What is the current retail cost of your reference system?

It's amusing to me how most every thread eventually comes down to opposing views.  Be it cables,  tube vs ss, streaming or owning physical, whatever, and here it's spending lots makes sence or is a waste if not immoral.  Have I spent lots?  Yup.  Do I feel bad? Nope.  There have been many times I have agonized over a purchase.  My wife tells me "look, you worked hard all your life and you saved enough.  You don't spend a lot on yourself and music is a lifelong passion.  You're already helping all the kids and you can't take it with you,  so if you want it,  then buy it".  So as long as this hobby isn't hurting anyone or preventing you from meeting all your other pursuits and obligations, then knock youself out and who cares what anyone else thinks.  This ain't no dress rehearsal people so live it to the fullest. 

@bigtwin

there is something unpleasant to sickening the way people write about their several times 100K systems in this thread. Like they have to show off, compensate for something, rushing to making the point that they are super rich. And it gets worse on their system pictures, showing the tackiest furniture, ugly kitchens (with 0 relevance to their system) and power amps more expensive than any car I ever bought. You can say how much it cost without being a creep

expensive systems are often over rated, as is the notion of how much money a person has, as if it makes you a better person if you have more of it

tremendous musical enjoyment can be had with fairly modest systems, with experience and skill applied in how they are put together... isn't that where all of us started? 

too often folks use money as a measuring stick... it’s quite shallow and unbecoming

+1 coppy777

“Interesting... a wide variance in equipment quality.  Yet so many strong opinions on items that affect SQ. …  How can we really share SQ experience on say, cables, with member owned systems from Sonos to $1M plus?  All good but just huge differences in resolving power.  And what important to each of us.”

we all take a different journey in gear which influence our perception and experiences on percentages invested in SQ.

For me it’s about the music and the hours of enjoyment. Although I’ll admit the more I spend, the more I listen

To the haters in this thread, it’s only a pissing contest if you make it one.