How many weeks of income did your sys. cost?

Jfrech, you don't have things reversed, you have your priorities in order, IMO. The problem with the engagement ring are the 'hidden costs'. The sticker price is nothing compared to the actual price.

My system, roughly 5-6 months.

Congratulations, Sdcampbell! Very well expressed. I see this equipment thing in terms of how much music I can get for less than is "supposed". The silver plated copper, teflon insulated wire that I use sells for 65 cents a foot in the surplus market. A friend of mine is using some and told me it's easily blowing away his $14/ft Kimber 8TC. Amen to that.

You sounded my sentiments too, Sd. Maybe we sjould let this one die quietly....

I wonder what the top Billionaires setups are? Do they shell out the big bucks without a clue, with a clue, or are happy with a circuit city rig? Anybody know?

Matty

I think that this question is a question of pride rather than addiction. To answer a question like this I will tell you I saved $50 here $200 there to upgrade a phono cartridge or perhaps a interconcect maybe a powercord. Maybe I charged a new preamp on a visa. Sometimes my family life suffered from my addiction to this hobby, you know kids need new shoes, dance lessons, baseball fees, oh ya the one my wife always says we need food. But I alway found ways to further this addiction of audio. I guess that why I will not tell how much I have spent. But I will tell you for what I have spent I have reeped many hours of enjoyment. As everbody knows the quest for building a system that suits their audio needs. The answer is not how much you have spent but what you have done without to get your system. I will end by saying my family is not proud of my addiction of audio. David