I have an excellent sounding system. I don’t have $20k invested. Most would believe that I must have more invested. Here it is
Martin Logan Spire loudspeakers-used for $3300
Primaluna Prologue 6 tube monoblocks-used for $1800
Dennis Had Inspire LP3.1 preamplifier - used $1150
PSAudio PerfectWave dac-new $1600
Marantz TT15S1 turntable- new $1200
Benz Micro MC cartridge- used $500
PSAudio phono stage- used $450
Threshold T3i preamplifier-used $1200
Pass ACM monoblocks 25 watts Class A amplifiers -used $600
CambridgeAudio CXC transport-new $600
Nordost Purple Flare speaker cables 3Meter-used $500
Total $12,450
It’s a very decent sounding system. And I didn’t need to spend an additional $2k for a SS preamplifier and SS mono’s to gain the joy of the tube mono’s. So a very conservative system that plays way above its weight. But of course, buying used definitely helps. Instead of spending $9k for new speakers I purchased the identical speakers used @ $3300. Same for the tube mono’s at half off.
So basically $10k for an entire system. But it helps buying the speakers locally as I did to avoid shipping costs and avoiding shipping damage. So yeah, it can be done by a normal Joe Blow working stiff.