Your AUDIO investment!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by J6P

Gremal and Brainsturgeon shouldn't even be allowed to participate. They'll throw the curve!

Me? I'm laying low out of embarrassment. My 7.1 setup is all towers, but it's quantity over quality for now. I have high hopes that this might be The Year of B&W though. The build quality alone is enough to get me interested; I don't think I've auditioned a set in the last five years.

The poll wasn't intented to make anyone feel that way and I truly hope you don't. We buy what we like and within the parameters of our budgets. Some of us stop there, others continue as it's their passion. I just wanted to get a feel of what people have invested so far.

[Halcro 1]

The only thing I want to do is upgrade the Sub ... The monitor is really nice , but Im looking for an improvement on the Music side ,,,, Hopefully Audiogon will have something ,,, Or Im looking at an Elemental Design .... The one for 1050 Bux with a 15 ...

[musicman1999]

Speakers-jmlabs $5,500
pre-pro--anthem $3,500
amp--anthem $2,800 in flux however, may be moving aside for a sim audio

bill

[jpm35216]

Nothing to crazy...Yamaha HTR 5890, Klipsch F3's, C3, S3's and 12 Sub (all purchased a couple of years ago). Around $3500ish...Receiver is due for an upgrade though. Possibley soon... Oh wait, if you add the bedroom, probably closer to $4000

[btf1980]

Pre-amp - Marantz AV8003 - $2600
Phono Pre-Amp - SimAudio Moon LP3 - $500
Power Amp - Rotel RMB-1075 - $1000
Speakers - CM7 - $2000
CM1 - $1000 plus $400 for stands
CMC - $700
Rel T2 Sub - $800

[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!

[JJ]

You know what I would recommend, Johnny, if the mods would let us get away with it - this exact same poll and question - but placed instead, say, in the Blu-ray Movies forum or the Movies & Discussion forum.

[prerich]

Let me make people angry At one time - I had well over $15,000.00 in my system total. I had to sell it for various reasons and thought I would never make it back to a decent system. Well, thank God - I did and this is how:

Yamaha RX-V663: $329.00 Online store

Yamaha M-80: 225.00 craigslist

Yamaha mx830: 175.00 (for a pair) Audiogon

Yamaha XM 6150: 75.00 (end of inactive auction jump) Ebay (6 channels bridgeable to 3 - 250w channels)

Sony TA-N80ES: 200.00 (currently sells used for over 600 - also received 2 TA-N220 4 Channel amps, 1 TA-E2000ESD prepro, 1 CDP-701ES, and a Sony DVD Player in the enitre 200.00 deal

Definitive Technology BP1's: 350.00 (full price one of the few things that survived my sell off)

Definitive Technology BP2'S: $45.00 Ebay and in mint condition

Klipsch Heresy Speakers Alinco magnets: $150.00 craigslist

Klipsch heresy Speakers non-alnico: $150.00 craigslist

15 inch custom subs: traded my Def Tech powerfield 15 and 100.00 for them (friend wanted something a bit smaller and I was getting large). So the cost of the Def Tech was about 800.00 so a total of 900.00 (well worth it)

Carver Sonic Hologram: $28.00 Ebay

2 DCM Full Time subwoofers: $10.00 Thrift store (picked up a Yamaha RX-V650 for $40.00 in mint condition - no mic though - I'm going to give it to a friend).

And my beloved Snell's - those obtained in a trade (power amps) - so I would say free!!!

Total audio cost currently - $2637.00

I'm always one to look hard for a good deal

P.S. ADD 200.00 for my Paradigm X-30 crossover.

[Woody]

Amp+ pre+ 7.1 = ~$22K

[greyrocket]

sony da4ES 7.1 $999
sony 999ES dvd player $1299
sony cd 450 400disc cd changer $399
sony ps3 60 gig $599
monster power 3500 $399
Mitsubishi 55" rear projection $2999
Samsung 27" lcd $899
Klipsch RF3 front's $400 each
definitive tech clr2002 center $450
definitive tech bpx2 $249 each
definitive tech pfl1800 18" over $1000 i forgot
all cables MIT cables over $3000

a lot of money

[naturephoto1]

Lots. If we are not including turntables, phono preamps, upgraded DVD players, upgraded Blu-ray players, upgraded Power Conditioners, rear speakers, center channel speaker, AM/FM Tuner, cables, power cords, ics, racks, tweaks it is still lots.

All of my upgraded equipment has been upgraded by Dave Schulte of the Upgrade Company: http://upgradecompany.com/

I have total of 5 power amps that have all been upgraded. 4 of these are Aragon Palladium 1K monoblocks and 1 is a Krell KAV 250a/3. If we only count 2 of the Palladium Power amps for 2 channel they were upgraded used for about $3,800 for the pair (their list price without the upgrades were $6,000 a pair). If we count all 4 of these amps the total cost would be about $7600. These amps outperform most anything out there; they have outperformed $20,000 - $30,000 amps. If we include the Krell amp (which was a dealer demo) including the upgrade the cost would be $4500. The Onkyo PR-SC885 cost me $2500 upgraded. The upgraded Onkyo has outperformed $10,000 - $20,000 Preamps. As a Pre/Pro it will probably perform equal to just about anything available.

My Dahlquist DQ-10 speakers were purchased in 1977; they were the owners speakers and I paid about $775 for them. However, they have been totally rebuilt and upgrade now twice for parts and labor for an additional $1650. So the speakers basically cost me $2425. But they perform probably better than a pair of $10,000+ speakers. I may be getting a pair of Nola Viper Reference II speakers ($15,000 list for the pair; I'll report in and update the price if this sale does take place) to replace these as the mains and use the Dahlquist cabinets as the side speakers.

The Dahlquists are known for being a little light on bass, but not after the last upgrade. So I also have the Epik Conquest Sub, but it is used mainly for the Home Theater Usage. The Epik cost $1600 plus shipping.

So, if we consider just the 2 upgraded power amps ($3800), upgraded Pre/Pro ($2500) and only the upgraded and rebuilt 2 times speakers ($2425) my total would $8700. If all of the amps are included (all 5) the additional cost would be $3800 + $4500 for a total of $17,000. However, if I included the sub the total would be $18,600.

But in actuality with all of the cabling, power cords, ICs, speaker wire etc. it would probably add an additional $6,000.

None of this includes my center and rear speakers by the way which would have had a list price of about $3000 but the $2200 Nola LCR center cost me used/demo $900 and the Dahlquist DQ-6CI Bookshelf speakers cost about $350 used.

Rich

[VDogger]

I'd say it's a little under five stacks for me but that's because I've been catching some killer deals.

If I had paid full price for half of the stuff I have then I'd be way over five grand.

V

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by jpm35216

Nothing to crazy...Yamaha HTR 5890, Klipsch F3's, C3, S3's and 12 Sub (all purchased a couple of years ago). Around $3500ish...Receiver is due for an upgrade though. Possibley soon... Oh wait, if you add the bedroom, probably closer to $4000

I totally forgot my game room, but that is just a Sony STR DG720 and a halfway decent set of old Sony HTiB speakers. It still doesn't put me over $3000.

[mdabb]

7.1 speakers + two chanel pre + amp + receiver = $27,700 but ended up paying a little more than 2/3's of that

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by mdabb

7.1 speakers + two chanel pre + amp + receiver = $27,700 but ended up paying a little more than 2/3's of that

My 2007 Scion tC and 2006 Honda Shadow put together didn't cost that

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

My 2007 Scion tC and 2006 Honda Shadow put together didn't cost that

Yeah, that is a 1/5 of what I paid for my house! (You can get 2600 square feet pretty cheap where I live...)

[mdabb]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

My 2007 Scion tC and 2006 Honda Shadow put together didn't cost that

I consider it an investment for the next "X" amount of years. Everything except the receiver anyhow. If I wouldn't have put together this setup, within a period of 10 years I would have upgraded everything 3 times. This way I won't have to. Most of all I do enjoy audio that much.

[Keiths Light]

im currently in the 500 - 1000 range, but rising fast. soon to be a lot higher. so many people don't realize how much sound influences your enjoyment of a movie. it's 10x more important then video quality to me. although good picture is great to.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Yeah, that is a 1/5 of what I paid for my house! (You can get 2600 square feet pretty cheap where I live...)

LOL... looking at it that way... it's a little less than half what I paid for my house! But then in south alabama, you can get a brand new 1800 sq ft brick home on a fenced acre of land, less than a mile from the gulf...... for a REALLY cheap price.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by mdabb

I consider it an investment for the next "X" amount of years. Everything except the receiver anyhow. If I wouldn't have put together this setup, within a period of 10 years I would have upgraded everything 3 times. This way I won't have to. Most of all I do enjoy audio that much.

Honey...... if you enjoy and it and you can swing it..... I say more power to ya!