What is the current retail cost of your reference system?

I wouldn't focus on a $ amount. You'll just get frustrated as you see people spend a small fortune. You should set a budget and then proportion it out % wise, with a majority spent on speakers. I will say that I've seen people spending $50-$100K on a system that sounds like crap due to improper pairing or horrible room acoustics. I have a system that I spent less than $10K (Dynaudio, Rotel, Sota) and it sounds great, but I was meticulous about placement, etc.

having been a high end residential real estate developer for twenty plus years, having seen hundreds if not thousands of very expensive homes, i can personally attest that people with money to burn and people with good taste are quite often in non-overlapping sets

that said, in the minority of cases where tremendous spending power meets great knowledge, well expended effort, and highly refined taste, the result can be truly exquisite

this reality certainly applies to stereo equipment and systems too

@tonywinga  +1

@bigtwin - Inspired commentary!

"Point is, why do we judge people for the amount of money they spend on their hobby?"

I judge people when they are jerks. Not when they disclose how much money they spent on X.

Here is my "favorite" quote: "But I didn’t buy a boat"

meaning the dude thinks he is so modest by depriving himself of a boat, he deserves his 100K rig. I know many of you don’t understand the audacity (hint: 97.6% of the people can afford to pay even the docking fees) which is exactly the point.

If you have the money, you do whatever you want with it. When you justify (again your money, don’t need justify it) it with BS or your explanation is just pure insensitive bragging, it might make you look like a unpleasant human being.