Biggest bucks = Satifaction? Hmmmmm...


With a self-classification as "rookie", "newbie", or, best yet, "audio ignoramus", I ponder the signifigant satisfaction fellow members have enjoyed (or failed such) with their highest dollar acquisitions.

Before "The Fever" got me, my biggest buy was a $1k Kenwood rack system bought from Circuit City (jeez, I hated that salesman...but it was Circuit City or Sears, can you blame me?) 10 years ago. That system was fine until I heard a MacIntosh at the local high end shop (just by chance - I buy my CDs there). I was blown away, not just by the sound, but by the cost factor as well. I knew I had to start upgrading, so over the past two years I have, in my humble opinion, built a fine beginner system. My highest dollar buy has been a pair of B&W CDM9NTs, and even though I paid full retail for them, they have rewarded my expenditure twenty-fold, delight to the point that they rank very low on my near-future upgrade list.

How about you? What single audio component most severely damaged your pocketbook, and was it worth it?

Cheers, Steve...
zootallures
The most expensive piece I bought for my system, both retail and what I paid for it, is my Jadis JP80 preamp. It has paid for itself many times over in musical enjoyment.
This year I upgraded to all Krell: FPB300, KRC-HR, and a KAV1500 for my H/T. It was very expensive and very satisfying! I replaced all Classe equipment: CA300, CP-60 preamp. It forced me to upgade the other components as well.
Avalon Acoustics....need I say anything more. Anyone who has a pair can say loudly and proudly they are the most expensive component in there system. I am sure there are other's here that will agree(right kelly), though like most have said above worth every penny, it is a damn good thing this stuff is legal or we would be the biggest junkies out there. Cheers, Tim The Tire Guy
tim: you're mostly right. up until two weeks ago, my avalon eidolons in myrtle cluster burl were the most expensive component i owned. then i got the rockport technologies system III serius turntable and tonearm ($73,750 msrp). i haven't played any lp's on it yet. all i can do is stare in wonder at the gorgeous thing and ask myself, over and over, whether it was worth my soul. what'll i do if a system IV is produced? -kelly
What cartridge do you plan to put on the Rockport Kelly, or do you already have one? Did you get the base and the Rowland power supply?