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I'm just a college boy who worked a lot of hours at music stores to afford my gear. You'd be surprised what those hours have bought, but anything over $3500 is way outer limits. Hope I can click some of those bigger dollar amounts a few years from now.

When you have ten million dollar speakers and five million dollar amps well then you truly have a strong far east economy.

It depends on the type of product. I find a 15.000$ CD Player more expensive than a 15.000$ pair of loudspeakers

Regardless of exchange rate woes here in South Africa - I think it's perfectly plausible to suggest that any one piece of equipment retailing for $1 000 (ZAR 9 000) qualifies as being expensive. Obviously, this doesn't mean that finding a used Krell KPS 25 for $1 000 (ZAR 9 000) makes it expensive - on the contrary. In some cases, dearness, like beauty, is very much in the eye (ear?) of the beholder. But, all said - I think audio enthusiasts sometimes lose sight of just how much money $1 000 is to people who have yet to hear their favorite music through a fine piece of audio gear.

I hate high-end audio.

More than it is worth to the buyer. How much does a car cost? A watch? Dinner? Want some wine with that? What do you expect to spend for that? Want a '61 La Chappell? Better bring some weight if you do. If you can swing it and you know enough to be able to enjoy it, will you grouse about the price? But if it is corked or cooked you sure will. Same with your new kilobuck/meter cables. If they sound worse than zipord . . .

Anything over $50.

Unless you're a professional, spending more than $2000 on one component is absurd. Electronics are heavily marked up and the technology changes so much that your two year old component could easily be outdated. Personally, I am in the 100k salary bracket and there is no way I could justify spending more than $2,000 for any one component, especially with all the variable changes you have to consider when purchasing home audio (room size, technolgy advancements, usability, aesthetics, compatibilities, savings, 401k, retirement, etc . . .).

Remember total system cost 3 30K components and your in only if I won the Lottery territory.

> Diminishing returns after a certain amount.

Expensive is relative. Your question does not rule out someone buying it. Your question should be more specific, like: Please complete this statement, "I would not read an article or a review on a piece of equipment that costs over $_______.

It has changed as my income has changed. Four years ago, $1000/component was REALLY expensive. Now I'm considering $3500 - $5000 speakers and a $5000 amp.

Oh god.. Maybe four or five thousand. I try to stay away from the new retail price. I've gotten most of my stuff second hand on sites like audiogon.

Why should American products cost 150% or more in Europe? Quick profit? It brings the price q-rate down. My advice for people in Europe ban all american products and Buy European, they are as well as american.

I believe that all should atempt to create a good hi-fi cd player like Marantz. I have a CD player I can sell, for about 5,000 dolars. Its a 1994 Sony portable with a car adapter, and it comes with its own gimp, and power adaptor. :-))

Clearly the return on investment of the sound experience is paramount. Something that costs $1.00 could be expensive if it doesn't provide the expected results

I am sure you folks out there can make amps and preamps much cheaper and still keep that great sound we've come to love. There must be a way to get an great sounding piece of Audio for less money then some of the prices that are being ask for now.

I've listened to a lot of equipment above the $3500 price point and, quite frankly, the difference is not worth the extra dollars even though I could afford it. Trust in thine ears!!

Most everything you review is too expensive for the average listener. Reviews of much more resonably priced equipment would be most appreciated.

Right now, the threshold is lower, but over the long term, an inflation-adjusted $5000 seems to be what I plan around

My most expensive component is a Muse Model Nine (with Signature option), so I thought the $5K point was a good gauge for defining "expensive."

This is based on the combination of income and priorities. I imagine others would think $300 to be expensive while some may not think it gets expensive until $20,000+

I don't think it is a interesting question for several reasons: - It depends on how much I've already spent. - It depends obviously how much you earn - it depends how much your better half is prepare to accept - it depends on what is your main focus in your system:LP,CD,home cinema,... Basically I don't think there is an answer, what's why I give a silly answer. what would be a more interesting series of questions: is what % of your HiFi you are prepare to send for several part of system:cd,preamp,speakers,cables,amps,...

I say $3500 or more. My SO has a far different opinion, however, like $500 or more. $3500, to me, is expensive for anything but speakers. For speakers, I would say $7500-$10000.

I think once you hit the 3500 point the point of diminishing returns kicks in and the cost for improvement is just not there.

What

While I love reading about High-End audio products, these out of reach for my buget.

Obviously per component.

Amount depends on the type of component, I gave an average

I stopped subscribing to Stereophile because of the ridiculousness of the prices of the equipment reviewed (among other reasons). I see no sense to page after page of reviews of stuff only multimillionaires could buy. Also -- more blind testing please!