What is your most expensive piece of equipment?

[steveinaz]

RESULTS:

Note: "Receiver" and "Integrated" was split-out 50/50 between amp/preamp. Hopefully nobody buys a receiver for its tuner.

[mulveling]

Haha, it's my CD player by a mile. Definitely a bit excessive for my current needs (laugh if you will ;)), but at least I'll never have to worry about incremental upgrades there. Some day I hope to bring the rest of the system will be up to par. Really I need better power amplification first, then speakers next (though for now I love the Polk LSi's).

My most $$$ gear by retail prices:
1. Meridian G08 CD Player $4400 :eek: (paid a lot less fortunately)
2. Polk LSi 15 $1800
3. Headroom Max headphone amp/2ch speaker preamp $1330
4. AKG K1000 headphones/earspeakers $1200 - At least I can get the most out of my G08 with these!
5. Polk LSi9 $1150

[Gaara]

Definitly my Earthquake Cinenova Grande 5, retail on it is $4499.

Jared

[Spawndn72]

Pioneer RT-707 $700 (1985) paid $100
Adcom GFA-545 $600 (1987) paid $200
Polk Monitor 7's $578 (1989) paid $150
Adcom GTP-400 $400 (1987) paid $90
Dual 704 $320 (1978) paid $120
Pioneer multi-format dvd $150 (2004) paid $150 can't remember model #
Cables $100 (2004) paid $100


I included the year they were made becasue $100 in 1978 was worth a whole lot more than $100 in 2005

[unc2701]

Bryston 9b sst: $4900 msrp
Bryston 4b sst: $3095 msrp

But i got 'em way cheap= $4900 for both... Kinda overkill for the rest of my gear, but a friend of a friend is a dealer and I'd never get a hookup like that again.

What I actually paid for my two channel gear is pretty equal- $300 CDP, $400 Dodd pre, $350 Adcom 555, $500 LSi 9's

[2+2]

Steve, are you crazy!;)
If I kept detailed accounting of how much things cost, it will make me leave the hobby really quickly....:D

[jcaut]

If I kept detailed accounting of how much things cost-- and my wife were to ever find it---, I would be leaving the hobby really quickly.... or maybe just leaving, period....:)

[Skynut]

My speakers , all of them together retail for 7997.65 I paid 3600.00
T.V. cost 3800.00 new with 5 year warr.
Cables 1500.00 I paid 500.00
Receiver 1200.00? I paid 800.00
Power conditioner 1200.00 I paid 750.00
DVD 800.00 I paid 500.00
Amp 380.00 I paid 225.00


All prices are approx. except the speakers whick came from the Polk website.

Damn I paid over $10,000 for over $17,000 worth of equipment and I am still not satisfied.
When do we get to the end of this ride?

[Danny Tse]

Cambridge Audio A500 stereo integrated amp MSRP $450.00 paid $250.00

Energy C-3 speakers MSRP $500.00/pair paid $300.00/pair

Sony DVP-NS775V DVD/SACD/CD player MSRP $149.00 paid $100.00

PS Audio Prelude speaker cables (2M) MSRP $300.00 paid $50.00

[madmax]

My most expensive piece is either my AI preamp or my pair of mono block VTL amplifiers. Both in the 3-4K retail range. The Pioneer plasma or Barco projectors each retailed for three times more but I'm assuming we are talking two channel here.
madmax

[aaharvel]

speakers for me.

adcom 7300 5ch. amp $225 (used)
adcom 5300 2ch. amp $175 (used)
h/k avr235 receiver $350
sony dvd/sacd changer $250
audio technica turntable $100
speakers- $950

polk rti 4 $200
polk csi 3 $150
polk f/x300i $400 (2 pair)
velodyne cht-10 $200

good thread topic.

[PolkWannabie]

By retail cost ?

Speakers - Polk SRT's & FX1000's - $11k - Paid - $3k
Amp(s) - Dual Sunfire CG Sigs - $4k * 2 - Paid - $4k
PreAmp - Sunfire TG IV - $3.6k - Paid $3k (Only component that was bought new)

Other stuff ... less

[danger boy]

all of my stuff is used.. so it's tough to place a price tag on it..

new is easier to figure out then used value i guess

CAL tube DAC new was $1,495 I paid $350 used
SDA SRS's new.. around $2500 - $3000. I paid - very little :p
the rest of my gear is El cheap-o amps, receivers, cables, etc.

[Shizelbs]

My speakers are the most expensive - SDA SRS 2

[organ]

Speakers for me.

[nadams]

My most expensive piece of equip would be my speakers, at $150 (used). Second place goes to my receiver, at $146 (new). Argueably you could name my source as the most expensive, which is my computer. I haven't tallied up all that I've spent on it, because I'm afraid I'd cry if I did.

[Tide]

My wife. ;)

[Skynut]

Originally posted by Tide
My wife. ;)

Allright that is thinking tooo inside the "BOX"
We all must agree. Women are the most high maintenance articles we deal with. (I almost said own, wouldn't that be a whole new discussion?)

[mantis]

Dynaudio Audience 82 ,2800.00

Followed by my Rotel RMB1095 amp , 2000.00

Dan

[George Grand]

An honest to goodness "Mine's bigger than yours" thread!

Well let me just whip this sucker out and plop it down on the table .................................

The speakers, they're priceless.

George Grand (of the Jersey Grands)

[Schris22]

I'm still building my budget theater....so

r15's in a box from outpost/fry's for 50.


Chris

[LuSh]

Museatex Bitstream DAC $1500
Museatex CD-D Transport $1500

(both were fully moddifed by John Wright and can compete with the latest EMM Labs gear when redbook playback is of the importance)

SimAudio i-5080 Intergrated $1750

Polk Audio LSi 9's $1500 CDN

Moray James power cable $500
Harmonic Technology Prosilways mkII $400
Moray James Digital Interconnect $300
Kimber 8TC $300


I'll probably move to Reference 3A MM De Capos speakers down the road, and most likely a tube or hybrid intergrated amp. The digital will stay hence the reason I went with some of the best cables I could find.

[wingnut4772]

My Outlaw 770 Amp B stock ran me about $1700 but if you total all my speakers I guess I paid about $2400 to $2500.

[MSALLA]

So far, I have about 2900.00 total in the new system.(twins on the way, talking low budjet)

Yamaha RX-V650 499 paid 350.00
polk monitor40's 298.00 paid 165.00
polk monitor 30's 198.00 paid 198.00
polk cs-1 199.00 paid 125.00
polk psw 303 359.00 paid 359.00
Boston VR-30 1000.00 (8 years ago) paid 500 (8 years ago) On B channel used for music
samsung DVD 80.00 paid 50.00

Looking for a new DVD. might go with DVD-C750. Can get a deal for 239.00 (list is over 300.00)

[wallstreet]

The media room to hold all of the equipment.:rolleyes:

[W WALDECKER]

symphonic line vibrato cd player $5100+ odyssey extreme monoblocks $2795 paradigm reference studio 100v3$2300 odyssey tempest preamp $1200 assorted cables $800+

[janmike]

Speakers, never got the deals I did on the rest of the equipment.

[BobMcG]

I voted amp.

The SINGLE most expensive piece I own would be on my HT. AMP- Counterpoint Solid-2 @ $3,500. (Bought new)
(Powers my front RT3000p sats.)

OTHERWISE: Left and right channels on my MAIN 2-CH rig. AMPS- Hafler Diablo 9505s @ $4,400. ($2,200 each.) (Bought new)

The main 2-chan rig speaker cables cost more than one Hafler amp though and more than the 2.3s MSRP of $2,200pr come to think of it. AudioQuest 4' double bi-wire Dragons @ $2,500pr. (Bought 2.3s and Dragons used)

Edit to include: Ooops, almost forgot, the new Dodd Audio Mid Level Pre-Amp not yet in my possession RETAILS now for $2,800 will be going on the main 2-chan rig when it arrives and thus will take the top SINGLE piece on my MAIN HS.

[Gaara]

I thought we were talking about one piece of equipment here. If we are talking about groups it would still be amps, but now it would be $5850. $4500 for my cinenova, $850 for my halo a23, and $500 for my buttkicker BKA1000-4.

Jared

[Early B.]

Speakers. Retail they were $2000. I paid $700.

[amulford]

I don't keep track. WTF, it's only money and you ain't taking it with you.

I probably pissed away ten times more over the years on stuff I only thought I was enjoying at the time...:(

[cmy330go]

Wow I'm the only one to vote Turntable?!?! Hmmmm....Makes me wonder if I'm going about this the wrong way.:confused:

Music Hall MMF-7 $1079

[disneyjoe7]

Actual cash laid out, My Paradigm Servo-15 Sub $1590.00.........

That’s by the piece.


:D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D ;)

[madmax]

Originally posted by cmy330go
Wow I'm the only one to vote Turntable?!?! Hmmmm....Makes me wonder if I'm going about this the wrong way.:confused:

Music Hall MMF-7 $1079

Oh Crap! I forgot about the turntable! That is without a doubt my most expensive purchase.

madmax

[wallstreet]

Originally posted by cmy330go
Wow I'm the only one to vote Turntable?!?! Hmmmm....Makes me wonder if I'm going about this the wrong way.:confused:

Music Hall MMF-7 $1079

No argument here. HeHe

[steveinaz]

Closed, see results first thread.

[Skynut]

Being that I am a man, I have a piece of equipment that has cost me more money than anything in my stereo system. :D

[dragon1952]

Yeah...me too. It's called a 'wife and kids' :(

[beardog03]

I`ve spent soo much on gear that last weekend I had to go buy my wife a new car...:rolleyes:

I would now say that the `05 Dodge Magnum in the driveway is now the most exspensive piece I`ve paid for in a while......

[disneyjoe7]

Originally posted by beardog03
I`ve spent soo much on gear that last weekend I had to go buy my wife a new car...:rolleyes:

I would now say that the `05 Dodge Magnum in the driveway is now the most exspensive piece I`ve paid for in a while......


Holy Sh!t :D

[cmy330go]

Oh yea! If we are speaking autos I would have to say that the Mark Levinson system in my new car would rank right up there as my most expensive. OUCH:eek:

[pblanc]

My ears. When those finally blow there is no telling what the replacement cost is going to be.

[Refefer]

1.5 year old thread...

[beardog03]

My Cary SLI-80 F1 SIG is the most expensive single piece at the moment


All together I have about 15-17k in everything..

oh crap...did I say that outloud ?!!

[wingnut4772]

My Anthem Pre is my single most expensive piece but between that and the speakers alone I have about 15k (inc. subs)

I don't even want to begin adding the rest.

[John in MA]

I didn't pay anything for it, but the most valuable audio gear I have is a receiver. The Marantz 2600, worth somewhere in the $3000-3500 range right now. I'm probably going to sell it since I just don't use it any more.

If you're talking original prices, the Marantz was $1600 in 1980. My McIntosh ML-2C speakers were about that for a pair, too.

[Libertyc]

My SDA 1.2tls

[BlueMDPicker]

My music collection. All this other stuff pales by comparison.

[hearingimpared]

Wow I'm the only one to vote Turntable?!?! Hmmmm....Makes me wonder if I'm going about this the wrong way.:confused:

Music Hall MMF-7 $1079

You are not alone, I voted turntable, but not because of the turntable itself, the tonearm an SME Series V has a MSRP of $4,500. I didn't pay that much but I didn't know if MSRP was the gauge or actual cost. If it is actual cost, I paid $1,500 for my Spectral preamp in 1986. That is the same amount I paid for my SRS 1.2 TLs.

[hearingimpared]

My ears. When those finally blow there is no telling what the replacement cost is going to be.

They can't be replaced or repaired atleast not 100% repaired.

[schwarcw]

Amp, Polk 2.3's both cost about the same

[Early B.]

Wow. You guys have deep pockets. I haven't crossed the $1K threshold yet on a single piece of equipment.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Once my current setup is done - itll be about like this...

Speakers > TV > Subs > Preamp > Amp > CDP > DVDP > Cables

[Fireman32]

My TV is the most expensive, Then my speakers.

[Joey_V]

Speakers.

[hearingimpared]

Wow. You guys have deep pockets. I haven't crossed the $1K threshold yet on a single piece of equipment.

How's that OPPO 970 working out for ya? Mine is supposed to arrive by Friday. I'm going to match it with a Timbre TT-1 DAC. I also have a Marigo Signature mat as a stabilizer. If I'm not mistaken I PM'd you my impressions of the Marigo about a month ago. That Marigo is well worth the $200 it costs IMHO.

Joe

PS: Although the SME Series V pickup arm has an MSRP NOW of $4,500 I only paid $1,080 back in the late 80s or early 90s. I still have the cancelled check somewhere.

[Early B.]

How's that OPPO 970 working out for ya?

Great. Love it. Excellent SQ and PQ, regardless of price.

[hearingimpared]

Great. Love it. Excellent SQ and PQ, regardless of price.

Yeah, it got a really good review on page 26 of January's The Absolute Sound by Chris Martens.

[cmy330go]

I didn't realize that the Series V had been around that long.

BTW I figured MSRP as well. I really only spent 850 on the TT. Since then I did spend around 1200 on a tube integrated with an MSRP of 1500. So that is now my most expensive piece of audio gear. If you count HT stuff, my TV would take top billing.

[hearingimpared]

I didn't realize that the Series V had been around that long.


Here is a little tidbit on it.http://www.sme.ltd.uk/html/ivreview.html

[cmy330go]

Here is a little tidbit on it.http://www.sme.ltd.uk/html/ivreview.html

That's funny. I had just finished scanning over that a few minutes ago.:)

[hearingimpared]

That's funny. I had just finished scanning over that a few minutes ago.:)

Isn't it amazing though how it is 20 years old and still one of the best and sought after pickups out there? The current price would knock your eyeballs out of your head.

[snow]

well i have over 20k retail in stereo related items the most expensive is probally the lexicon MC-1 pre pro 6k retail. sda srs 1.tls would be next for speakers 3k or so retail. the best deal for the money was probally JBL-L112s and JBL- L-100 centurys for $65.00 and $75.00 respectively on the other end of the spectrum. REGARDS SNOW

[Kahuna]

Canton Ergo P speakers - $3,500.00 new in 1994 - $476.00 delivered (Ebay)
Carver C-19 Hybred tube pre-amp - $1,850 new in 1995 - $329.00 delivered (Audio forum)
Carver C-16 solid state pre-amp - ??? $ new in 199 - $320.00 delivered (Off the web)

Now here's were it gets interesting!

2 - Carver M-4.0T amps, 1 - Carver PM-120 amp, 1 - Carver TMF-15 amp, 1 - Carver CT-17 pre-amp/tuner, 1 - Carver AVR100 receiver, 1 - Arcam DV-88 DVD player, and A few additional miscellaneous pieces...

A VERY wealthy friend of mine decided it was time to re-vamp his home theater system, and gave it all away to me!!!

(I honestly offered to purchase some of this gear, but he only laughed...)

[Strong Bad]

My Anthem Pre is my single most expensive piece but between that and the speakers alone I have about 15k (inc. subs)

I don't even want to begin adding the rest.


A woman that spends $15k in home audio...i'm so turned on right now! I want you Wingy! ;)

For me, it's the SDA SRS 2.3's at $1000. My Yammy receiver I picked up new several years back rings in at #2, but hopefully that #2 spot will be taken over in the near future by an SVS sub.

John

[dipiazza]

Dealzzz

Onix Strata Mini PR Finish MSRP $2400
Onix SP3 Tube Integrated MSRP $1000

Total Paid for both new --> $2400

Yeeehaaawww!

[seo]

My music collection. All this other stuff pales by comparison.

Same here. If you add up what I've spent over the years on LP's and then CD's, it dwarfs my largest single purchase on gear ( $900 for SDA-CRS in 1986)

[PolkWannabie]

That's probably true for most of us but it doesn't answer the question ...

In that regard however, I have a friend who is a collector of primarily vinyl and while he has 7-10k CD's he also has 20k+ albums and close to 100k 45's ... As you could well imagine several rooms in house are floor to ceiling storage racks ...