how much to $pend to claim i am an audiophile?

You misunderstand the issue. It's not you whose status is called into question. Everyone who has a system is an Audiophile.

The real issue is, anyone who spent less than you is mid-fi, at best, and anyone who spent even $1 more is a tone deaf idiot with nothing but money to burn, who cares nothing about the quality of the sound, but wants to be recognized as being 'the in crowd!'
Dr R.C. Brockhaus

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=audiophile

Great link Slikric3000!

Marco

I have a lot of money in music and equipment and love great sound but don't claim to be an audiophile.

You are an audiophile when your friends just roll their eyes when you you say for the 6th time in a year "I'm really done this time".

You know that you're an audiophile when you can look in the mirror and say out loud "My name is Jack, I'm an audiophile, and I'm powerless over my disease.

Ask not how much you need to spend but rather, how much have you got? Think black hole sucking money!