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Insanely Expensive....and Worth Every Penny

There are many threads which discuss things like "80% of the performance at 20% of the price", how overpriced certain components are compared to others, and how some components fail to hold their value on the used market.

So here is a cheerfully optimistic question:

What component, accessory, set of speakers, or tweak have you purchased - preferably new - that was wildly, insanely expensive, and in your honest opinion really WORTH IT?

Something that was delightful to own, and demonstrably superior to anything less expensive...

(I hope this is not a very short thread.)
cwlondon
tbg
5,263 posts
 
Audiofun, I bought two Halcyonic Micro 4s. Each made a major improvement in my sound, but I could not buy more because of their expense. Later I got a StillPoints Rack and two Component stands. With everything on StillPoints, my sound was much better. Of course I don't know what everything on Halcyonics would have sounded like but I didn't have $33,000 to buy three more.
goldeneraguy
442 posts
 
Tron Syren full function pre-amp.
Given the opportunity I would buy it again.
Now, if I could only afford the Tron 211 amp .....
douglas_schroeder
3,281 posts
 
When I was a boy I thought the Radio Shack receiver I bought for approx. $80 was wildly, insanely expensive; it took all my money and I didn't have speakers! I had to pull a 12" and a 10" full range driver from two console stereos to use as speakers.

It was worth it. :)
polk432
1,142 posts
 
Nothing. Never have never will. Expensive is ok if it's worth it, just not insanely. Why bother? You know you'll be sick of it SOONER or later.
audiofun
799 posts
 
Tbg: I would like to hear my gear on a Stillpoints rack someday. I just bought the Bassocontinuo rack system earlier this year and I am very happy with that unit.

Polk432: I hear you but when I buy, I tend to get the best I can afford for my ears and then I stick with it. I have had my MFA Ref for about 2 years now and I have no intentions of getting rid of it, in fact I added the MFA Baby Ref to the stable for the second system. I have a Graaf Modena which I purchase about 4.5 to 5 years ago and in fact had it modded so that bias and DC-offset can be done externally without ever moving the amplifier. When it sounds right, I stick with it. Now digital... as it changes I have moved from a Bidat and Dynastation 2 to MSB to Metrum Octave to AMR in the last 4 years... but honestly at this point my digital has outperformed (DRASTICALLY I might add) two +$40K analog (one using the Monaco TT and the other an Avid Acutus with SME 5 arm and Dynavector XVS1 cart) front ends so even in the digital front I am very stable. Also I have had my Acoustic Reality Thaumaturges for a couple of years and have not heard better, despite listening to the new Bat Rex amps, the Audiovalve Baldur 300 and the Ayon Orthos II's in a family members system.

Some people enjoy rolling new equipment, I don't I like to get the sound I am after and then stop :)
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