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Anyone want to reveal what they spend on audio, including music in a year.
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Where mine is rather more random. Between the plywood, tools, parts, and occasional electronicky bit, I probably drop 3k a year or so, plus a lot of man hours. Of course, I write, so I get paid for that, which offsets my costs significantly.
Bass is supposed to sound big. 6.5" is not a woofer size.
My Lord, I've spent $5300 this year! I did not realize it! I've got to get a grip... Good Lord! My SQ hasn't even improved...
.
In 1990 I spent more on a pair of speakers than I'd spent on an entire system previously. But then I kept them for 19 years. Without factoring in what I then sold them for I spent far less than $1/day for all the enjoyment they provided.
For me, one new (to me) component often results in changing at least one other item, i.e. new speakers lead to a new amp. But then I may keep them for some time if they please me.
My history simply does not lend itself to this type of calculation or budgeting.
"For a nominal service fee,
you can reach nirvana tonight."
I burned through my expensive-audio phase: In my 20s-30s, I owned gear by Mark Levinson, Audio Research, Conrad Johnson, Naim, Linn, Rega etc etc etc. Then I got deeply into tubes and in particular, single-ended triodes.
But more recently I became intrigued by the works of the more objective school of audio: S. Linkwitz, "NWAVGuy" et al. Not only am I finding the Linkwitz Pluto speakers and O2 headphone amplifier hugely enjoyable to listen to, they're also reasonably priced: I think I completed a pair of Plutos for under $900, and a pair of O2s for well under $100. And if I didn't have DIY skills, Leckerton Audio has a terrific-looking sub-$300 headphone amp + DAC. That's less than I used to pay for a set of decent 300B tubes.
I mostly obtain music as DRM-free FLAC files from the likes of eClassical.com and HDTracks.com. No "scarcity mentality" here: These stores are always open and do not run out of stock.
So strangely enough, money has become kind of a non-issue for me, because the cost of admission to superb audio has fallen by orders of magnitude.
.
“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"
― Charles Bukowski
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Do I have to spell it out?
C----H----E----E----S----E
A---N---D
O---N---I---O---N---S
Oh no.....
...is zero on hardware and a few hundred on records.
But, if piece of gear that interests me comes along at a price that can't be passed up, I usually jump.
Dean.
reelsmith's axiom: Its going to be used equipment when I sell it, so it may as well be used equipment when I buy it.
WOW it looks like I'm not in the middle ground in this survey. After checking my receipts for the past year, I found I had purchased A Levinson amp ( new ) an ARC DAC8 ( new ) a pair of M.I.T. Oracle speaker cables ( demo ), a Shunyada Digital link, and about 20 CD's and 2 LP's.
I no I'll get a good scolding from a few for saying this, but many folks seem to be more interested in saving money than building a better system.
1% talk!
I don't think I've spent anything on equipment this year, but the years not over yet and I am considering a new RCM, but I think I've sold enough to stuff to cover the price. My big expense has been new vinyl, probably about two hundred a month. The other big expense will be the upcoming expense to RMAF, but well worth it if you can afford it.
Beatnik's stuff http://web.me.com/jnr1/Site/Beatniks_Pictures.html
Equipment always varies and how much I spend depends on how much I get for what I sell as i tend to think of that as a net number. This year will be heavy for equipment spending around $2k I think. Bottlehead says they are coming out with an expensive preamp and I imagine I will have to buy it. I built a new amp and am rebuilding some Model 19s but given what I have sold and will sell, $2K sounds about right.
Edits: 07/28/12
I bought a pair of one owner used Yamaha NS 1000 speakers to check out. 700 bucks.
I will spend about 3-4 grand to attend the CES/THE Show.
Music: Slow year....maybe 25 vinyls and 40 CD's so far.
...what did you think of the NS-1000s?
If I get my chores done, maybe today!
They are dense mo fo's is all I have to say, so far.
The original owner went home theater and an audio buddy turned me on to them to consider for Las Vegas. They were sitting on the floor hooked up to a home theater receiver and "they are relatively heavy for their size and all the drivers worked" is my initial impression!
this past year with the addition of a 401,plinth,tonearm,cartridge and preamp with MM and MC phono stages.I hope I'm done for awhile but the system is very likely the best one I've ever had by a good margin.
As one who has enjoyed your CES hospitality more than once, a big THANK YOU! It's always a treat and a welcome respite from the craziness of the show.
I will spend about 3-4 grand to attend the CES/THE Show.
Regards,
Geoff
?
“Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead"
― Charles Bukowski
This would have to include transportation, entry fee, and food.
Plus close enough to not stay overnight somewhere....
So the likelyhood of my ever attending one is truly zero
Edits: 07/28/12
I would say so.
I live in the Bay Area so the California Audio Show is a cheap deal for me. 2-day ticket on line is about $20 and I use one of my Avis free weekend rentals, so just pay for petrol - around $15. I don't eat at a Show.
It would be hard for costs to be any lower. It's a great show.
Regards,
Geoff
There is a show in Newport Beach in June. I will pay for you to get in.
;D
Yes, and a lot of really good wine and spirits are consumed :-)
Brian Walsh
Central Fest is on Saturday, August 25th, and you're invited!
$3-4k for CES? Are you exhibiting? The price surprised me, since I thought you were from Vegas. Congrats on moving to NoCal
Now, every day feels like a vacation!
Yeah, a friend and I exhibit, but just for kicks.
Do you ever go?
NFS "not for sale" AudioIf so I had a great time "after hours" last year when I went to CES/T.H.E. Show 2011. Great music and libations.
"Happy Listening,
Teresa."
Edits: 07/28/12 07/28/12
/
Regards,
Geoff
I've been a number of times. I've enjoyed it and sometimes even heard some really nice sound.
The Beatles Love show is wonderful.
Bought a new house last year so I to restock the HT gear, not counting TVs, I spent about $6k on speakers and subs (1 used sub for a steal price), $1,500 on receivers, and $500 on BR player. Put in new 2 channel speakers and int amp, about $5,500. No major expenditures planned for 2012 other than new music ($300-$500 is about what I spend/yr on new) and no budget for used, just spend whatever is called for when I stumble onto good used vinyl and CDs, average is maybe $300yr used.
--------------------------
Do I have to spell it out?
C----H----E----E----S----E
A---N---D
O---N---I---O---N---S
Oh no.....
It would be hard to say given that my "plan" for audio has an actual total spend number calculated across a time horizon.
That worked for plan years 1-3 however this is now plan year five, so as you can imagine there is some variance.
Probably $20-25K USD all up but there is an exception clause built in.
So annually, about $4K.
almost enough.
If not it's made up for the following year.
Most of it spent on software.
"One this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" - Michael McClure
It has been a pretty bad year finacially for me so I have kept it to a bare minimum compared with some years. I only bought a yard sale turntable which is a 70's better mid fi piece for $20 including a decent cartridge. I bought some tubes they prolly set me back a couple of hundred all totaled. I just can't seem to resist a bargain on tubes like triple mica blackplate Sylvania 5751s at $30 a pop so I bought a quad. Do I need them- Absolutely not I already have quite a few. Same thing with certain 6SN7s when I see them at a great price I buy them, lord knows why, since I have a ton of them just collecting dust.
My music expenditures are low since I buy records and CDs mostly at thrift shops and tag sales. Total with some retail buys maybe $300, I really don't know.
The year before cost me a bit because I had to buy a temporary rig after my wife sent me gearless into exile. I will get my stuff back thank goodness, that part has already been decided!
Steve
I had to buy a new computer monitor since mine died, got a great deal on a widescreen model at WalMart for $100.I bought three DVDs from Dollar Tree, total $3.
My six year old Mac Mini quit reading DVD-R's, it still reads CD-R's. So when I get money this is the first thing I will fix.
I pray nothing else breaks.
"Happy Listening,
Teresa."
Edits: 07/28/12 07/28/12
So, can I guess that you're not an audio or music reviewer?What *do* you review?
Edits: 07/30/12
I have reviewed the Bryston BDA-1 DAC
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue49/bryston.htm
If I had liked it enough to buy it, I couldn't even afford the Industrial Accommodation Price. After I became disabled and unable to do regular work, it has been hard. I have food stamps, free medical and a friend of mine paid up my rent until the end of the year. I'm still waiting for my SSI disability to be approved.
In the past I have reviewed a tubed integrated amp, the Terra Firma Lite Clock mod and other hardware. I'm not really into hardware reviewing as it's a lot of work putting stuff in and out of my system and some stuff is really heavy. Plus one has the first two weeks in which it doesn't sound so great waiting for it to break-in.
Also this year I got 6 SACDs and 4 24/96 DVDs free as a reviewer and all were reviewed. If not for those I would have had no new recordings this year. I also write thought pieces.
This month I have:
Why I'm a Subjectivist
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue62/subjectivist.htm
America's High Resolution DVD
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue61/beaudry.htm
Dvorak's Slavonic Dances on SACD
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue62/dvorak.htm
Audio writers with good systems have really good "real" jobs since Audio writing pays very little, indeed it is more of a hobby. One gets to try new equipment, recordings, etc. I figured out that in my case audio writing pays about $1 per hour. It's no big deal since I enjoy hearing and reviewing good music and I would even if I was not a paid reviewer. But one cannot make a living at audio reviewing, except maybe for Mikey Fremer who has a popular website and paying speaking engagements.
"Happy Listening,
Teresa."
Goodwills, local used vinyl stores, the occasional used vinyl purchase over the net, and a few choice re-issues here and there.
Last month, about $350 on hardware (not all for me), plus $6 for two records. In the past year or two, have been spending next to nothing.
-reub
You said budget, and then you ask how much we spend. Two entirely different things!
In the past year and a half, I have spent around 15K on equipment, mostly used. But, don't tell my wife!
I throw my windows open wide and call to you across the sky.
In the last year I spent 10k on gear and another 1000.00 on records.
Lets' just say that, during the last few years, I've sold more gear than I've bought.
"He was one of those men who live in poverty so that their lines of questioning may continue." - John Steinbeck
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