Would you pay to listen?

Don't have to. There's a dealer with a $150,000 system not 10 minutes from where I live. He operates out of his home and is most generous with his time and advice. Talk about luck.

Would there be pretty hostesses?

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Amazing. I find it odd that thousands of audiophiles buy plane tickets and rent hotel rooms for several days to go to places like the Rocky Mountain AudioFest or CES to hear these type of systems. Lots of times in less than ideal listening conditions. I'm sure their total expenses exceed twenty bucks. But some of you won't pay $20 locally to see a killer system.

I live in Los Angeles. I drive a very nice car which satisfies all of my automotive needs. However, there are several places here that rent exotic cars and they do a pretty brisk business. Though I've never rented one, I'd love to take a Ferrari, Bentley or a Lamborghini out for a spin up the Pacific Coast. No, I can't afford to buy one, but I'd like to have the experience.

I allow local artists to do art shows in my loft in exchange for a piece of their original artwork. Over the years of doing this, I've managed to assemble a very beautiful collection of original paintings and scuptures that I'm very proud of. I've never paid for a piece of artwork in my life. However, five years ago when the Guggenheim brought their art show to the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, I got on a plane and rented a room to see it. I got to see works of Van Gogh, Rubens, Picasso, Kandinski, Degas, Chagall and scores of other masterpieces by other great artists. Of course I'll never own any of those pieces, but I gladly paid money to go see them. When I got back home, I still apprciated my own collection and am still happy with it. I'm living proof that you don't have to pay millions to own beautiful art....but, I'll still pay money to go see works by the greats.

Of course you don't have to spend $100k to get great sound. My system doesn't even come close to that kind of dough and I enjoy it immensely.

Tom6897, this hypothetical room certainly would not be a 10 x 12 room, that would be ridiculous. In my original post, I said the room would be great. So, you could make the room any size you wanted, free of the noise and crowds of an audio show. I'd like to hear the Genesis 1.2 speaker system. I think it goes for about $180k. I'd like to hear it with the Audio Research Reference Anniversary preamp ($25k), triamped with Audio Research Reference 610T tube amps ($120k for three pair) with the ARC Reference Phono2 ($12k), ARC Reference CD8 ($10k) and the flagship VPI turntable fitted with a killer arm and flagship Koetsu cartridge. Of course all cabling and power cords would be of similar caliber for a system such as this. Sorry Tom6897 and Polk432, but I don't care who you know, no $25k system will come close to a system like the one above... and I'd pay money to hear it. I've seen several systems here on Audiogon that I'd pay money to hear.

Of course you don't have to spend $100k to get great sound. My system doesn't even come close to that kind of dough and I still enjoy it immensely.

Timrhu, for $3k your system makes you smile (I did the math). I'm not talking about a system to make you smile, we all have one of those. I'm talking about one that will make your jaw drop.

Soniqmike, I had to chuckle at your post....I have no interest for such a business venture. I don't have the dough to assemble the dream system that I'd pay to hear. Obviously judging from the posts above, I'd starve to death in such a business.

Gsself, you hit the nail on the head! I never pay money to go to movies, I'm content with my home theater. HOWEVER, when an action blockbuster comes out like The Dark Knight, Spiderman and Iron Man, I'm first in line at the IMAX to see it. No home theater can match that for pure size, scale and impact, and I gladly pay the dough every time. This whole post was to see if there was a comercial place with a killer two channel system where you could buy a ticket and listen to state of the art stuff in a killer room. I'd buy a ticket in a heartbeat.
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Definitely not!!

Why pay when some systems can be assembled for 25K that would sound better anyway.

I already pay every time I see a movie. The audio system in a typical movie theater costs well above $200K. The only thing missing being able to bring my own material. However, I do get a limited selection at the ticket office.

I'd test drive a Ferrari for $20 if I could, so I'd say yes.

Not even if there were dancing girls and performing chimps on unicycles juggling flaming swords! Maybe if Natalie Portman was the host.

Danger here. While twenty bucks is nothing for one with a passion for audio, it will lead to many, many more expensive purchases, all because you will never be happy with any but that type of system.

Sounds like you are feeling the water for a business venture maybe?

No, as there is little need too. Some hi end dealers such as Overture and World Wide have sessions every now and them where they preview new and exciting gear in the mega buck range. Often providing refreshments as well. And door prizes too boot! It can be a wonderful get together for audiophiles and enthusiast.

Then and other times if I can not afford or desire gear at that time. I do try to make a purchase of music or other items for my enjoyment and respect for the dealers time.

I also am in the camp that you don't have to spend gobs of money for great sound. Seems like most of the megabuck systems I have heard are missing out on the fundamental PRaT to use an overworked term.
So my answer to the OP...
No

Maybe I'm the odd one on Audiogon but I have nada, zero, no desire to listen to a $100K system. Seen them, heard them and after the initial "shock and awe" my conclusion is, what a waste.
Do they do things my paltry system won't? Sure. Does my system do something theirs won't. Definitely. Mine makes me smile for about $97K less.

One hour with one system? No (unless the drinks were Krug Clos d'Ambonnay in which case I'd go listen to a Bose system).
Who is going to decide which is the "best matched system" anyway? I have heard dozens of representatives at shows make that claim - at both price levels - some of which were downright awful (matter of fact, I can think of three who should have paid me for the hazard I had been exposed to).
To get one thing out of the way, then, why will I pay entrance fee for a show such as the Munich High End (€ 10/day) even if I have to accept far from ideal room conditions, struggle with the crowd in the hyped rooms and deal with disturbing ambient noise? I'll pay for an entire day of comparisons I can otherwise not make (and gain valuable information who's making the best out of it under such conditions).

Well now, let's see. I've had a $50K system, and I listened to it for about 16 hours a week. I kept the system intact for about two years. It was nice having it. It was mine, and it was a long time dream come true having it.
But...
Those 16 hours@$20.00ea would come to $320.00/week, or $16,640.00/year. Doubled, that's still only $33,280.00!
Maybe I'd listen a little less if I had to pay for my listening time, which would lower my carbon footprint...
I think you may be on to something!

No. WHY?... I have listened to $100k systems and maybe more. They sound good to excellent. Some I thought they were just putting expensive stuff together in a room for that WOW factor. (A lot of sizzle but no steak!) It is not even remotely necessary to spend that amount unless your space is very very large and you live next to the airport or subway:)

Will they offer a refund if you are not impressed?

If your space is like most 10-12'x 12-18' up to 30' you can put together a musical, dynamic, well matched system for much less including room treatments if needed.

Almost any knowledgeable audio dealer will have the ability and the means to help you assemble a system for less than $25K that will rival even the most expensive. The retail price of audio products is a poor indicator of sound quality or synergy. As you know 95% is marketing bable and fancy photos. There is very little to no evidence or science to support their claims or prices. i.e.(the face plate and casework can exceed the price of all internal componets on many high $$$ pieces).

You can listen to excellent sounding systems all day long in most every mid size to large city or suburb for free. Use the $20 to buy more music or pay for gas and travel to a dealer out of your area and hear equipment that is new to you. Develop a relationship with an audio dealer near or far that you trust and work with them to achieve your listening goals.

Yes, I would pay and have done so in the past. There's a firm in my area that does consulting for designers and manufacturers of audio gear. I'm not one of those, just a listener, but I asked and they had some free time. Took some discs and found out what everything on them sounded like. Bonus, got chat time with the consultant. Was more than 20 bucks an hour though.