How to respond to those who say it's not a hobby?

My point being :-)

Point well taken.

I always respected my wife's hobby of running up enormous CC debt in her rentless to persuit to fill every closet and drawer with brand new "nothing to wear." Tell your wife (kindly) it's a 'audio-thang-you-won't-understand"

Great responses, serious and humorous alike. Thanks to all who have taken the time.

Matt8268, you are correct about the underlying issue being the spending of $$$.

Sek, absolutely, the ultimate purpose for acquiring gear is to listen to the music and make the experience as real, involving and pleasing as possible. It is fortunate that my lovely wife enjoys doing so, although perhaps not to the extent that I do.

"Snapping one's carrot" caused me to LOL, never heard that one before.

The following is something that I posted a while ago that I am probably most happy with:

Always remember that Music is Art. Our music systems are effectively windows that allow us to experience this art. The more you like the sound/music your music system reproduces the closer you feel to the music and artist that created it. A good comparison is to paintings. People who really love paintings (and can afford it) buy the orginal works of an artist. People who love art and cannot afford originals try to buy high quality limited edition silk screens of works. People who loce art but cannot afford the limited edition silk screens end up buying regular silk screens of paintings. People who have some appreciation (or folks that love art that cannot afford high quality sil screens) for art will end up buying inexpensive prints. What does the person gain by spending $35,000 on the original painting over the person spending $2500 on a signed limited edition silk screen over the person spending $500 on a regular edition silk screen, over the person spending $100 on a print of the piece of art? Some may argue for the investment... I have heard arguments that art (on average) grows less in value than the typical bank savings account. Perhaps it is the same gain that is gotten from a $35,000 hi end music system over a $2500 mid fi music system over a $500 rack system over a $100 clock radio? Always remember though... How many CD's do you own? This is how many pieces of Art you own.

What is our hobby? We collect art (music), and we experience this music the best way we can reproduce it (through our music system that we careful plan and assemble).

KF