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Audiophile TT article in Forbes

I am going to try one more time with this tread because I believe the Audiogon Moderator is flagging this because of the naming of a name. In the latest Forbes special issue there is a nice article about the resurrection of vinyl and Audiophile grade TT. The article shows some nice pictures of high end grade TT with there tone arms and statements from VPI owner claiming every time he wakes up he pinches himself to think in a digital age sales are up steadily. But the big eye opener was that very well known vinyl and turntable guru from a major audio magazine is purchasing a one hundred grand table and tone arm combo Continuum Audio Labs Caliburn turntable & Cobra tonearm
for much less than retail what is much less the article never states but I would guess to venture half off listed which if my math is good would be fifty grand total. Now I don't really have a problem with this but in the article the writer states he the well known guru reviewer is also going to write off the purchase as a business deduction? I am not a CPA or a tax attorney but I would guess that this would raise a red flag at the local/federal tax office as being a LUXURY item. Can you honestly think that standing in tax court a judge wouldn't ask you do they really make a 100 grand turntable and why do you need this piece of gear just to listen and review a record or even having to compare it to the competition.
schipo
s7horton
1,077 posts
 
His job is to criticize the best components out there. He needs it as a reference, I have no problem with him taking a tax deduction.

What is he supposed to compare other expensive turntables to, the Rega P3?
schipo OP
1,268 posts
 
So I guess if I write for Road&track I can buy a 2006 Ferrari 612 Scaglietti for $250,000 and write it off as a business deduction. And why not, can't compare to any other exotica driving a toyota camry.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
It depends on how good your tax lawyer happens to be. I believe a set of facts could be established that shows the auto reviewer has a legitmate business need for the $250,000 car making it a tax deductible business expense.
Sounds rather innocent when compared to what Haliburton has done to the taxpayers and our soldiers in Irag.
osgorth
109 posts
 
If you were testing sports cars for a living, yeah, I would agree with you Schipo..

Face it, this guy is writing in one of the top audio magazines, and testing vinyl stuff is what he does. Obviously he needs a reference system, and this is what he chose. You can argue with his choice of course, but that's really none of our business. :)

As S7horton says too, what's he supposed to compare the stuff he reviews to? I fully support his purchase, and I totally agree it's a business purchase. Face it, you're just jealous. ;)
qdrone
1,039 posts
 
If his job is to review and evaluate Vinyl recordings by all means he can write it off. Just as an actor can write off cable or sattelite T.V. because he could be evaluating performances or doing research on a character he will be portraying by watching the History channel. If it has to do with your job you can write it off if it is your sole source of income. If you compared the Ferrari to every car you drove for articles in Road and Track you might get away with it. This reviewer will be using this turntable for ALL reviews for his job. Wouldn't you love it though if this TT he is buying sounds terrible. LOL.
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