[drphoto]

Today I realized I've spent more on my current audio setup than on my car......

The car takes me to work. Sometimes the audio system takes me to heaven.

[Niteshade]

That was a  great way of putting things into perspective. 

I enjoy my ride to work since it's in the country- but music contains good memories, is relaxing and ...well....what would we do without it?

Recently I refurbished my grandfather's Dual 1219 and can't wait for the stylus to arrive! That will provide endless hours of heaven...

[Pez]

That depends, in my case spending more on my audio system than my car doesn't mean much as my car is an old POS. My audio setup on the other hand is not.

[JimJ]

That depends, in my case spending more on my audio system than my car doesn't mean much as my car is an old POS. My audio setup on the other hand is not.

Same for me, except my audio system is a new POS

[Levi]

I have a McIntosh car audio system in my car but spent more on my Mountain Bike.

[JLM]

Don't scare off the "straights".  (This is the starting block.)

IMO being an audiophile is all about the love of music and hearing it reproduced as well as possible.

In the past year I've dropped nearly $40k on two cars (we live in the great white north and drive almost 60k miles per year, so having reliable cars is important).  Currently I have about $4k in the main audio rig, $3k in the A/V system, and $2k in the living room audio system.  As it was built with the house 4 years ago, my audio mancave was basically free.

My ingrained values would dictate that even with all the money in the world I probably wouldn't spend more than $6k on the main rig.  Not saying its true in your cases at all, but we've all seen spendthrifts in audio that don't know music, audio equipment, or what they're listening to.  So no Virginia, how much you spend is not a measure of being an audiophile.

[funkmonkey]

my system cost almost as much as my truck.  But I agree with JLM in thinking that what really defines an audiophile is when you make the jump from listening to the music, to listening to how well that music is reproduced (on any given system).  Audiophiles want the best sound possible, non-audiophiles just listen to the music... not the various components that recreate it...  no matter how much anything costs.

[nathanm]

Nice McIntosh unit Levi, but I bet it doesn't have an animated dolphin screensaver, 31-band EQ (with lights!) or Turbo Bass.

[Levi]

You are right Nathan. Also it doesn't have fast music search or iPod integration.

[68superbee]

I have spent more money on cars,because it's my first love, but most of my egipment is vintage, but I always love the sound of a great audio system it's priceless.

[eclein]

I'm new to this whole adventure, I saw speakers last night that were $13,000.00, thats how much I paid for my Scion Xb..haha!!
I figured out my costs at about $5400.00, for everything so far and that includes all audio,network stuff, a VAIO laptop and Bravia HDTV. I started grabbing stuff in June off Craigslist and local stores (read Best Buy here) and I'm hooked!!! This is a blast, the sound gets better and better as I learn and tweak...upgrading one area brings out the warts in another. Personally I'm trying to achieve a sound quality that I have heard over the years as I played out and in studios...I'm gettin closer and having alot of fun. Its not uncommon to spend a large majority of time in a recording studio setting up the drum sound, so I'm using that area as my focus and let the rest fall into place. Sorry for the long post-just had my coffee!!!

[Nuance]

IMO being an audiophile is all about the love of music and hearing it reproduced as well as possible.

This. 

[hmen]

I passed that mark a long time ago.

[wilbert-vanbakel]

Well, I would like to add my opinion to this thread.

Perhaps it's common to measure someones value by the income that they earn, I see that happening around me at least. Perhaps it's also common to measure taste or expertise by the amount of expenses.

Recently I got a chance to fulfill my dream and spend money on a great sounding audio system, I opted for stereo, I also still have standard definition TV.
Here is what I want you to hear, my purchase is less then $1000, and I enjoy my music so much. But that's not all, what makes this even more special is that my wife enjoys it as much as I do and she hears the improvement in sound quality. She asks me to enjoy music together.

This is something I can't buy with money.
And I continue to dream about upgrades, too!

[lonewolfny42]

But that's not all, what makes this even more special is that my wife enjoys it as much as I do and she hears the improvement in sound quality. She asks me to enjoy music together.

Sounds like you've got a great partner there....

[wilbert-vanbakel]

Personally I'm trying to achieve a sound quality that I have heard over the years as I played out and in studios...

I have been thinking about the definition of audiophile, it probably has more to do with audio quality than with music. So here is a question, and I don't want to sound degrading or offending, I do like to hear your thoughts.

So, when you want to reproduce studio sound in your living room, would that be similar to trying to get a lamborghini experience in your Chevrolet?
To me it would make more sense if my audio system is able to exactly reproduce the sounds that originate from my living room, for example a flute, guitar, my voice, the coffee brewer.

And would it seem reasonable to aim for exact audio quality of a studio, all the famous concert halls in the world and also the sound in stadiums and parks during concerts? All these audio qualities coming from one system? Just like you want coffee, espresso and chocolate all come from one brewer?

I think that my speakers articulate well, and perhaps they do have an accent, but to me it seems that the articulation is where I find joy. Listing to music brings back my memories and emotions of periods in my life. I can see how reproducing studio sound does the same, it brings back the emotions of that time.
And I know for sure that I have options to upgrade my audio system, and just thinking of that brings joy.

What do you think?

[Mag]

For me it's getting my audiophile fix or high.  Like I was playing cds on my old player the other day. I don't get a fix from it anymore. I've been spoiled by the transparent sound of my new cd player and amp synergy.

Without the audio high, I'd rather sleep.

[dflee]

Audiophile?
Audiophool?
Music Lover?
Do you care which system is producing the sound you are enjoying- Audiophile.
Do you buy equipment based on everyone's opinion but your own- Audiophool.
Do you love the music no matter where or what quality- Music Lover.

I believe that in order to maintain one's sanity that there must be a little of each in our lives. Therefore I think that moderation should be implied in all that we do.
I have three different sets of the nine Beethoven symphonies. Some would say that is ridiculous but my wife who comes from a family of musicians understands (she is worse with Mozart). The point here is do you feel comfortable with yourself, your surroundings and your external stimulus? If so does it really matter what others think of you or what you label yourself?

Don

[nonoise]

Today I realized I've spent more on my current audio setup than on my car......

The car takes me to work. Sometimes the audio system takes me to heaven.

Nothing really wrong with that. What I don't get is someone spending more on the audio in their car, than I do on my home set up, just to see how many dbs it can generate at a car show. I know some of these folks and they can't see why I spend what I do on mine. One man's audio is another man's noise.

[wilbert-vanbakel]

I have three different sets of the nine Beethoven symphonies.

THAT is my kind of joy.