How much does your system retail for?

Maybe around 15K. (btw, I feel better now. :-) ) I'm still using an older power amp I bought used. I was up at my dealer last night and they were just setting up the new McIntosh preamp combo--$12K. Gorgeous (especially when paired with their newest tube monoblocks--yikes) but it's all so far past my means that all I can do is look at it in awe.

Hi Thermonicavenger,
Thanks for your comments. I was trying to understand why the person would ask this question. The only reasons I could think of were to get free marketing information from this forum, or to give people the chance to show off how much money they have spent on their systems. Perhaps it was asked in earnest out of curiosity.

I appreciate your stories on how to build decent systems using resourcefulness rather than cash alone. Actually, I built my turntable set up for about $800; I got the tonearm for free -- someone was throwing it out because he thought the bearings were shot. I decided to try it, and it still sounded fine to me; there was a tiny bit of play in the bearings. I built the turntable from used parts -- VPI is good for this. And, I bought a reasonably priced cartridge.

For my amps, I bought a Dynaco St70 with Pas3 pre-amp, dirt cheap, and have modified them extensively. I was also given a Fisher 400c pre amp by a friend who's parents didn't want it. Nor did any of the siblings. Lucky me! For speakers, I got a pair of Kef R102's dirt cheap off ebay.

Of course there are great alternatives to buying new equipment. For turntables, a person can get great results from buying an AR. My first good turntable was an AR that came with a Grace arm. I sold it for what I paid after five years of enjoyment (~$300).

I tend to get emotionally charged sometimes about audio, and loose my sense of tolerance. I was probably perusing a thread on "audio grade" fuses right before I viewed this thread. My apologies for my acerbic comments.

By the way, I am lucky that my wife appreciates my stereo. She even likes the way it looks -- "industrial." I think I won her over by the sound. This was the first time she heard some music she liked on properly played vinyl. There are women out there that appreciate good audio. Best of luck finding her; don't loose heart, she is out there! Now if only I can to convince her that I should buy Quad Esl-63's.

Qgap Wow I would love to hear about your system that was so inexpensive and yet is able to fool others into thinking it retails for several thousand dollars!

HOW does it sound is the important question money spent does not always mean great sound!!!!

Ebm,
I totally agree! On a very meager budget, I built a system over the course of years that I am very satisfied with.
Cheers.