Spending big bucks on HiFi Audio

[Mart68]

In another forum I belong to, a member just mentioned buying an $83,000 preamp. Which I personally find a little disgusting as far as spending money goes. But it's not my money. Nor will I ever have that much to throw away on one stereo item.

I don't find it disgusting but I do wonder what benefits they think they are getting over, say, a $2K pre-amp.

Now if they replied 'I know there's none but I just liked the look of it' I'd be fine with that. But that's almost certainly not what they'd say.

 

[JimBean]

I don't find it disgusting but I do wonder what benefits they think they are getting over, say, a $2K pre-amp.

Now if they replied 'I know there's none but I just liked the look of it' I'd be fine with that. But that's almost certainly not what they'd say.

Well, he ordered a VAC Statement Line Preamp, in custom silver flake finish, so I'm sure he believes it is totally worth all that money. He also made sure to note that his sister isn't going to get any of his money when he dies. So an all around great guy.

 

[Sal1950]

He also made sure to note that his sister isn't going to get any of his money when he dies. So an all around great guy.

Maybe she bullied him as a kid. LOL

Lord only knows how it measures or sounds but for sure a very expensive component to manufacture.
I'm sure sound quality wise, it can be equaled or surpassed for a couple hundred bucks.

That's one hell of a Volume Control, wow.
"The volume control is a massive one-pound multisection potentiometer some two inches long and nearly two inches in diameter, with machined brass shielding between the sections and against the outside world. This extraordinary part is critical in obtaining the highest fidelity in the world. A custom engineered VAC motor drive system allows the volume to be adjusted by remote control."

 

[Mart68]

Maybe she bullied him as a kid. LOL

Lord only knows how it measures or sounds but for sure a very expensive component to manufacture.

The power amp is measured here, https://www.stereophile.com/content...cbloc-monostereo-power-amplifier-measurements

Just $75K! - hold on - before you reach for your wallet - you'll need two of them for stereo.

 

[Sal1950]

The power amp is measured here, https://www.stereophile.com/content...cbloc-monostereo-power-amplifier-measurements

Just $75K! - hold on - before you reach for your wallet - you'll need two of them for stereo.

Dang, I'd need at least 9 of them for my 5.2.4 rig.
Guess I'll have to skip eating out for a few nights.

 

[GandalfTheAudiofool]

edit: I accept that people are willing to spend exorbitant sums of money on status symbols, but it does not elevate their status in my eyes.

Here's the secret: people who buy lovely cars don't do it because they care about what other people think. They do it because they precisely don't give a fuck about what other think

Speaking of audio spending, I just splurged my biggest amount ever: a 12 K EUR pair of speakers, sold in the US for $16 K USD for whatever reason (when they should be be $13 K instead of $16 K) but I got them for 7500 EUR / 8 000 USD slighlty used (one year old, complete with the boxes / invoices / goodies / etc.).

Hadn't upgraded my stereo in 10 years: old one was a 1 K EUR setup.

Probably won't change these speakers for at least ten years, maybe more. I plan to upgrade the amp at some point though.

 

[DLS79]

Here's the secret: people who buy lovely cars don't do it because they care about what other people think. They do it because they precisely don't give a fuck about what other think.

I don't completely agree with that, it's to simplistic and convenient!

It doesn't matter if it's cars, boats, audio gear, tvs, etc. It's a wide spectrum, on one end you have the people who own stuff and almost no one knows about it, at the other end you have the compensators who spend more time bragging and talking about whatever it is they own than they actually do enjoying it!

 

[Ron Texas]

Pretty soon the average new car will be $75k. It's already $50k.

 

[ta240]

Pretty soon the average new car will be $75k. It's already $50k.

Prices seem to rise to whatever level people will pay. I remember when 84 month loans first started being a thing and seemed insane. One of the streaming channels runs ads for local dealerships and they keep popping up with stuff for $60K to $80K. Figuring if the average is $50K then given the number that are still available for $25K that means a lot have to be selling for over.
I wonder if a lot of people are rolling over their negative equity on their current car into their new car again.

 

[Ron Texas]

Prices seem to rise to whatever level people will pay. I remember when 84 month loans first started being a thing and seemed insane. One of the streaming channels runs ads for local dealerships and they keep popping up with stuff for $60K to $80K. Figuring if the average is $50K then given the number that are still available for $25K that means a lot have to be selling for over.
I wonder if a lot of people are rolling over their negative equity on their current car into their new car again.

Hi new car prices are due to several factors. One is general inflation, second is regulatory requirements for safety and emissions, there is still a post COVID supply chain problem. What we have is an economy with good metrics like low unemployment with the middle class being crushed by high prices.

 

[MattHooper]

I’ve spent a lot on my audio gear over the years. But I sure as hell didn’t spend my hard-earned money for somebody else and what they think! I spent it to please myself.

 

[bachatero]

What we have is an economy with good metrics like low unemployment with the middle class being crushed by high prices.

It's weird because most normal people are getting crushed by inflation, while those with investments in the stock market have never been doing better. Nvidia is over 200% up since last year and the S&P 500 is growing super fast!

 

[Somafunk]

There’s a recent thread on Headfi linked to here where the forum poster details his attempt to buy a Sennheiser HE1 flagship headphone but it wasn’t as easy as he figured buying direct from sennheiser . He eventually found one on the used market, if you can read through 6 pages he shows his other hifi gear, including $30,000 equipment racks

 

[MattHooper]

The power amp is measured here, https://www.stereophile.com/content...cbloc-monostereo-power-amplifier-measurements

Just $75K! - hold on - before you reach for your wallet - you'll need two of them for stereo.

The type of shortfall JA measures in some of these expensive amps - performance way below their claimed powered ratings, really pisses me off.

To me it’s one of the most valuable aspects of measuring such gear.

 

[ta240]

Hi new car prices are due to several factors. One is general inflation, second is regulatory requirements for safety and emissions, there is still a post COVID supply chain problem. What we have is an economy with good metrics like low unemployment with the middle class being crushed by high prices.

All that adds to it. But there are still new options that can haul a family of 5 in the mid $20,000 range. They just aren't like riding around in a luxury jet, the kids might have to sit next to each other in the same row and the neighbors won't be that impressed.

The lots around here are getting full again and some have some decent markdowns. Used car prices are even dropping some, the ones I've watched are about halfway between where they were when it hit the fan and where they topped out.

People seem to have a really hard time passing up all the fancy stuff. Only a couple decades ago, manufactures sold base models without A/C or radios for people that were willing to do without those. Remember hand crank windows? Manual mirrors? Now people have to have the self opening/closing powered hatches, 18 speakers, cooled seats, heated steering wheels, power seats with memory...

I've run into the same thing when pricing out cars. I start out thinking "That's not a bad price" but then when I pick the trim level that has the good stereo, and the other stuff I want it is $10,000 more than the starting price. The only difference is at that point I go "Sheesh", close the website and go back to driving my car.

 

[Westsounds]

Yep, brainwashing, marketing BS, and being a luxury piece of consumer goods. There’s no need for it really other than our own personal indulgences. And something from your local Curry’s is more than sufficient really for listening to recorded music or radio. But no as with everything we go too far. And it’s a typical man thing as well, that’s not saying women don’t indulge but generally it’s us blokes.

 

[Holmz]

…
Now if they replied 'I know there's none but I just liked the look of it' I'd be fine with that. But that's almost certainly not what they'd say.

The Mrs said she did not like the look of the old one, and thought silver looked better…

 

[dgozalie]

Who needs 18 speakers and a self-opening trunk anyway? Good to hear there are still decent mid-range options for families out there, even if they're not luxury SUVs. Used market seems to be cooling down too, which is a plus. People gotta resist all the bells and whistles sometimes! Back in the day, cars didn't have half this stuff and we survived just fine

 

[Mr. Widget]

I’ve spent a lot on my audio gear over the years. But I sure as hell didn’t spend my hard-earned money for somebody else and what they think! I spent it to please myself.

I have spent ridiculous amounts on my systems over the years. I started out spending half my college loans on audio equipment and have pretty much continued along those lines as my financial situation has improved. None of my friends were ever impressed... I'm pretty sure they thought it was a peculiar passion but they accepted me as a friend anyway.

Who needs 18 speakers and a self-opening trunk anyway? Good to hear there are still decent mid-range options for families out there, even if they're not luxury SUVs.

I don't drive an SUV, I actually strongly dislike those massive cumbersome beasts even as they have improved their fuel economy, power, and handling. That said, my car does have 16 speakers and a self opening trunk... I didn't buy the car for either feature, but the sound is quite good and when my hands are full, waving my foot under the rear bumper to open the trunk is pretty darned convenient.

 

[Sal1950]

Back in the day, cars didn't have half this stuff and we survived just fine

Give me back the day when I could buy a work pickup truck. Stick shift that never fails, crank window, no giant laptop in
the middle of the dash, cameras all around, side vehicle detection with lights in the mirrors, etc, etc, etc. I don't need all that crap. If God Forbid my 20 yo pickup should be totalled, I'll go the next Mecum auction and buy a sweet restomod 1950-60s car or pickup. $70k for a rolling computer, no thanks.

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