members and their systems

I am somewhat in your corner. I have what I consider to be a very good system and very content with. To a lot of posters here I would be labeled as a low end entry systems. I could afford to spend five or 10 times more than the 10k I have but tell me will it sound 10 times better? I don’t think so. I have heard 100 k systems and they do sound better but not 90k better! Will I never buy another or replace a current piece no I am sure something will come along that I will want, but it will have to be a good return on investment. To me this return is about the enjoyment of the music not the status or a bragging right. I would rather have someone think I paid way more for the performance than someone not recognize the performance because they can’t get over that my system cost more than their house!
Enjoy the music that is why we are here!!

Also, don’t let some of the snarky posters get you down. They are the exception to this community rather than the rule. They spew BS at every opportunity, insult at will and stare at their screen non stop waiting for their next victim. In addition, when viewing their system pictures on some occasion I wonder why they they fret over their carbon fiber cable elevators rather than replace their bordello red carpeting but hey, everyone allocates their own resources to their own satisfaction.

I'm crying.   LOL

This paragraph should be made into a framed poster and be hanging in the Audiogon offices.  Thanks, @ghasley -- you made my week!

"In polite society it is taboo to ask how much a person earns..."

Why is that so?

In addition to all the good financial advice given here, remember:

1. You can't take it with you.

2. If you don't spend it, someone else will.

You could be surprised how some people get in to the hobby and bring their money to it. I have dentist friend who lives in NYC, and his interests was extremely fair from music and good sound. He was a lot about a cars, travel etc. It was about 10 years ago. We was drinking whiskey at his place and he started crying that his new BMW was vandalized and his luxury car before was vandalized too. I asked him why you keep buying expensive cars if you live in big busiest city it’s just matter of time when it’s will be vandalized again.... he said yah... I earn good money and I want to spend for some good staff and be satisfied... that evening was beginning of his audiophile journey cause I suggested him to invest in good audio gear... he took the advice very seriously.... now he has three top of the notch systems (home, office, summer house) worth a couple hundred of thousands... and he is guru now gives equipment advices to me. :)