How cheap can you go and still be happy with the sound?

I don’t subscribe to any audio hobby anathema with a  “race to the bottom system price-wise “ as a yardstick to measure audio performance satisfaction.

i have four systems ranging from $5K to $50K. The “A” system is the go-to critical listening rig. Each of the others has its own bespoke utility and performance quotient that makes me comparatively “happy” in the context of “ good enough”.to meet its planned use.

@waytoomuchstuff I agree with you there, I spent quite a few years in SCCA chasing whatever flavor appealed to me at the time and it was mandatory to do my own work on the cars due to the cost of farming it out. It didn't help the cost of having a competitive car went up about 10-15% per year and eventually got to the place where it was no longer financially affordable to compete regularly. Never lost the hunger for it though and to this day attempt to have a slow, track ready car that I can at least go play on track days. That option is, due to inflation, going away now and so I am officially retired from motorsport involvement. Enjoying recorded music feeds my soul in a vital way that I cannot give up regardless of cost. Since feeding that hunger is necessary to continued sanity, I am attempting to rebuild several systems I had in my home before it burned this past spring. This is by necessity a slow process. I bought a pair of Ohm Walsh 2000s that I am pretty fond of for my office/music room. In combination with a pair of SVS PC2000 Pro subs, and a 500wpc VTV/Hypex NC502 amplifier, and an Emotiva PT1 Dac/preamp and my trusty crusty Dell THX certified computer, I have a nice sounding 2 channel setup for listening to music or watching videos. So for something like 8K approximately its pretty darn good. Is there better out there? Doubtful you could find better for the same money, but who knows? It was all bought new so its under warranty and should last a long time before needing to think about replacement. At 72 its unlikely I will ever need to replace any of it either due to age related issues or because it has fallen that far behind technological advances. Though now that I have said that, Murphy's law will prove me wrong.

More than one thing can be true at a time. It is generally true that you get what you pay for. It’s not realistic to think that you can  put together $2000 system that is going to sound as good as a well put together $20,000 system. Likewise, if you own a $100,000 system, it probably won’t compete with a $500,000 system. But that’s not really the point, the point is to enjoy the music. I think the point is to put together a system within your resources that allows you to take joy from listening to music. that can certainly be done without spending a fortune.

I bought my lady friend a little system for Christmas because she enjoys listening to my system with me. I got her some T plus a Caruso speakers that were demos at a good price and a blue sound power mode. Listened to it in the showroom and it sounded damn good. I would be happy spending a couple of hours every night, listening to good music through that system.
 

The only problem is, she will play horrid music from the 80s and a $1 million system couldn’t make that stuff sound good

@livinon2wheels 

Good product choices.  Great bang for the buck.  I have also "retired" from racing.  My favorite ride is not my quickest, but "makes good noises" when I get on it.

@kerrybh 

"More than one thing can be true at a time."

I love this quote.  I use it often in "conflict resolution" when both parties feel the ultimate goal is to be "right."

It reminds me of what I heard on the radio when I had lots of windshield time, searching for something to listen to on AM.  I came across an old comedy broadcast from decades ago. It went something like this:

Host: We're going to do a math quiz.

Guest:  Okay

Host: What is six plus six?

Guest: (pause)

Host:  It's twelve!

Guest:  NO!!  Six and six CAN'T by twelve.  Eight plus four is twelve!!

Simple.  But makes a prettty profound (and useful) commentary on our deperate attempts to find differences vs searching for common ground. There can be "right" answers on both sides.

There is another saying in my circles, for those who love to travel: 

anyone can travel around the world from a lot of money. Only the smart one can make it work on a limited budget.

Somewhat similar in audio, you might get to learn and explore more from less money. My hifi is midfi mostly but sounds terrific