How much does it cost to be an audiophile?

[Nordkapp]

I found this article today and had a good time reading it. Just thought I'd share it. Thoughts? Sadly, i can relate.

https://priceonomics.com/speakers/

[Nordkapp]

What would be considered in today's monies to gain entry into audiophiledom? Do you need amps with giant transformers? Is vinyl a must? Is SS finally accepted as audiophile?

[PeterSt]

If you can make everything yourself, it is quite OK. ☺️

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

[Ralf11]

Hell, I'll print ya up a card for $39.99

[fas42]

It can be super cheap, if you have DIY skills as PeterSt alluded to - get throwaways, or real low cost second hand stuff of reasonable quality - and fix 'em!! The finished item may not have the ultimate qualities that some audiophiles lust after, like monster bass; but it could be evolved to deliver totally satisfying reproduction of all your recordings - not a bad ROI ... .

[GUTB]

The article had a pretty good representation of an audiophile-grade entry system ($7,500). The $45k McIntosh system seemed it would be very nice.

 

I used to think the average experienced audiophile has a system around $15-20k, but after that retail price poll, it seems that my guess is probably on the low end.

 

Another thing, audiophiles like spending big dollars I bet as much as I like visiting the dentist -- I'll do it only as a last resort.

 

There's a lot of non-audiophiles here who are more into class warfare than audio quality, who I don't mind personally but I feel obligated to improve the SNR of the discussion.

 

[NOMBEDES]

PS Audio has some good, entry level equipment for good prices.  Andrew Jones and ELAC have some very affordable speakers. But it is so room dependent, I would guess in a smaller room $5K would sound great.  DYI and gently used equipment are your friend.

[NOMBEDES]

And you gotta love this quote from the last paragraph of the article cited by OP:

 

"The march of technological progress has many casualties, and sound quality may just be one of them. The product desires of audiophiles are so idiosyncratic and contrary to popular tastes; they have an uphill battle to protect sound quality against faster, cheaper and more social access to music."

 

True that supra.........
 

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

A lotta time, a lotta effort, and a lotta money. If you don't have the first two its going to cost you more money.

[PleasantSounds]

2 hours ago, Nordkapp said:

What would be considered in today's monies to gain entry into audiophiledom? Do you need amps with giant transformers? Is vinyl a must? Is SS finally accepted as audiophile?

 

Audiophiledom is a state of mind, not the amount of gear you have collected.

If you appreciate high quality sound reproduction and are keen to pursue it, you're there. It's a journey, not a destination.

 

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

24 minutes ago, PleasantSounds said:

 

Audiophiledom is a state of mind, not the amount of gear you have collected.

If you appreciate high quality sound reproduction and are keen to pursue it, you're there. It's a journey, not a destination.

 

 

On any journey, flying first class costs money (so I am told).

My only "experience" was when my wife volunteered my 'services' to attend to a passenger on a flight. As a show of appreciation the stewards placed my wife in first class and gave her free champagne. How is that fair??

[PleasantSounds]

13 minutes ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

On any journey, flying first class costs money (so I am told).

My only "experience" was when my wife volunteered my 'services' to attend to a passenger on a flight. As a show of appreciation the stewards placed my wife in first class and gave her free champagne. How is that fair??

 

The question is not how is that fair but how is that relevant?

 

[GUTB]

Having flown first class many times I can tell you that it’s a ripoff — you get very little for a lot of money.

 

1. Priority security lane. I also get this as a points member with a credit card.

2. First to board. Who cares. I get middle priority with credit card membership anyway.

3. Pre take-off drink. Who cares.

4. Larger seat. The main reason for first class. Buying two coach seats often costs less and gets you even more room.

5. De-plane quickly. Okay that’s a big plus for a frequent flier, but still not worth the cost.

 

First class international wide body accommodations are very nice and it’s the best way to fly overseas, but the price is completely absurd, you can often get 2 coach seats for less than half the price.

[AnotherSpin]

1 hour ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

On any journey, flying first class costs money (so I am told).

My only "experience" was when my wife volunteered my 'services' to attend to a passenger on a flight. As a show of appreciation the stewards placed my wife in first class and gave her free champagne. How is that fair??

 

Last time my wife and me get free upgrade to first class on a flight from India to Emirates, Dubai airport was closed, we spent 14 hours waiting in Oman, missed our connection, and arrived to another airport instead of home airport.

[semente]

4 hours ago, Nordkapp said:

What would be considered in today's monies to gain entry into audiophiledom? Do you need amps with giant transformers? Is vinyl a must? Is SS finally accepted as audiophile?

 

Buying used can save you a lot of money, knowing what to buy can be the problem.

 

But in my view what makes the practice of audiophilia expensive is the permanent dissatisfaction, the restlessness, the craving for new gear. Ignorance and gullibility are the cherry on the top...

 

Ignore reviews (and GUTB ?), learn how to properly evaluate sound, learn how to interpret measurements, learn a few tech basics. And buy used.

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

1 hour ago, GUTB said:

Having flown first class many times I can tell you that it’s a ripoff — you get very little for a lot of money.

 

1. Priority security lane. I also get this as a points member with a credit card.

2. First to board. Who cares. I get middle priority with credit card membership anyway.

3. Pre take-off drink. Who cares.

4. Larger seat. The main reason for first class. Buying two coach seats often costs less and gets you even more room.

5. De-plane quickly. Okay that’s a big plus for a frequent flier, but still not worth the cost.

 

First class international wide body accommodations are very nice and it’s the best way to fly overseas, but the price is completely absurd, you can often get 2 coach seats for less than half the price.

 

53 minutes ago, AnotherSpin said:

 

Last time my wife and me get free upgrade to first class on a flight from India to Emirates, Dubai airport was closed, we spent 14 hours waiting in Oman, missed our connection, and arrived to another airport instead of home airport.

 

Yep, Just like in audio, you don't always get what you pay for.

[Audiophile Neuroscience]

1 hour ago, PleasantSounds said:

 

The question is not how is that fair but how is that relevant?

 

 

You pay for your journey one way or another.

[Musicophile]

While I agree that first class plane travel is overrated, to get back to the original question:

 

Not a lot actually. I’m still impressed how much my semi-mobile combo of a Dragonfly Red with a Bayer T90 delivers. Sure my HD800 is better in absolute terms but I bought the above set at the end of the T90 life cycle for around $600!

 

Take any kind of Shiit, Mojo, IFI gear and I’m pretty sure you’d be equally impressed.

 

Sure, speakers for simple physical reasons are more complex, but I still remember my first set of Mission Cyrus 780 speakers that were actually really quite decent at the time and well below $1000. 

 

Obviously you can spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on stuff (I’m guilty as well just buying a new cable for my HD800 for $300+) but you really don’t need to if you just want to enjoy good sound. 

[Richard Dale]

1 hour ago, Musicophile said:

While I agree that first class plane travel is overrated, to get back to the original question:

 

Not a lot actually. I’m still impressed how much my semi-mobile combo of a Dragonfly Red with a Bayer T90 delivers. Sure my HD800 is better in absolute terms but I bought the above set at the end of the T90 life cycle for around $600!

 

Take any kind of Shiit, Mojo, IFI gear and I’m pretty sure you’d be equally impressed.

 

Sure, speakers for simple physical reasons are more complex, but I still remember my first set of Mission Cyrus 780 speakers that were actually really quite decent at the time and well below $1000. 

 

Obviously you can spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on stuff (I’m guilty as well just buying a new cable for my HD800 for $300+) but you really don’t need to if you just want to enjoy good sound. 

I agree that maybe if I was a poor student looking for an entry level system, a headphone based system would be the best place to start like your Dragonfly/Beyer combo.

 

I've just got an APPJ PA1502A tube headphone amplifier to use my with Audeze LCD-3s, which cost a grand total of 188 euros including shipping (with some upgraded tubes it sounds amazing with the Audezes). I haven't listened to the stock tubes, but I'm sure they are good enough to get started with.

 

While I was looking a tube headphone amplifier reviews I found the AKG K701s are going really cheap at the moment and I've ordered a pair for 117 euros including shipping. They need a good amp, but I am hoping the APPJ amp will be a nice match, and maybe they'll be more comfortable than LCD-3s.

 

You can use something like your Dragonfly Black or a Red, or an iFi Nano LE for around 100-180 euros as a DAC. Finally a pair of KZ ATE iems, which I got for15 euros, and sound great for portable use.

 

The total cost is about 500 euros, and after a bit of tube rolling, tweaking RCA leads, replacing feet and suchlike it could really sound quite 'High End' - I really think you could get more than a taste of what much more expensive equipment sounds like.

[mav52]

How much to spend, well as much as you want to spend to bring musical happiness to you and to you alone. 

 

People that brag about the price of their gear are nothing more than,  snobs.

[Rexp]

As others have said there is no minimum system cost associated with being an Audiophile, however if you want hi-end sound, amplifiers start around $10,000.

[PeterSt]

1 minute ago, Rexp said:

if you want hi-end sound, amplifiers start around $10,000.

 

Why ?

[semente]

2 minutes ago, Rexp said:

As others have said there is no minimum system cost associated with being an Audiophile, however if you want hi-end sound, amplifiers start around $10,000.

 

Really. Are you sure it's not at $8,999.99?

[pkane2001]

Just now, semente said:

 

Really. Are you sure it's not at $8,999.99?

 

Better ask GUTB. Just to be sure.