Your AUDIO investment!

[Johnny Vinyl]

I thought it would be interesting to find out what kind of hard-earned dollars we each have invested into the audio side of our HT experience.

So I've included a poll (feel free to poll without posting) to see the extend to which we have taken our passion for sound.

Here are the guidelines on which the poll is based.

1. Include your A/V/ Receiver, Pre-Pro or Power componants.
2. Include your Speakers/Subwoofer. It could be a 2.0, 2.1, 3.0, 3.1, etc. system.


This is purely a poll about your Amplification and your Speakers.

[JJ]

A paltry amount in comparison to some of the other ones I've seen here - $4,052 (give or take a few cents) for my Pioneer receiver (1000), 3 B&W speakers (1800), 3 Polk speakers (450), ML subwoofer (600), and the power conditioner (200).

No sources/accessories/wires counted.

I'm glad that the HT section of the forum is not competitive like the Blu-ray Movies section, ::Phew::

But great idea, Johnno.

Edit: If you post, we demand details!!

[Carlsberg19]

good forum post!

[richteer]

My amp speaker investment is quite big, and is currently stereo (2.0) only. Prices are what I paid, in Canadian dollars.

• Preamp ($1k): Audio Research SP-9 Mk 2. Bought used a couple of years ago.
• Power amps ($3.5k): PrimaLuna ProLogue Sevens. Bought new last Xmas.
• Speakers ($8k): MartinLogan Spires. Ordered last month, will be here "soon", replacing my Spendor SP1s.

Listening to music via this system: $priceless! (With apologies to Mastercard!)

Next on my upgrade list (after cables) will be a new preamp, phono stage, or cartridge.

Your turn, John! :-)

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by richteer

My amp speaker investment is quite big, and is currently stereo (2.0) only. Prices are what I paid, in Canadian dollars.

• Preamp ($1k): Audio Research SP-9 Mk 2. Bought used a couple of years ago.
• Power amps ($3.5k): PrimaLuna ProLogue Sevens. Bought new last Xmas.
• Speakers ($8k): MartinLogan Spires. Ordered last month, will be here "soon", replacing my Spendor SP1s.

Listening to music via this system: $priceless! (With apologies to Mastercard!)

Next on my upgrade list (after cables) will be a new preamp, phono stage, or cartridge.

Your turn, John! :-)

I can't even dream of what your setup sounds like Rich! I drool every time I see those pics you posted earlier in your other thread.

My upgrade is coming though...remember what I said! 2009 is dedicated as the Year of The Turntable......LOL! And thx, btw, for stearing me clear of that used VPI setup.

[CasualKiller]

Nothing as fancy as some here, Monitor Audio Silver 5.1 and an Onkyo 805, cost me around 5400.00 total.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Nothing as fancy as some here, Monitor Audio Silver 5.1 and an Onkyo 805, cost me around 5400.00 total.

$5400? I'd say that's pretty substantial. I'll bet you love it!

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by CasualKiller

Nothing as fancy as some here, Monitor Audio Silver 5.1 and an Onkyo 805, cost me around 5400.00 total.

Monitor Audio is one of my favorite speaker manufacturers. That's a heck of a lot of bang for the buck.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by John72953

I can't even dream of what your setup sounds like Rich! I drool every time I see those pics you posted earlier in your other thread.

My upgrade is coming though...remember what I said! 2009 is dedicated as the Year of The Turntable......LOL! And thx, btw, for stearing me clear of that used VPI setup.

I'll update that thread when my new speakers arrive. If you're ever this side of Canada let me know and we'll get together and spin a few records!

And you're welcome about the VPI advice!

I gotta get me some more income so that I can continue with my system upgrades! The trouble is, whatever my next upgrade is (preamp, cartridge, or phono stage) will set me back about $10k. I really should do all three (it's just the order in which it happens which is up in the air), but we're talking about $30k for just those three components!

[prerich]

Originally Posted by richteer

My amp speaker investment is quite big, and is currently stereo (2.0) only. Prices are what I paid, in Canadian dollars.

• Preamp ($1k): Audio Research SP-9 Mk 2. Bought used a couple of years ago.
• Power amps ($3.5k): PrimaLuna ProLogue Sevens. Bought new last Xmas.
• Speakers ($8k): MartinLogan Spires. Ordered last month, will be here "soon", replacing my Spendor SP1s.

Listening to music via this system: $priceless! (With apologies to Mastercard!)

Next on my upgrade list (after cables) will be a new preamp, phono stage, or cartridge.

Your turn, John! :-)

So, you're the one selling the Splendors on Audiogon - I've been looking at those...just looking right now

[richteer]

Originally Posted by prerich

So, you're the one selling the Splendors on Audiogon - I've been looking at those...just looking right now

Yep, that is me (the user name is a dead give away!). They're still available (listening to them in the background right now), so if you're interested make me an offer! (Perhaps taking this to email would be the most polite way of continuing this conversation.) I'd be happy to give you a good deal on them!

Edit: knowing your taste in speakers (Snell), I think they'd be right up your street...

[4Dblu]

i love movies so i spent a lot. i know it's really over $10k but thats for 4 systems. the system in my basement:
DLP TV - $2500
RACK cabinet - $2600, amps $799 ea.
Pioneer Laserdisc player - $950
Dvd upconvertor - $149
Wow, now that i thought about it thats not even all in the basement. but i plan on upgrading to a front projector & screen next year so i'll b spending more money. hopefully, by next xmas it will b done. yeah, another $4k i just stay BROKE!!!

[Johnny Vinyl]

When I first started this thread, I was hoping to get a good feel for what the average member has invested in their audio-only (Amps/Speakers) setups. At first the poll was heavily skewed in favour of the higher-end systems and I thought that I wasn't going to be able to get the results I was looking for. Things since then have changed, and I'm glad to say the poll results as they stand now are much more reflective of our member base.

In the end I think it's going to be a horse-race between the 3rd & 4th options, but only time will tell. I can only hope this thread survives a little longer for me to see that.

To those who've already participated in the poll, thank you! To those that haven't....what are you waiting for?

John

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

A paltry amount in comparison to some of the other ones I've seen here - $4,052 (give or take a few cents) for my Pioneer receiver, 3 B&W speakers, 3 Polk speakers, ML subwoofer, and the power conditioner.

No sources/accessories/wires counted.

I'm glad that the HT section of the forum is not competitive like the Blu-ray Movies section, :hew::

But great idea, Johnno.

I spent roughly the same as you JJ, but I'm still in search of a subwoofer one day.

No competition really, because you and I will get blown out of the water with some of gear others have. Just really interested, because we have a lot of diversity on this site.

[JJ]

Originally Posted by John72953

I spent roughly the same as you JJ, but I'm still in search of a subwoofer one day.

No competition really, because you and I will get blown out of the water with some of gear others have. Just really interested, because we have a lot of diversity on this site.

Exactly my point! Blown out of the water like a Japanese carrier in Midway (I have to get out of my History mode, dang finals). Wait a tic - your siggy says still deciding, and you're telling me 'one day'! John, I'm assuming your numbers on your name is your birthdate - what are you considering, sub-wise at the moment? Your Totems are very solid speakers from what I've read (never listened to them...yet) - and you do have a great receiver as well.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

Exactly my point! Blown out of the water like a Japanese carrier in Midway (I have to get out of my History mode, dang finals). Wait a tic - your siggy says still deciding, and you're telling me 'one day'! John, I'm assuming your numbers on your name is your birthdate - what are you considering at the moment?

Still deciding, because I'm not sure what to get. But only "one day", because my Totems do really reproduce an excellent bottom end and I'm not a bass-freak to begin with.

As far as my sig...yes, I'm an old guy, but full of spirit! LOL

[ObiTrentKenobi]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA



I've spent a grand total of 280$!

This includes a Sony "something", (i'm at work can't find the model) 200$ 5.1 audio system for my tv and bluray using optical. And 1 40$ durabrand 5.1 audio system from wal-mart for my desktop PC, and another 40$ durabrand 5.1 audio system from wal-mart for my wife's PC.

and you know what?? they all sound GREAT!

i think my audio investment has been a deal compared to the aweful amounts of money you people are spending on audio. do you know how many bluray movies you could have bought if you had spent even half as much? or how many groceries you could have gotten?

but all the power to you if you can afford that...

[JJ]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I think my audio investment has been a deal compared to the aweful amounts of money you people are spending on audio. do you know how many bluray movies you could have bought if you had spent even half as much? or how many groceries you could have gotten?

but all the power to you if you can afford that...

For you, a movie might simply 'sound good'.

But at least for me, it's an experience.


Good lord, that sounded snobby. Yeesh. That's not the point. But don't deride us for our choices. Would we deride you for what you've bought? No. You telling us that we could've bought X-number of BRs with the same amount of money is like someone telling you "my remote control" or "a single speaker wire" cost that much. Have you heard a quality sound setup? That laugh would've ended real short.

[ObiTrentKenobi]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

For you, it might simply sound good.

But at least for me, it's an experience.

I agree, audio completes the home-theater experience... but with all the money i've saved compared to some, i can go out to the movies and enjoy their 30' screens and booming sound (which, they're sound usually isn't the best anyway), i like the experience of going out to a movie still i guess. My 200$ sony set sounds BETTER and clearer/crisper than the theaters around here actually... my ears wouldn't be able to tell the difference between my 200$ set and a 2,000$ set because they're so bad, and i've sold home theaters at an electronics retailer for 3 years so i've heard some crap speakers and some expensive speakers.

i put all my money into the best picture i could afford...

i didn't mean to offend anyone by what they've spent, honestly i'm jealous...

[JJ]

Originally Posted by ObiTrentKenobi

I agree, audio completes the home-theater experience... but with all the money i've saved compared to some, i can go out to the movies and enjoy their 30' screens and booming sound (which, they're sound usually isn't the best anyway), i like the experience of going out to a movie still i guess. My 200$ sony set sounds BETTER and clearer/crisper than the theaters around here actually...

i put all my money into the best picture i could afford...

No, no, Trent, don't take it as a personal affront, I'm not one to do that, either. You know, I think anything I could write in response would show me a snob, and I don't want that. Someone else want to chime in?

Originally Posted by Gremal

What should we do with the money? If we bought stock or had it sitting in the bank, what enjoyment would that have brought us? As it turns out, my audio purchases held their value which allowed me to trade up to increasingly better gear.

My 401K is in the toilet.

Ah, you see? There you go. Besides - the way I see it, buying this now means I don't have to spend as much later. And it's not as if I'm rolling in the dough either. I'm a student. But if everything else in my financial situation is fine - I felt like I should go for what makes me happiest. No overdue bills to pay - check - no debt, loan or creditcardwise - check - car is fine - check - got food, water - check - roof over my head, check - go with the hobby, and I don't regret it in the slightest.