Worth of current system

More than I should have, but not as much as I would like.

Oops...forgot to add....
 Analog Domain Isis amp

Retail value about 75K. 
 JA Michell Gyro Se table with HR power supply, Orbe clamp Moerch DP6 arm Benz Ruby Z cart
 
 Ayon CD 2S

 EAR 868 pre-amp.

 Synergistic Research Powercell 12

 Dali Euphonia MS 4 speakers

 JL Audio E110 sub

 Aural Symphonics , Cardas, and Analysis Plus cables

I have about 10k out of pocket. That includes equipment that gets rotated in. Retail would be closer to 20k. My wife and I refer to our finished basement as "The Pit". I told her that should be the name of my audio room,as in "The Money Pit".

I will play.

Total invested: $12k
Retail is about :$40k

Big items that were heavily discounted: Canton Reference 3 DC Speakers - Retail: 16K then 10K - bought brand new shipped for $3.4K
Meridian 800 DVD / CD retail around $20k bought used for $1.1k shipped.

Even $12k is a lot but I been able to purchase some reference level equipment for a very good price. 

Have no fear, post what you got. Besides, we can lie, who knows ?

 Very educational...who’s buying all that expensive stuff we all have such strong opinions about?
cost of current gear:  16k
retail would have run about 24k. 
Diy: subs, racks, isolation and room treatments. 

@folkfreak 

Perhaps those with with mid six figure systems don’t want to attract the opprobrium that would be dumped on them for posting 😏

Indeed, as I would likely be labelled the biggest fool here, I better don't fully reveal, I do however like my CH Precision M1.1 mono blocks ;) 

  Just picked up a multi speaker w/sub Bose System . Set me back $74K. But it came in a GMC Duramax Denali 😝. I’m not a Bose fan either ! But my modest home system , about $14K . If I add up both cars , my Harley and my system , I still don’t have a 911. But I’m having lots of fun . Some of you guys are killing it with those bad ass systems . I’m living vicariously through you . But I’m drift boat fishing Oregon in 2 weeks , and tuna in Mexico next month . So I’m living with my Audeeze cans and a Peachtree Shift .. 

Almost finished  will be ready soon.

Al, yes I had to look up 'opprobrium'. 

My main system retailed at ~15K, probably have ~$7500 in it.
Put together for placement in a small (12x15') dedicated room treated with DIY acoustic panels.

I paid approximately $85,000 - Other than my headphones most items were demo/ used/open box items. Average savings about 60%

My MSRP is approximately $165,000

 Turntable-clear audio innovation wood with Helius ruby tonearm Lyra Delos cartridge - $12500

Martin Logan Summit X $7500

concert Fidelity monobloc amps 200fx - $20,0000

concert Fidelity cf-080lxv2 preamp - $8000

concert Fidelity headphone amp xhp7 - $4000

woo audio 3ES electrostatic Amp - $8500

audio research phono amp PH8-$3500

running springs dimitri power conditioner-$3000

Electrocompaniet EMC 1 MK III Limited Edition SACD player-$2500

metrum Pavane Level 3 DAC-$3500

aurender W20-$10,000

Stax 09s - $3000
focal utopia -$3000
mr speakers voce $3000
STAX SR-L300 LTD Limited Edition -$500

cables approximately-$5000

MRSP £40,000
PAID £15,000

Don't worry about 23iceman23. He's still smarting from loosing that spot to Maverick.

$2,100+-
KEF Q900 $1,000 pair refurbishedYaqin MC 30l $600Project Debut Carbon DC $500

Perhaps those with with mid six figure systems don’t want to attract the opprobrium that would be dumped on them for posting.

@folkfreak Yes, I would expect that to be the case for many people having very high end systems, and in fact that possibility occurred to me as I was composing my previous post.  But I suppose it's just as likely that many of those at the opposite end of the cost spectrum might be hesitant to post as well, for analogous reasons.

In any event, one way in which the thread provides value is that it will provide many with knowledge of the word "opprobrium."  :-)

Best regards,
-- Al

In the spirit of Al's reasoning for this post's existence -

My primary system which has remained unchanged for over 6 years now cost about $25000. More than enough for me I think. I realize I can make changes, but not necessarily improvements, and I decided some time ago to direct this 'audio based' hobby to music exploration and collection. Some thing that I find less frustrating and far more rewarding.  Highly recommended.  :-)

On another note, regarding the responses which have been posted thus far: My perception has been that the median of the figures that have been provided is significantly less than might be expected, given all the talk that goes on here about extremely expensive components, cables, and tweaks. Which is interesting, it seems to me.

Perhaps those with with mid six figure systems don’t want to attract the opprobrium that would be dumped on them for posting 😏

Shaking78:

You don’t change components every year, only every three?

i haven’t changed most of mine in decades. 

Almost all of my stuff is vintage, little of it is available today. 

If if I went with replacement value to get similar quality sound, I’d guess $150,000. But I paid a small fraction of that. 

Al,

Truth be told I thought long and hard about the appropriateness before I posted the thread, and even tried to delete it after second thoughts to no avail.

For big jumps I think you should at least double the cost, unless you are very lucky. 

+1 @steakster

Before I responded earlier in the thread I briefly thought about the appropriateness of the question. And I decided that it would be entirely legitimate for someone to try to gain a perspective on how much of a monetary investment those who care about the quality with which music is reproduced in their home tend to make. And another factor I considered is that I know the OP to be of the utmost sincerity when it comes to seeking information here.

On another note, regarding the responses which have been posted thus far: My perception has been that the median of the figures that have been provided is significantly less than might be expected, given all the talk that goes on here about extremely expensive components, cables, and tweaks. Which is interesting, it seems to me.

Best regards,

-- Al

Give or take about 17g used, about 39g new. I chose the used option and am quite happy camping in the listening room. Darn thing about this hobby is I'm always looking for that elusive "improvement ".And Audiogon is not helping the budget.

Robelvick added two important categories- what my wife thinks I spent and what I could sell it for, with the former making me smile.  All those cables, tweaks and power conditioners are pretty invisible.  my retail is around $22k, having spent about $17k.  

I also think a reasonable follow on (a question that I believe we all live with) is how much more would I have to spend to make a big jump?  Not just a little improvement, but a big one. I am pretty happy where I am with my sound, and I suspect to make a big jump would cost me at least another $10k, probably more.  At some point cost versus performance has to enter the discussion, no matter if your system is $5k, $25k or $100k.  Just thinking out loud; don’t want to side track the discussion.

could be the 2nd dumbest post I have seen here. #1 those that answer.

MSRP of my system is $80,000.
What I paid for everything is $28,000.

oldschool1948156 posts06-04-2019 8:39pm

I'm retired on a fixed income, so that's it for me - except for a new DAC or integrated amp I'm saving for.

@olschool, you made me laugh.  This made me think of Steve Martin in The Jerk.  

Steve Martin:  
Well I'm gonna go then. And I don't need any of this. I don't need this stuff, and I don't need you. I don't need anything except this.[picks up an ashtray]

And that's it and that's the only thing I need, is this. I don't need this or this. Just this ashtray. And this paddle game, the ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need. And this remote control.

The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need. And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control and the paddle ball. And this lamp. The ashtray, this paddle game and the remote control and the lamp and that's all I need.

And that's all I need too. I don't need one other thing, not one - I need this. The paddle game, and the chair, and the remote control, and the matches, for sure. And this. And that's all I need. The ashtray, the remote control, the paddle game, this magazine and the chair.[walking outside]

And I don't need one other thing, except my dog.[dog growls]  I don't need my dog.

To answer the OP, I tallied up somewhere between $16 and $18k at retail, and I probably spent around $12k to $14k over time, with savings from used or particularly good deals at various times.

Retail price of my system is over 100K. I paid about 45K and I have still room for improvement. Only inexpensive analog front end for now so when it is time to get serious about this you can add another 10 to 15K. As an enthusiast, you only know what you are missing until you hear it in another component or system. So the quest never ends.

I’m just over $10,000 other than speakers all used gear. Full blown retail around $20,000
My last set up was over 30 years old. 
Sold it all off the took the plunge. 
Best money I ever spent. 😎

Sorry for the typo - the Krell KAV 400i is 18 years old and going strong.

Tom 8999

Great question! I am in the mood to reflect on my personal journey in Hi Fi Audio over the last 30 to 40 years since college. My kids are grown and have moved out. Concert tickets are crazy expensive. My home audio has evolved into two systems. The main system is in our ‘shared family room’ and my ‘backup system’ is in my Bonus Room / Man Cave upstairs so I can listen when my wife gets tried of the music. These two systems have been built over the last 20 plus years. Prices are what I actually paid.

System one:
Maggie 1.7i - $2,100 - bought new 3 years ago
Maggie DMW bass Panel - $800 - bought new 3 months ago
KrellKAV 400i - $2,900 - bought new 1 mo ago - push Bass Panel
Son of Ampzilla - $2,800 -bought new 1 mo ago pushing the 1.7s
Marantz 7006 - CD / DVD - $800 - bought new 4 years ago
Furman15i - Power Conditioner - $800 - bought new 4 years ago
LUMIN D1 - $2,000 - bought new 4 years ago
Wire and cable - Anticable - $400

System two:
Uses the LUMIN D1 noted above - N/C
Maggie1.6qr- $1,800 - bought new 12 years ago
Peter Gunn mod for Maggie 1.6 s- in progress - EST cost $3,200
Krell S550i - $2800 - bought used 4 years ago
Furman15i Power Conditioner - $600 - bought new 1 mo ago
wire and cable - Anticable - $600

Total Systems cost to date $22,400.

Not an expensive hobby spread over two plus decades. Keeps me out of the bars. And my cost for access to Tidal Hi Fi with MQA via the LUMIN D1 is $26 per month. Cannot wait for my Gunned Maggie’s to get home and compare the two systems. The Gunned Maggie’s are a retirement gift to myself! Life Is Good!

Happy listening!
Tom8999

Ugh, I did this not long ago and it was depressing. Prices are what I paid so retail around 45k-50k. 

Focal kanta 3 - $10k 
Focal kanta center - $2k
NAD m17v2 - $6k
NAD m22v2- $2k
NAD m27 - $3k
Sony A1E 65" - $4k
AQ castlerocks for all 9 chan - $3k
AQ water interconnects for all 9 - $1.5k
AQ tornado pc x3 - $1k
ML motion4 x6 - $1k
SVS sb16 ultra - $1.5k
Salamander stand - $1k
Savant automation - $1.5k
Isoaccoustic gia II x2 - $1k
GIK Acoustics large room package - $1k
Oppo 203 - $800
Furtech 15fpi - $700

Weird thread.... Here goes:

I have a vintage Marantz system from the 70's which, with tuner, amp, and  my first set of hifi speakers is one of the most musical sounds in my house.. Cost= Peanuts

I have another system with brand new stereo subs, new maggies, newer class D monos, a streamer, a classic turntable, and a  tube preamp . Sounds detailed and lovely with a decidedly hifi sound. Very enjoyable but very different than my vintage system. Cost= More than I should have spent. 

+1 Elizabeth

I spent more then you guys did at my age, which would have been about 40 years ago for most of you.
:p

Worth less then when I bought it!

Full retail for my system: $10,400.00 approx.

What I spent: $6,800 approx.

What my wife thinks I spent: $4,000 approx.

What I could sell it for: $3,000 optimistic. 

So it goes..

Nearly all Mac components, purchased over last three years:

C2600 pre amp $7000
MC611 Mono Block X 2 $14,000
MP1100 Phono Preamp $7850
MT5 Turntable $5850
Croatian-made SAM Renegade TT w/ 2 Calista II tonearms $2700
MR87 Tuner $4500
MCT450 SACD/CD Transport  $3800
Nativ Streaming Server $1500
MB50 Streaming Audio Player $2000
Focal Stella Utopia EM $66,000
Shunyata Denali D6000TConditioner $4500
TOTAL approximately $119,700

Cables and interconnects and carts not included above

Yes, I'm probably a chump brand loyalist who spent too much, but I am very happy.  First system owned since my college years (kids are now grown and we are "empty-nesters" so wife gave me the green light!)

I bought a new Emotiva PT-100 preamp/dac with bluetooth and new Zu Libtec speaker cables, speaker jumpers and interconnects.
This year I'll break down and buy a new SoundSmith SMMC2 cartridge for my B&0 tx2 turntable for $800, but that's about it for new stuff.
Everything else is eBay or Craigs list stuff that I patiently fished for a low, low prices.
List price on my system around 12,500.
Actual money spent 2,200.
Does not include vinyl, or the headphones that i rarely use... just my stereo system including, for multiple rooms, a rotel rss900 speaker selector and a few pairs of speakers for different parts of the house. The maggies in the listening room get the direct connection and the other speakers in other rooms get the additional speaker connectors...I never run them all at once so I don't have to experience sound degradation due to impedence management being done by the switch.

Good deals await those who are patient. ( and cheap or on a budget, I guess )
Example, I got a pair of barely broken-in Magneplaner 1.7's with custom stands for $350 from a guy who was going through a divorce and needed to raise cash and reduce physical stuff so he could more more easily.
Def Tech BP-10s from a guy who had downsized his home...had them on Craigslist for weeks at 500..... waited a while, then offered him 275.
Same deal with a Def Tech ProSub 1000, guy had mountains of components and an angry wife...got the sub for 125.
Same guy sold me a mint Rotel RB-1070 for 175.
KEF Q100's from unclaimed freight...new, unopened 120.

Talked to a guy with a Yamaha rx596 stereo receiver (not an av receiver) and a yamaha sacd player with new 3way yamaha speakers. I was mostly interested in the sacd player but did not buy it.  a month goes by, hes moving out of the country and currently lives out in the boonies...He sends me an email saying that if I'd drive way out to his place he'd give me the whole system just to get it to a good home, as it was time to leave.  I was there in an hour. Sold it on CL 3 weeks later for 300, to help pay for more stuff.

The hobby is fulfilling and addictive, and I suppose the hunt for the bargains on jewels is also fulfilling and addictive.

The cost of a VERY, VERY used Boxster. To wit:

Conrad Johnson PV-12L.......$750 (eBay)
Class’e CA-D200................$1,400 (new)
Wharfedale Diamond 225’s...$299 (Music Direct/open box)
Creek OBH(s) 8, 11, & 12......$300 (eBay)
Sanus speaker stands.............$75 (eBay)
Yamaha CD s300...................$300 (Music Direct/open box)
Technics SL-23......................$175 (Bought new, 1977)
Adcom GCD-575...................$200 (eBay)
Kenwood KT-7500...................$75 (eBay)
Carver M1.5t (moth balled)....$450 (eBay)

Shade over $4k. Huh. Folks here have way more in their interconnects alone...

$150-$175K

Tannoy Kingdom Royals
VAC amps (4)
VAC preamp
Clearaudio turntable
Esoteric CD player
atomic clock
cement stand
cables (obviously)

not braggin, not complainin 

the last addition was the cement stands - believe-it-or-not, this was the biggest improvement

 

One man’s yowsa sound is another man’s nowsa sound.

There you go getting all philosophical again!

Did my saying the D word (downsizing) get your attention?   

You downsized to a walk-man right?    Isn't that special!  Why shouldn't others?   

  

Further thoughts; add an additional $2.5K - $3K for acoustical room treatment.

Today I’d estimate $22K, down from a high of approximately $50K. I’m also an audio hoarder, so probably another $10K in additional components and speakers.

A lot not including the new home to house it all and the divorce that it caused = Worth it.

$1200 for pre-owned Maggie 1.7s, $2500 for pre-owned McIntosh MA252 integrated, $550 for new Lehmann Black Cube (2002 dollars), $500 for new Music Hall MMF5 ‘table (2002 dollars), $150 for pre-owned Tangent CD player, maybe $200-$300 for cables, $150 for power strip.  That’s just under $5.5k. KILLER SOUND.