What is the current retail cost of your reference system?

I too thought the percentages were interesting, and I do keep a spreadsheet although I gave up on calculating losses selling gear. I bought everything I have now new.

I dont like sharing how much I paid for anything, but I've listed all components in my profile.

Integrated Amp 15%

TT 15%

CART 12%

Phono stage 9%

Speakers 31%

Streamer/DAC 7%

Cables 6% (This would be much higher if I didn't switch mostly to Zavfino, sold the more expensive Nordost cables)

Isolation 5%   

Three observations:

1. For costing out a system, MSRP is an irrelevant number.  I am encouraged by how many people have bought used or at a model closeout, as I did in assembling my systems.

2. No matter whether the system is 4 or 6 digits of expense, part of the fun is seeing how far your budget can take you.

3. (irrelevant) Some years back some economists studied the transaction prices of cameras on eBay.  Looking at the unconditional distribution of prices (that is, ignoring which camera it was, etc.) they saw that it had two peaks: One around $200 and another around $800.  Of course different people have different needs, and there is a distribution of budgets out there, but nonetheless, why a bimodal distribution.  Further research uncovered that the piling up at $200 came about because that is what men thought they could get away with without disclosing price to their wives.  The question I wished the OP had also asked is, "How many of you are candid with your spouse about how much you spend?"

I can't believe how many supposed grown men are whining about what other adults spent on their gear. "Insensitive"??? Why does that even appear here? My main rig has under $10k invested and if someone spent a million plus, good for them. It doesn't bother me in the least. Why should it? If you're unhappy with your lot in life, do something about your life. Tearing down someone else' life won't fix it. 

Besides the below listed I have spare amps and speakers that are waiting for attention of one sort or another totaling approx. $2000-$2500. These are retail prices when new, not what I paid for most of it. For example, I got the Marantz PM-KI Pearl for half price, used, and a $600 pair of Kimber 8TC speaker cables for $100, also used. DIY speaker prices are parts cost, not including paint, time, etc..

  In the end, prices are irrelevant. I thoroughly enjoy listening to music and my gear makes it happen. I get to share that love of music with my child, as well as our shared appreciation for the equipment. We also spent time together building speakers and a father/daughter relationship. It's not about what brings us the music, it's about what the music brings us.

Integrated amp-$3699

Speakers-$1600

CD/SACD-$1150

DAC-$100

Cables-$650

Second rig (bedroom) 

Integrated amp-$250

Cables-$80

My daughter's stereo

Integrated amp-$500

CD-$400

Cables-$660 retail ($160 used)

Speakers-$229 DIY/$400 DIY

@alaric62 

+1

If I even think it too loud, my wife will hear it.