• The move to the new server is done. There are some software and database maintenance updates in process. This has us passing the hat around to help out. We appreciate any donations. Seriously, even a dollar helps. The payment page may be found here - https://www.audiokarma.org/support.html

why some spend $$$$$$$ on their systems

Status
Not open for further replies.
JoeESP9 said:
One of the things I've noticed about these types of "discussions" is that the wallet police always start talking about how much they can buy/build for "X" dollars. While others talk only about how good a high end system sounds.

There is a very large philosophical divide between the two groups.
Click to expand...

No matter where on the low-end/high-end spectrum they fall, some people think that Value (or worth) = Price.

More common I think - are people who believe Value and Price just have some general correlation.

bare said:
IMO.. Nonsense :-)
Having commissioned (hired bespoke Pros) for *several* Mega buck (250+$k!) Home audio/entertainment systems for clients over the years (architect).
Click to expand...

It's so terribly easy to judge other people, but to them, I'm sure it's worth it.

I suspect more than a few of us on these forums have the ability to spend $250K on a system. I could literally do it with two phone calls.

But to me, that's simply not worth it. I get a lot more value keeping that money busy elsewhere. In 25 years with this hobby, I've probably approached a $12K total outlay in all of my systems. (I'm almost done!)

I've reached my 85-90% sweet spot. There's enough things to look forward to yet without reaching the point of madness or indifference.
 
HTWillie said:
No matter where on the low-end/high-end spectrum they fall, some people think that Value (or worth) = Price.

More common I think - are people who believe Value and Price just have some general correlation.



It's so terribly easy to judge other people, but to them, I'm sure it's worth it.

I suspect more than a few of us on these forums have the ability to spend $250K on a system. I could literally do it with two phone calls.

But to me, that's simply not worth it. I get a lot more value keeping that money busy elsewhere. In 25 years with this hobby, I've probably approached a $12K total outlay in all of my systems. (I'm almost done!)

I've reached my 85-90% sweet spot. There's enough things to look forward to yet without reaching the point of madness or indifference.
Click to expand...

Economists would say audio follows a trajectory of diminishing marginal utility. I believe that was the point of the initial post. Of course, how much one is willing to give up, the cost, to attain the Nth incremental increase is up to the individual. That does not preclude the existence of physical limits that constrain obtaining that increase in sound quality or even the impossibility of certain products having an effect.

33cb1c3.jpg
 
I wouldn't see snobbery or reverse snobbery as a problem here on AK. There are, however, many opinionated users (and that's a good thing), and some of them appear to believe that their opinion or approach is the only valid one and try to teach others the error of their ways (not a good thing). Separates are better than integrated units because they have more power. Receivers are better because they have more functionality in one box and you turn them on with one button. Chip amps are better than anything because they are small and cheap. If you have more than 2 old amps/receivers/pairs of speakers, sell this old junk and buy a more expensive new one. New is better because its new and expensive. Old is better because it's old and cheap. Cables are important, you should spend big bucks on them. No, cables are all the same, get whatever. All that instead of reading into what the OP's actual problem is, what his objective is, and helping him do just that.

We all spend what we can afford and what we are willing to spend, and we spend it on what we want to have. If someone buys a $250K on a system and then comes home and it makes him happy - money well spent. And that's regardless of whether this system actually sounds better than a $100K, $10K or $2500 system. If it does, even better. I spent $1200 on a Marantz 4400. Does it sound better than my $400 Exposure amp? Or my even cheaper separates? Hell no. Does it sound good? Sure. Am I glad I bought it? Absolutely.
 
rlisin said:
I wouldn't see snobbery or reverse snobbery as a problem here on AK. There are, however, many opinionated users (and that's a good thing), and some of them appear to believe that their opinion or approach is the only valid one and try to teach others the error of their ways (not a good thing). Separates are better than integrated units because they have more power. Receivers are better because they have more functionality in one box and you turn them on with one button. Chip amps are better than anything because they are small and cheap. If you have more than 2 old amps/receivers/pairs of speakers, sell this old junk and buy a more expensive new one. New is better because its new and expensive. Old is better because it's old and cheap. Cables are important, you should spend big bucks on them. No, cables are all the same, get whatever. All that instead of reading into what the OP's actual problem is, what his objective is, and helping him do just that.

We all spend what we can afford and what we are willing to spend, and we spend it on what we want to have. If someone buys a $250K on a system and then comes home and it makes him happy - money well spent. And that's regardless of whether this system actually sounds better than a $100K, $10K or $2500 system. If it does, even better. I spent $1200 on a Marantz 4400. Does it sound better than my $400 Exposure amp? Or my even cheaper separates? Hell no. Does it sound good? Sure. Am I glad I bought it? Absolutely.
Click to expand...

Nice posting! :thmbsp:
 
I don't know about you cats but we all seem to forget our hearing is not what it used to be, my system sounds great to me but to another member, it might sound like poo. It's not about dollars and "sense", it's about what our ears tell us after spending the money. As long as we are happy with our gear, life is good
 
Superampman said:
How did you glean that from what I actually said? I did after all put a limit on it, did I not? I presently have in my possession 2 JBL 2245, a pair of 2206, a pair of 2441/2309/2310, and a pair of 077 slots among others that I'm planning on building a fully active pair of 4345ish speakers with. Ten cubic ft. main cabs. I also have 3 TNT200 and a 120 recently reworked by a former principal EE of Acoustat in Florida, a Mr. Roy Esposito. Crossover will be a DEQ arrangement of some sort, not sure yet. I have lots of gear so it's been easy to procrastinate. In any case, there's no shortage of one off examples out there having been built for a fraction of what +r&d product retails for. There's no secret about this.
Click to expand...

I'm unimpressed by just about all JBL products. However, TNT amps from Acoustat are among my favorites.

I brought up actually building speakers because invariably with these discussions someone says (in this case you) "I can best that for "X" dollars less". For one reason or another they never do.:smoke:
 
RamblinE said:
I've heard a couple of systems slightly above and below the $50k mark. They are a whole different universe from what I own and enjoy on a daily basis. If I had the money I would spend it and so would you. If you say otherwise you're flat out lying.

Let's pick up the logic of high end haters and roll with it.

If you like to go fast and can afford a Bugatti you should just buy a Mustang Cobra because it is still a fast car.

If you like sports cars and can afford a Ferrari Enzo you should just buy a Miata because its still a sports car.

If you're a photographer and can afford a DSLR, or a 4K movie production camera you should still just get a point and shoot or a GoPro because they do the same thing.

Yeah. That's how ridiculous you guys sound.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If you only buy a car to go fast.What if you buy a car for the enjoyment of driving? You can measure how much faster one car is than another,you can't measure enjoyment. I don't need to hear floor boards creek to enjoy listening to music.That's ridiculous. That's how I roll.
 
I would think that the buyers of the cars in question buy them in a large part because they enjoy driving. No one buys a Ferrari just to commute to work.

Your average soccer mom or Prius owner more often drives because they have to. Sorry mini-van and Prius owners, those types of vehicles are not enthusiast oriented in any way.
 
I don't judge people's socioeconomic status and their decisions on what and how they spend their earnings.

I don't judge people by their beliefs or what they want to believe in.

I don't judge people in a prejudiced view at all.

I judge their character and moral behavior so I guess I can judge a few individuals on this thread.
 
4-2-7 said:
I don't judge people's socioeconomic status and their decisions on what and how they spend their earnings.

I don't judge people by their beliefs or what they want to believe in.

I don't judge people in a prejudiced view at all.

I judge their character and moral behavior so I guess I can judge a few individuals on this thread.
Click to expand...

You're so virtuous, a model for us all.
 
strat10 said:
I have read where people have spent 30,000 just on a pre-amp and power-amp and wonder what I have been doing wrong all these years some people spend 6,500 on a turntable and seem to think that's a normal price to pay I bartered and sold my way up to what I have and it took me many years but it was fun doing it..:thmbsp:
Click to expand...

The questions I ask again and again in these threads is:

"Does somebody spending $30K on a pre-amp and power-amp and $6500 on a turntable detract from the enjoyment you get from your system?"

and

"Were you compelled against your will to pay for another person's system? If not, why is it important to you how much they spend, what they spend it on, or why they spent it?"
 
This board needs a shrink. Yes, let's have the debate again but maybe the outcome will be different this time, and one side will be convinced.
 
Tom Brennan said:
You're so virtuous, a model for us all.
Click to expand...

LOL:D

I knew I sould have stayed off this thread....:thmbsp:

Just trying to get some to look at their actions in a hobby/way of life for some. That spans from earbugs and your phone to home construction and the installation of a mega buck system.
 
Jeffery said:
The questions I ask again and again in these threads is:

"Does somebody spending $30K on a pre-amp and power-amp and $6500 on a turntable detract from the enjoyment you get from your system?"

and

"Were you compelled against your will to pay for another person's system? If not, why is it important to you how much they spend, what they spend it on, or why they spent it?"
Click to expand...

+1:thmbsp:
 
"When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself."

Wayne Dyer

4-2-7 That's not directed at you, so please don't take offense. Actually it's not directed at anyone. What you said just reminded me of the quote. Thought I'd put it on here to give everyone a little moment of reflection.

If people want to think I'm crazy, foolish, ignorant, or blindly led because I believe that cables do make a difference in sound... that's ok with me. Do I agree that there is a big difference between a $100 cable and a 20k cable. I can't comment on that because I will most likely never find out.

I can appreciate people telling me that the world is round from their perspective... when at the same time I see the world as round from my perspective. What I don't appreciate is when people tell me that my thinking is the world is flat.

What's the old saying??? "Never criticize another man until you've walked a mile in his shoes."

Again 4-2-7... none of this is diirected at you or anyone else. You just got my wheels turning.

"Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing."

Helen Keller
 
Last edited:
foppy said:
This board needs a shrink. Yes, let's have the debate again but maybe the outcome will be different this time, and one side will be convinced.
Click to expand...

"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

Albert Einstein
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top Bottom