What does 90% of the Absolute Best Sound Cost?

P.S. After decades of motorsports my tinnitus is constant and I often find myself wondering if another $20k, $40k, or more would be appreciated. 

I recall not long ago, a friend was over and we were watching something on my 65" 4K ($550) television.  He said there are great advances being made in displays and an 8K OLED television would blow me away. I laughed as I removed my fairly strong prescription glasses and said, "it may be 8K but my vision is 720p!"

My hearing is still really great, despite the tinnitus which I have learned to listen through. Yet, I strongly believe going much further in my audiophile pursuits will only improve my bragging rights (to what objective?), not my experience.  Food for thought.

Matt C

I agree that your system depends upon your budget and your ears.  If you feel your system needs improvement then work on that aspect. Maybe you need newer equipment, bettter cables or a subwoofer?  It all depends on how happy you are with your system.

I have spent in today dollars 75k and love my system, yet I am always looking to make improvements.

good luck and have fun

P.S.S. - Apologies for belaboring the reply but, if there is one thing that is critically important in my opinion, it's this. When choosing speakers, first consider your listening practices. If you sit in the same chair, and listen to your music, certain speakers like Magnepan's can deliver exceptional results.  However, if you plan to have your system in an environment where you will be moving around and/or other people will be listening, you must consider speakers that deliver good performance off axis, vertically and horizontally. Electrostatic speakers like Magnepans, Martin Logan's, et al can be magnificent if you are positioned in a very finite space.  On the other hand, Source Point speakers like the MoFi 888, nearly all KEF Uni-Q speakers, Fyne Audio, Tannoy, and more offer much wider listening area with excellent quality.  My Magnepans are EXCEPTIONAL on axis but, 6 feet in any direction and they suck. My KEF R7's sound amazing throughout the listening room. Very consistent but perhaps, not as good as the Magnepans in the "sweet spot".

Matt C

@mattsca 

Your question has an infinite number of answers. My brother is completely happy listening to all his music from the 1/4” speakers in his phone.  My good friend Dan still has the stereo he bought when we were in college (the early seventies) and he’s still just as happy with the sound. Everyone is so different. Me,  I’ve been buying, selling, and swapping hifi since the seventies and have I had a good (to my ears) system. 
We’re all different.

+1 @curiousjim

How do we arrive at 90%? I love the sound of Gryphon Commander+Apex, but how do we reduce it to an equivalent 90%? Turntables, how high to climb aka spend to reach the 90%? Cartridges- how to get 90% of a sound like a Koetsu?

I understand the OP wants to come up with some number to maybe be a guide, but our different subjective preferences, commitment to this hobby, and very different budgets prevents a cost to be universally fitting.