How Do You Achieve Ultra Hi End HT Gear?

Sherardp

Since having a new dedicated HT built I've been doing many demos. This projector, that one, this speaker, that speaker, etc. In the process I've come to see that some of this stuff is extremely expensive. Obviously is money wasnt an issue all of us would have top notch systems, however "finances" I should say does become object for most. Lately I have been really thinking about B&W 802Ds, or either Wilson Audio Maxx2. Both of these speakers cost some serious coin, 802s in Japan are roughly 7 grand each, and Wilsons are 30k easy. I guess my question is, how do consumers who own these products do it? I can see paying cash for the B&Ws rather easily, however 30k cash for Wilsons? How is this done, bank loans ? credit cards? deals with the distributors etc? payment plans?. How would you go about purchasing these products? And are they really worth it?

Im not trying to offend anyone here who owns these rather expensive toys, Im just wondering how you got to that point so I may some day attempt to myself.

dragon1952

I doubt if you'll find many people here that own $30K speakers (or $15K for that matter). Obviously people who have that type of gear either have really good jobs (see doctor, lawyer), save for years, inherited a bunch of money, buy used and/or are hopelessly in debt or some combination thereof. It would help not to have kids, for sure...or a wife who likes to spend money but doesn't contribute financially :rolleyes: Marry a rich girl? I would not recommend credit at all! You can build an extremely nice system for under $5K. I'd recommend investing your money for the future and be happy with a system that shows a modicum of restraint and sense

m00npie

I often wander how people have half the stuff they do in Long Island without jumping to conclusions on whether it's legal or not. I’m not sure if it’s the majority of people but I bet a very good % of them that buy 30k speakers or more have, or their parents have, income levels that make 30k irrelevant. In other words, 30k to us may be like 3k or even 300 dollars to them.

I can almost hear someone from Hampton’s saying, Dad, I want a Home Theater and the local audio boutique shop quoted me $140k installed. Reply, “That’s a lot of money son or daughter, but just tell them who you are and I’ll pay them cash later” No disrespect to any members that may live in the Hampton’s. I have had a few run-ins with some of the snobby younger residents to know that I am right to some degree. Of course, more of them want 100K cars than they do a 140K HT.

So if you don't rely on rich parents or you don't make millions per year, how do you buy this stuff? All of the ways you mentioned could be done. For me, I would somehow try to convince Uncle Sam and my accountant that I needed 30K speakers for my office and they are 100% for business use.

reeltrouble1

Nothing wrong with 30 K for some speaks, they make them for much more than that. Nobody blinks an eye for folks who buy cars for that amount and finance them, it what you place your value on.

I don't know about dropping 30K for HT speaks though.

RT1

TennesseeOutlaw

Quite simply, a lot of effin' cash..

Shizelbs

Some people out there have a whole ton of money.

madmax

Next time you buy some gear use cash, its an eye opener! To actually see a bundle of cash in your hands is different than transferring from an account or putting on paypal or a credit card. It can give you a pretty sick feeling in your stomach...
madmax

Yashu

Is there financing for $40k speakers? or $20k mono blocks or $10k DACs and so on?

Maybe you shouldn't answer that one, hehe... could be dangerous.

madmax

Same financing as anything else.

Are you willing to give your home as collateral on a $40K speaker loan?

Actually, if you can't put on your credit card or cannot write a good check for that amount then you probably should be buying something else.
madmax

Yashu

I was mostly kidding... but I have financed furnature with great success, but not much else... never ocurred to me that I could finance audio gear... the kind you can't get at frys or BB.

I have always bought with cash or check, and look to used for the best value. I think buying used is the best bet. Yesterday's best gear still beats much of today's gear... if you are into a certain "sound", yesterday's best DOES beat today's gear.

Buying without using credit helps you stay grounded.

So yeah... 80% of The Absolute Sound and 50% of Stereophile are probably aimed at quite well-to-do individuals. Halcro mono blocks and Sonus Faber Stradivari with TOTL Ayre players... or vinyl players so elaborate and delicate they take an engineering degree to calibrate...

Anyway... Out of all the super high end gear, the Sonus Faber Stradivari would be my ultimate desire, have no idea what I would power them with though... it sure would make for a strange system to be using my PC as the source!

del44

Hmmm, Interesting. Well now that you mentioned it, I just received an inheiritance. No really. Before I knew how much I was getting, I made a deal with my wife. She gets 20% to put into the kitchen (logical choice)and I get 20% for the audio gear of my choice. I got the check yesterday.:eek: Now she's giving me a hard time about how much I might end up spending. I've been cruising audiogon for awhile, but I still find it hard to pull the trigger on an audio purchase. Since we're not wealthy, spending a large chunk of cash on a purchase of this type doesn't seem like a smart move. What do you think? Save it for a rainy day or F-it get and something I've been dreaming about. It would be high end for me. Just thought I'd throw this out there.

Monster Jam

"What do you think?"

Well, I'm going to throw in my blind 2 cents.

There's no shortage of people on the Polk Audio message board who live way beyond their means, spending money frivolously in search of the ultimate high-fi system. So, my response is based on the assumption that your financial situation is just like mine, minus the fact that you've just inherited some money.

I don't know how much 20% is (and its not a critical value anyhow), but if its relative to remodeling a kitchen, then it could be a lot. I saw your system: its nice - real nice. Is your home payed off? How about your high interest rate credit cards or your car loans? Do yourself a favor and put that money to work for your future. Maybe even invest it - Roth IRA, mutual funds, or stock...

The remodeled kitchen? Two factors to consider: a) your wife is happy, and so are you and b) some of that money will roll into the overall value of your home.

I fight the urge everyday. Its like Im an electronics junkie. I take everyday one at a time.

I don't mean to stand on my moral soap-box, but you did ask!

Early B.

del44 wrote: »

Hmmm, Interesting. Well now that you mentioned it, I just received an inheiritance. No really. Before I knew how much I was getting, I made a deal with my wife. She gets 20% to put into the kitchen (logical choice)and I get 20% for the audio gear of my choice. I got the check yesterday.:eek: Now she's giving me a hard time about how much I might end up spending. I've been cruising audiogon for awhile, but I still find it hard to pull the trigger on an audio purchase. Since we're not wealthy, spending a large chunk of cash on a purchase of this type doesn't seem like a smart move. What do you think? Save it for a rainy day or F-it get and something I've been dreaming about. It would be high end for me. Just thought I'd throw this out there.

All I can tell ya is -- do lots of homework. And don't shop on the basis of price. Most equipment reviews say exactly the same thing -- "this component is just as good as those costing lots more, yada, yada..."

In fact, there are $500 preamps out there that many people will swear sound better than $5,000 ones. So if you've got some money to burn on audio equipment, spend it wisely. Since Polkies live vicariously, we'll be glad to help you with recommendations.

MikeC78

del44 wrote: »

Hmmm, Interesting. Well now that you mentioned it, I just received an inheiritance. No really. Before I knew how much I was getting, I made a deal with my wife. She gets 20% to put into the kitchen (logical choice)and I get 20% for the audio gear of my choice. I got the check yesterday.:eek: Now she's giving me a hard time about how much I might end up spending. I've been cruising audiogon for awhile, but I still find it hard to pull the trigger on an audio purchase. Since we're not wealthy, spending a large chunk of cash on a purchase of this type doesn't seem like a smart move. What do you think? Save it for a rainy day or F-it get and something I've been dreaming about. It would be high end for me. Just thought I'd throw this out there.

I could use a new SUV, seriously.:)

IMO, invest it, pay off debt if you have any! Don't foolishly flush it down the toilet.

Sherardp

I agree with you guys, I would say pay off debt, theres no better feeling than being debt free. Since I came out here to Japan I have been fortunate to pay off every single bill minus those you have to deal, phone bill, cell phone, small things like that. I guess I should save more cash to get those B&Ws, this has been a very interesting topic to say the least. I guess I will just keep dreaming about those Wilsons as well. Save for a rainy day, when it rains it usually pours

del44

First off, sorry to hijack your thread Sherardp. The $ I plan on putting away will be enough to pay off all my bills if need be. This includes my house mortgage(which isn't all that much). Actually, I'm going to try and keep the cost to around 15k to 20k. This will include a 2 channel pre amp and a 2 channel power amp, Some good front speakers, and a cd player. And some ic's and speaker wire. I am going to start a thread about which componets people recomend.

madmax

Go slowly is my advice. Remember, the fun of high end audio is going piece by piece to see what you gain and loose at each step. It is a long process. Funny this came up as a friend (also an audiophile) and I were talking about this yesterday. My comment to him was that had I bought the ultimate set of components at the start I would have found it very lacking due to a lack of listening skills. Another point is you are only happy with what you have for some period of time because no matter how good it is you get used to it and want to try for something better. If it were me I'd pick out a component to try and put the rest away earmarked for future audio purchases. (since debts and such are already taken care of).
madmax

janmike

I have a separate account strictly for audio. I buy gear the old fashion way - I save my pennies and pay cash and nothing but cash. Baby steps over a period of time will get you where you want to go and what you want.

Yashu

Buying slow is a good idea. When the train moves too fast I begin to regret selling off certain things or buying certain things... going slow gives me the chance to really enjoy the stuff that I lusted after for so long...

I don't know... I think we need to fight the "grass is always greener" urge as hard as we can... it will only drive us crazy. Also it is no suprise that a few cheap tweaks can take the edge off certain equipment, and other stuff, when given time, can really grow on you.

reeltrouble1

[QUOTE=Monster Jam;636191

There's no shortage of people on the Polk Audio message board who live way beyond their means, spending money frivolously in search of the ultimate high-fi system. [/QUOTE]

Wow:eek:

Willow

Simple.... to me the answer is Time and patience.

Set a goal if your speaks cost 10K start saving and be patient, in due time. I would never get a loan or CC to buy 5K+ speakers. You'll still be paying them off when you decide you want to upgrade.
Consider your personal situation and then buy the best you can afford. Who cares what your neighbour has, you're not sitting in his living room everyday.

del44

I was talking to my wife's cousin the other day. He was telling me that he would never spend more than about $300 for a stereo or HT system. He was telling me this as he was installing his 3rd (the other 2 blew up)$3000 motor into his badass sandrail. Hmmm. go figure.

reeltrouble1

Life is short, it is not a dress rehearsal, enjoy.

RT1

SolidSqual

Find a guy with mounds of audio experience who preferably owns his own high end store. Become great friends with him and have him take you under his wing. With this guys help learn what good sound is and most importantly how to make a $5000 system sound like a $15,000 system. I"m learning and I like it.

read-alot

Doesn't Sid's dad have some 75 grand J&M Lab Utopias. Maybe you can ask him.

W WALDECKER

janmike wrote: »

I have a separate account strictly for audio. I buy gear the old fashion way - I save my pennies and pay cash and nothing but cash. Baby steps over a period of time will get you where you want to go and what you want.

I always pay with Cash too. i dont buy anything on credit

VR3

read-alot wrote: »

Doesn't Sid's dad have some 75 grand J&M Lab Utopias. Maybe you can ask him.

Grande Utopia is actually 90,000 ish thousand, 98,000 I believe.

Granted he paid a 3rd of that - and how he obtained them, is beyond me. So - would have to ask him yourself. LOL

I definitely havnt seen any of that $$$.

High end audio is over-rated. I'd take my Tylers anyday over the Grande Utopia.

engtaz

have Sid adopt you. LOL