Hi-Fi can be less expensive than anything

Douglas, where is your analog front end?

Inna, they are folding knives of the slip-joint variety.
The first type I started with are laguiole knives and now I'm working on
capuchadou knives .
Both are modern interpretations of the centuries old French peasant knives.

I'm afraid to say I've gotten hooked on them. :-)

All the best,
Nonoise

I find it an expensive hobby. For me to upgrade my system where it would make a noticeable difference I would have to spend at least 10k.

I see, very nice looking knives. I prefer fixed blades, though have two folders too. All custom, handmade American. I wouldn't call it collecting, I use some of them but not all. Buy maybe one or two knives a year. Now that's expensive, about $500 a piece on average, and that's second hand but not used. I enjoy sharpening them on a natural Arkansas stone, that's music to my ears, and I do sharpen by ear. Kind of hi-fi too! Every knife sounds different on the stone.
Anyway, yeah, records and cds can really ruin you financially especially if you want original pressings in mint condition. I try to be very selective and keep only what I listen to often enough. Sometimes there is a track or two that I really like, that's where my Nakamichi deck comes into play. No, it can't take everything that my Nottingham table is capable of, but often it is close with Maxell Vertex tape. The deck just can't give me the same soundstage, though not bad at all. Varies from recording to recording, of course.

It's an expensive hobby if you buy expensive equipment. It's not an expensive hobby if you don't. Benefits of a graduate-school education. Cars are not expensive if you buy a Nissan Sentra.