Would you pay to listen?

I would sure feel bad for the guy who spent that kind of dough to end up making $20/hr. You have to assume that these would be "private" sessions, as I wouldn't want to pay to sit in on your choice of music (nothing personal), so the proprietor would be capping out at $20/hr.

There's a sort of creep factor to it as well. I see images of the old Times Square venues. You know-- disheveled musical deviants feeding 20 dollar bills to the machine; the steel door slides up; the music begins to play.

Wasn't Sound By Singer in Manhattan charging sustomers $100 for demos? The money was reportedly credited towards whatever they purchased, if they purchased anything.

Never cared for the staff in that place. I've been there 4 times, and never had a single salesman say a word to me.

I live in Southern California and I have heard many expensive systems over the years. Most don't sound that great. I have been more Impressed with modest systems that were matched properly.

.
Below are a few systems on Audiogon I'd pay money to hear:

Rugyboogie


Jadisboy


Mveloo


Richardallred


Tympani


Celebrat


AudioLimits

Apogee

AlbertPorter

offtherack

Housteau

Grand
.

"Assuming the room is great"

That's the key isn't it. If this system was put together in such a way, that it was widely touted by symphony conductors, well respected musicians and the audio elite as nonpareil, I would probably fork over. Otherwise, as Tvad suggested, $100,000 is no guarantee that it won't suck.