Are you in the over 30 K club??

I think over time it is reasonable to reach such a "pricey" level of audio luxury...I started out like many people, in my 20s putting together what I could and when I could...then as time moved on, I made more money, traded up and continued to build great systems as my abilities to discern the differences between equipment matured and my own tastes became better defined and refined.

So, yes, now 25 years after I purchased my first pair of "audiophile" speakers, I have a system that is by most standards pretty expensive and well over the $33k average....

A moderate percentage of people just go out and drop a $100K+ on a systems (more when it comes to today's HT setups) simply dependent on whatever gear the dealer they happened upon represents. I know for a fact that such people exist, however how can they not lose out on the benefits of "learning" how to put a system together and you have to question if they were able to ever really develop their own tastes and preferences over years of auditioning equipment, changing out your own stuff and/or borrowing gear from a fellow audio type....

I just think it has been more fun to develop and build my system over a long period of time and I suspect most people on this board would agree.

Just my thoughts, John

the readers poll also suggests no one buys much music, which throws the profiled enthusiast into a very strange hobby of obsession.

If I added the 30,000 dollars for the system I unwittingly bought my ex wife who never listens to it and the 8000 I spent peicing together a system knowingly for myself and the gyro se turntable my daughter bought for me I guess I would be in the club. Oh $%&t I forgot she got my membership too ! Nevermind. Oh well my system now sounds better , the 30,000 dollar system always seemed to have this high pitched annoying buzz emminating from her 80% of the house but not from mine and the kids 20%. Cheers!!!!!!!

Dreadhead,

Yes, over $30K after many years of upgrading. Down from a high of $50K+ a couple of years ago. Still a music lover, with 3K+ LP's and counting.

As they say here in Texas, you don't ask someone how many head of cattle he has. You don't ask him how many acres are in his ranch and you sure don't ask hiim how much his stereo costs.