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Priorities, who makes the rules anyway?

I'm putting this on the table for two reasons, 1) I am tired of 'which amp for my speakers' threads, and 2) I am right.

Most everyone I know thinks I am a crazy-man. They refer to me as the one who has taken home entertainment to the "extreme." My question is, where'd they get that idea? Generally speaking: the average upper-middle-class yupster walks into a car dealer and plops down $???$ without thinking twice. Next they slice the price into monthly payments, add interest and insure it, all for the low, low, price of what...say, $35k (for arguments sake). Now throw another in for the wife. Where are we now, $70k in cars? The point. This sort of average behavior is thought of as completely reasonable and rational in most circumstances.

On the other hand, a guy like me (or we) who throw(s) down anything approaching (or even half) the total amount of the car, much less both cars, on home entertainment stuff, is a nutcase (or bunch of them if all of you are still on board) with out of whack priorities. What is with this? I enjoy my HT system way more than I enjoy my car. I spend more time at home with my HT system, or at least try to. All else equal I would rather drive a junker pick-up and come home to a plasma flatscreen, than any other, another way around. For me, this is true, even if it's just to watch the news. (The real point, as you may have guessed--I am talking myself into spending more). I NEED that flatscreen. I do.

When are we going to start thinking of home entertainment the same as we do cars? As it is for most, high dollar home entertainment is still thought of as a guilty pleasure.
j_thunders
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snooker14
164 posts
 
Ever since I came home from the New York show last month, I have been scheming to get a plasma screen. We need one in our bedroom. We can't live without it. I know all this, and my wife will know it too when I am ready to convince her she needs to know it.
Thunders, how come you and I always seem to be looking at the same thing? Is there a conspiracy going on here? The Runco 50" only costs the same as the Dodge van I bought my wife to ferry all the kids around in. So??????????????????
david99
1,467 posts
 
I paid more for my amp than I did for the used Hyandai I drive.I paid more for my preamp than I did for that car.I paid more for my speakers than I did for that car.I paid more for my TT/arm than I did for that car.My vinyl collection is worth much more than that car.My car is in good shape,awesome on gas,never strands me (knock on wood) gets me from point A to point B very well.Thats all I need! My stereo/music is my passion,my car transportation.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
In other words, the car drives you crazy, the music drives you happy.
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kennyt
1,226 posts
 
I also can see the sense here. You guys mised the 'single side' to this. I you keep them as girlfriends, you can easily afford both the car and the HT! I seem to be exactly on this line, with about equal money in both the HT and car, and interesting enough, ~$35K each, so I guess my 'wife's' car is just convienently parked in my living room! Now if the girlfriend reads this, I'm going to be in an acute 'jewelry deficit' situation!

As for which one brings me more pleasure, that's a tough call, the HT looks great, sounds phenomenal, but doesn't do 155 mph. Then again, upgrades cost more than tires.......
bmpnyc
713 posts
 
I'm with you JT. The Animals had it right,"I'm just a soul who's intentions are good, oh lord, please don't let me be misunderstood". The looks I get when buying yet another piece of "unnecessary" equipment are not easily forgotten. Funny though, I don't hear any complaints when I turn on my widescreen TV, crank up the sub, pop in a DVD, and let the neighbors wonder "what's he doing in there" (Tom Waits). 3chihuahuas is on to something about status symbols. Let's not forget that when we listen to a great recording, or watch an engaging movie that we are appreciating ART. Not everyone gets it, so a car is like a big tattoo for them. Not that have anything against a nice car, it's just that the time I spend listening to music, watching a movie or catching an interesting television program (there are a few) far outweigh the time spent driving, so I would think it rational to spend more on the devices that I use most frequently. Great post JT.
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