Does anyone really need to spend 10k on power

10-01-13: Mapman
Isn't that a good reason, to cut through the insanity and get to what really matters and why?

Who are you to determine what really matters and why? Live and let live. If folks want to get into a pissing contest, or are OCD challenged, what business is it of yours?
Whether someone wants to spend $10K on a power conditioner, gold plated toilet seat, or diamond studded dog collar, why does it matter to you? Who are you to think that it's your business to "fix" them?

"Whether someone wants to spend $10K on a power conditioner, gold plated toilet seat, or diamond studded dog collar, why does it matter to you? Who are you to think that it's your business to "fix" them?"

Well, I don't know how to fix those in particular, so that settles that. :^) Can't speak for others though. I'm only one participant.

All your arguments about personal choice and liberty are beside the point. I don't think anybody is advocating not allowing people to buy what they want. What I question is whether the proliferation of ultra expensive products is good for the long term health of the audiophile world? The increasing cost of high end equipment is a very real barrier to people entering and/or pursuing the audiophile lifestyle. The fact that a few people are better off because of this trend is not, IMO, a satisfactory response. There was a time when middle class professional types could actually afford to purchase state of the art music reproduction systems. The same cannot be said today. As a group are we better off?

"What I question is whether the proliferation of ultra expensive products is good for the long term health of the audiophile world?"

I have no problems with the prices specifically in that companies have to make a decent profit to stay in business, but I think there is a lot of BS that often goes into it, and too much BS is probably not good for long term health of anything. Gotta at least try to cut through the BS. I think its that simple.

I had the opportunity to visit the 1989 CES in Chicago. It is one of the highpoints of my life. (If that sounds tragic, I also have been inside The Great Pyramid and that counts as just a little higher) Back then, the Hifi show was in the hotel across the street and I got to spend the day there with my buddy. A couple of the set-ups in the hotel were some of the best sounding rigs I have ever heard. I wish I had taken notes on what equipment was used. I didn't because I couldn't afford it back then. I saw a lot and much of it was snakeoil; but some was eye opening. I sneered at all of the exotic and expensive cables back then; but today I have them in my system. I try to keep an open mind but not be naive. I think the key is to be a smart shopper. $10k doesn't seem like a good value for a power conditioner. For much less than that you could hook up a motor coupled to an alternator and generate your own dedicated clean power to your Hifi rig- with a big filter capacitor to boot.
I believe good sound can still be had for a reasonable price. I get to hear some of the SOTA high end gear now and then and I can still go home and enjoy my humble rig.