How much money do you have invested in this "hobby?"

[JayGilb]

PC: $600
DAC(s): $200
Rack of vintage amps: $1000
DIY Speakers: $1000

Total: $2800

I buy non-functional equipment on-line and repair it for low cost.

Still have a lot of my equipment from just after university (30 years), when I started making a good paycheck and had minimal expenses.
Getting married, raising children and putting them through college completely stopped any purchases and now I am picking up
a piece here and there.

 

[JaccoW]

Had to rebuild at the beginning of the year from a €3000+ setup:

• Argon Audio Forte A5 active speakers - €499
• Topping E50 DAC - €269
• Akai gx-635d reel-to-reel - free
• Lenco L60 turntable - free
  • Audio Technica AT-VM95E element- €50

But the reel-to-reel will be sent in for a major overhaul and I have a couple of mods planned for the turntable. That's easily another €500. Matching stands for the speakers for €200 + some new cables to make it work.

Next year I want to replace the aging laptop with a Morefine S500+ mini pc to serve as the media/music centre and perhaps add a NAS.

So by this time next year I will probably be in the next size up.

 

[JayGilb]

Had to rebuild at the beginning of the year from a €3000+ setup:

• Argon Audio Forte A5 active speakers - €499
• Topping E50 DAC - €269
• Akai gx-635d reel-to-reel - free
• Lenco L60 turntable - free
  • Audio Technica AT-VM95E element- €50

But the reel-to-reel will be sent in for a major overhaul and I have a couple of mods planned for the turntable. That's easily another €500. Matching stands for the speakers for €200 + some new cables to make it work.

Next year I want to replace the aging laptop with a Morefine S500+ mini pc to serve as the media/music centre and perhaps add a NAS.

So by this time next year I will probably be in the next size up.

Sweet deal on that Akai. I have always wanted to refurbish a reel to reel, but I would screw it up. Not too many techs have that type of experience anymore.

 

[JaccoW]

Sweet deal on that Akai. I have always wanted to refurbish a reel to reel, but I would screw it up. Not too many techs have that type of experience anymore.

It used to belong to my grandfather so it has a special place for me as well. My father has the matching Akai everything stereo set.
I'm pretty handy but as soon as I opened it up and started looking up guides I knew this was best left to the professionals. I have a tendency to destroy things when I desolder them and that can get very expensive in a machine like this.

Luckily there are a couple of them here in the Netherlands. One is Electro-Andijk who sells original parts for practically everything. Another one nearby is VintageAudioRepair who also sells a lot of overhauled vintage machines.

 

[watchnerd]

Well, buy stuff for someone you love.

She already gets the majority of the spending.

 

[nemanja_t]

This is a very short and quick path to very good sound.

I am enjoying the system with all types of sources and music Next project will be AVR , with in-wall Focals.

 

[atsmusic]

The first question is this hobby and the second is current system. Two VERY different things for me anyhow.