Vote

Is there a box for too damn much? Thank the American social structure for food stamps

After a few years of larger expenditures to put my systems in place, my outlays have cooled down to 3-4% of my income, primarily for upgrades and replacements.

I've spent $700 in the last six years, and believe me that was enough.

The old rule at a hi-fi shop where I once worked was that you're a certified nut case if your stereo costs more than your car. This rule pretty much holds true, too, all the way from beater Corollas to new Jaguars.

I only replace equipment when it breaks or when I can get something better at the right price.

I have a wish list of components which I review based upon available reviewed equipment. Unless there is a system failure, I choose an item from the list to audition and purchase. As I have upgraded my system, it has become more difficult to audition the components. Phono cartridges are the most difficult, but this year I purchased a D/A convertor after hearing its older brother. Maybe your next question should be, "How easy is it to hear the components you are interested in seeing reviewed?"

About 3-4% Whatever else I can glean off of my income is spent on concert tickets and new recordings. There's still enough money left over so that baby can afford to buy new shoes and my family won't have to shop for groceries at one of those warehouse clubs.

I don't really want to know. Also, I don't buy new equipment every year, so in some years it's zero.

I only upgrade equipment if I feel I can get better sound for the money and usually I'm not looking at cost no object products.

Rough calculation yielded 1.4% of my gross annual income over the last three years (personal income only, not family income). This does not include software, of course.

If you buy moderately priced, quality equipment then you may go many years without spending any money at all on new hardware.

I don't buy as much as I did when I was younger, and now that I'm retired it's difficult to keep up with all the changes. I did buy an SACD player and a new preamp this year which gobbled up two months' pension checks with just two clicks of the ol' mouse. Maybe the government ought to consider voting on legislation that gives free components to those over 65.

I wasn't aware that the retail price of high-end gear is adjusted according to your annual income.

I try to buy a little something each year, or skip a year or two to save up for something really good.

I'm not sure how much I would spend if I weren't the father of two teenagers. Right now, I listen and learn and try to make my upgrade choices count. I look for equipment reviews that highlight true "value" pieces (like the Rega Planet CD player).

My dollar amount has stayed fixed over the years, so the percentage has dropped. Having kids is expensive!

Too much!

About $4000 or so per year (over the last two years). Less next year, since I am now happy with my system.

Of course, I earn less than $10,000 per year!

How much I spend every year varies greatly. I can't afford to change components like Imelda Marcos changes shoes. Each upgrade must be significant if it to justify the required sacrifices. Some years I don't spend anything—others quite a bit.

I do my buying in the used market nowadays. The prices there reflect the initial depreciation and from there on the resale value remains rather constant. So, once the initial investment is done, one can turn stuff over and over at a reasonable cost.

I have more equipment than I can hook up together. Same with music, I think that if I could play all my CD's and LP's back to back, I'd still be listening (and enjoying) after 1 year.

On a given year I might spend as much as half my salary on gear, but in an average year I probably don't even approach 10%. I spend quite a bit more on media than anything else.

Well, for me this is difficult question. When I first got into hi-fi, I was living on a meager University teaching fellowship stipend, and yes, as meager as it was, I spent well over half of it building the basis of my system. Now, only the wire, the CD transport and the speaker stands remain, the rest replaced systematically by snazzier components after every promotion or better job. That said, I've "stabilizied" both my employment and, coincidently, my system. The last upgrade (finally, class "A" limited LF speakers!) was made two years ago, almost to the day: the day I signed the contract for my current job! So, while at one time my answer would have to be "60%+ " the last two years have been "0%," and the years in between were somewhere in between! Confused? I sure am.

The money I make is just for spending anyways so I can devote a large precentage of to audio.

I make $500 bi-weekly Canadian and save $350 each check for new equipment and music.

If you're in college, and decide to ignore snow, weed, beer, and girls, you can free up an amazing amount of money for your equipment!

I have two daughters attending college. Need I say more?

More than I completely reveal to my wife. Not that she would stop me, but who needs the grief?

1-2% but that's still 2,000 - 4,000 dollars -- too much! Yikes!