As a relatively young (mid 30s) audiophile, I can tell you guys the snobbery (“my first $50K system...”) doesn’t help to encourage young folk to enter the hobby.
I have about $20K worth of gear in my current chain (and about $10K of other gear in a closet that I can swap out when the urge strikes) that was assembled over years of trial and error and extensive in-home auditions. The funny thing is, my system comes within a stone’s throw of some six-figure systems I’ve experienced (and bettering them in some areas). The reality is that many of you old guards are not getting the performance you think you’re buying. I’ve seen a lot of expensive gear crammed up against walls in untreated rooms. Many buying “high-end” five and six-figure components would benefit from trading some of their money for greater knowledge/experience.
I have about $20K worth of gear in my current chain (and about $10K of other gear in a closet that I can swap out when the urge strikes) that was assembled over years of trial and error and extensive in-home auditions. The funny thing is, my system comes within a stone’s throw of some six-figure systems I’ve experienced (and bettering them in some areas). The reality is that many of you old guards are not getting the performance you think you’re buying. I’ve seen a lot of expensive gear crammed up against walls in untreated rooms. Many buying “high-end” five and six-figure components would benefit from trading some of their money for greater knowledge/experience.