What is the current retail cost of your reference system?

expensive systems are often over rated, as is the notion of how much money a person has, as if it makes you a better person if you have more of it

tremendous musical enjoyment can be had with fairly modest systems, with experience and skill applied in how they are put together... isn't that where all of us started? 

too often folks use money as a measuring stick... it’s quite shallow and unbecoming

+1 coppy777

“Interesting... a wide variance in equipment quality.  Yet so many strong opinions on items that affect SQ. …  How can we really share SQ experience on say, cables, with member owned systems from Sonos to $1M plus?  All good but just huge differences in resolving power.  And what important to each of us.”

we all take a different journey in gear which influence our perception and experiences on percentages invested in SQ.

For me it’s about the music and the hours of enjoyment. Although I’ll admit the more I spend, the more I listen

To the haters in this thread, it’s only a pissing contest if you make it one.  

My wife and I moved into our second house many years ago.  After two corporate moves we had done very well.  I was very proud of our beautiful 2800 sqft home in a beautiful neighborhood.  My parents came over for a visit and were appalled when they saw our new home.  They said no one needs a house this big.  I grew up in a small farm house with one wood and one gas stove for heat.  My parents drove older cars.  My dad had a good paying job.  It was their choice to live frugally and be self sufficient, as did most of their family- my grandparents, aunts and uncles.  None of them were poor but were hardworking and actually spent money on their hobbies.  Still, a car or an appliance was not discarded until there was no chance of reviving it.  I chose differently.  Still, my upbringing certainly tempered my choices with regards to luxury and ostentatiousness.  I could potentially sink twice what I have in my stereo system but for my internal limitations.  On the other hand, I celebrate what others have achieved in terms of sound quality with their ultra systems.  We all need the trickle down technology that starts with costs only the rich can afford.

And one other thing- good quality sound is much more affordable these days compared to the audio hobby of the 1960s.  I remember my dad bringing home a Philco 25” Color TV in 1968.  Cost for that TV today would be $6000.  Seeing Star Trek on that TV in 1968 was amazing.

Point is, why do we judge people for the amount of money they spend on their hobby?  If the kids are going hungry and without shoes then that is a different matter.

Having a conscious here is not about guilt, its about being mindful that most of us here live privileged lives. Keeping mindful of that tends to make one more humble, empathic and happy, one not always comparing themselves to those who have it better. 

Still, in general I'd say most audiophiles not into pissing contests, I'm also into cars and motorcycles, car enthusiasts boasting about HP is the worst, I see many absolutely destroying cars to get another 10-15hp, complete nitwits. At least a $10k cable doesn't destroy one's system.