think we'll see 100 posts on that one. |
about $22,000 and growing but thanks to this site only about $14500 out the door so far, unless you count the house that had the room that i just had to have to put it in...then it gets ugly. |
4361.95 for 2-channel, 2256 HT. Less than 2000 actual in the 2 channel. I guess that makes me low man on the totem pole. Congratulations, Albert. Sorry, wirehead and mgs. |
$196,850.00 for 2-channel; $43,300 for h/t, now i see what my wife is complaining about. who knows how much more for the software. this sure as hell better be fun! |
B&W CDM-SE's a Forte Model 5 100wpc. Home made tube pre-amp and a Rega Planet. |
I was surprised to find that the cost of my HT and my 2 channel were both $35,000+. That was two weeks ago. I've had a good two weeks. More to follow. |
While I personally don't have a johnson..... to compare, damn.......(Scott, I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing about that point in the thread - your post was PeFEcT! I always heard that you guys did stuff like that... .did you REaLLY? ), we did just add up our gear and like you, Tim - Holy Cow (as Harry Cary used to say) Over 60K in both the 2 channel system and the HT system.
JD, come on, make a spreadsheet, hurt a little - see what it really iS ! |
