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I have a Forte' Model 2 Preamp and Model 3 Power Amp driving a pair of Magepan MG 3.5's. I love the system but would like to upgrade to Maggie 20's with a pair of Forte' Model 3 power amps for biamplification. I also have a Magnum Dynalab tuner and Denon CD player.

AV system alone retails $140,000. Dedicated room built as well.

I just bought a used current class A DAC/TRANS combo at 1/4 list!

I think that genuine audio enthusiasts should refuse to answer this question. It reduces this hobby to nothing more than who spent more money and who's amplifier is bigger. You have reached rock bottom with this question, and if you really don't have any more good questions to ask, cancel the vote! page.

CD, Amp, Speakers & Cables only.

My system is mostly made in US. Unfortunately, prices over here are MUCH higher than the $/DM conversion rate would suggest. (While the $ is about 1.70 DM, prices for high-end equipment seem to use about 3.00 DM to the $.)

List price $9153, but I still haven't got a turntable, cd recorder, or power conditioner.

I do not see the point of this question.

Love my system and the excitement of trying new pieces to make it better, but it's disappointing to look back and see how much I've spent, how much I've learned, and still have so far to go to obtain that audio utopia we all strive for. If anyone has $30k or so they want to donate to me, I'd be eternally grateful.

bought mostly used equip.

Muse, Melos, Acurus, Theta, and an active x-over power hand-built speakers that employ Scan-Speak drivers (Used by ProAc and other regarded manufacturers). How can someone so lean live so PHAT? Buy used from overpaid execs on the net who just HAVE to have something different every six months. I assembled my remarkable system for two grand. HA! It would have cost me three times that to do it all new!

Cal Audio CL-10 ($1975), cj Premier 14 ($4000), cj MF-2300A ($3000), Thiel CS 3.6 ($4650), Power Wedge ($659) plus cables and stand. All prices are list and before tax.

Another $15,000 and I ought to be there.

I HATE CIRCUIT CITY.

Although I have spent about $26,000 on the current main system, I am in the middle of an upgrade. I look at my video system as a secondary system not at this time integrated with the audio system. Once the audio is upgraded, I will look at that issue. I would be interested in other subscribers' annual budgets, software and hardware.

Classe CA-400 Classe cdp.3 classe cp-45 Dunlavy-V Dunlavy Dalz.8 speaker cable Straightwire crescendo XLR interconnect Mit Proline interconnect The tab comes to $24676.77

Yous pays, you gets ... to a point

If I counted what I've spent since I got into the high end a few years ago, then it would be on the lower end o fthe $10 to 20K range and obviously most of it on my present system: Bryston amp and preamp, Totem Model 1s & Velodyne F-1200, Denon tape deck, Rotel CD, Kimber & MIT cable, and a Panamax. All told, I feel my system delivers one hell of a lot of bang forthe bucks I've spent. Very,very satisfying.

mostly bought them used

$45,000.00 and still looking :-)

I've boughten about half of the system used, so I've been able to get what I felt were better products for about the same amount of money I would have spent on lesser quality components. Parasound,pre and amp. HK cd Music Fidelity X-Dac Kimber i.c. and speaker wire

Cambridge Soundworks Ensemble II & Surround II cost $499 total. Pioneer Dolby Pro-Logic 100Wpc recevier for $99 new at the Cambridge Soundworks store. $59 for used turntable $99 for Sony CD $350 for new Sony cassette deck with Dolby S I am looking to upgrade to Magepans, with an appropriate amp section, and DVD-Audio. Will have to spend `$6000 to do so! Alternate route is to upgrade to Kloss' Tower speakers, which sound almost as good and fast as the Maggies, and can be driven by my Japanese amp. That'll cost $1000 (they have a trade-up program) so that's hard to beat.

Though I have spent over $30,000 on my system, this amount is minuscule compared to what I have spent on LPs and CDs, which are, of course, what really matter.

We decided on an approximate dollar amount that was comfy for us, figured out what sources we needed to support (CD and cable-stereo audio), and decided how many watts we could get by with. We decided that 5W (solid-state!) would be sufficient, and we bought the best-sounding stuff we could find for the money (all Stereophile "Recommended Components"). We are loving it!

Who cares what you pay as long as your system sounds good. My Main unit is a McIntosh MAC 1700 -- $500. Speakers, KEF C55. Cables, MIT 5 (including interconnects). CD, Marantz CD 63. and a bunch of other stuff for the home theater. Mostly bought used. Overall, my system has a very natural timbre and very 3 dimensional sound stage. Listening to Shirley Horn Sends shivers down your spine!

I think a better question might be: "How much have you spent on software?"

Most of the stuff I have was bought on sale. Otherwise, it might have been as much as $2500-$2800. I currently DO NOT own a surround system of any kind . . . and don't care to.

At just over $1000 I think I have put together a very nice stereo. Class C electronics with Class D speakers (next upgrade!), but it makes me listen and, best of all . . . smile!

I am having a great year . . . so hopefully I can jump to the next bracket ($10,000-19,999) within a month or two!

Its not a bad investment when you think that I spent $2200 on my first system 13 years and now I have outlasted the cd player and speakers. I will now spend an additional $3000 on replacing them and that incluces changing the connectors and terminals.