How to reply to questions about stereo cost?

I usually say 'you don't want to know'. to my friends in the business, I don't need to say, and my wife lets me buy anything I want for my systems....

I stopped giving amounts. People just don't get it. I guess most people are just judgemental. The same peoople that look at me like I have two heads when I tell them my cart costs $1,300 are the same ones that spend hundreds of dollars going out to eat and thousands of dollars travelling. I would NEVER do that with my money (I would if I had enough for everything) but, "get it" if other people do. Seems though that, most folks think; "Why would you spend thousands of dollars on a HiFi system when you can just go to Best Buy and get the whole thing for $500?????

Better on stereo components than oversized plasma TV and cable bill once a month and a million channels that never get watched.

express it as a function of pairs of shoes.