How much do you have to spend?

@dayglow 

The answer is akin to a Supreme Court justice’s comment on pornography. I know it when I hear it. 

Due to time, I had to do the Florida show in 3.5 hours.  So I had to move fairly quick and really only had time in each room for first impressions.  I started at the 100K rooms and worked my way down with a 350K room worked in the middle.  The drop off from $100k to $30k rooms was substantial.  Similarly, a noticeable difference between 30K and 10K.  I did not hear a large enough difference from 100K up to 350K to justify the price.  So I would say 100K.  There were alot of Active speakers on display which save on cables, etc.  Take those out and speakers were 50% of the cost.  Streamer 15 to 20 %.  Amplification/preamp 30 to 35%.

Those were all msrp prices so, yes, used would be 50 to 60K.  

$30k to $100k is a big spread.  My system falls between the two. 

That's what I said in the beginning - $100k new, and then $30k minimum standard.

You can get a reasonably good sound for less, especially for smaller rooms and if you don't listen to large scale music, but we are talking audiophile standards not simply good sound. Actually, that's what I have - good sound but below my own minimum audiophile standards. It was probably $15k new but I am not sure, I bought almost everything used.