Analysis Plus Oval interconnects – $90 (1m pair).Analysis Plus Black Oval 12 loudspeaker cable – $240 (8-foot pair with banana pins).Pure Music 1.88 for Mac – $130 or JRiver Music Center 17 for Windows – $50.Line Magnetic Audio LMA- 211 IA Integrated Amplifier – $1,650. Red Wine Audio Signature 16 Integrated Amplifier – $2,000.Omega Speaker Systems Super 6XRS Loudspeakers – $2,150.The three systems this week are a diverse cross-section of products that work well together, offer a different tonal perspective, yet deliver tremendous performance for your hard earned money. The point is that we easily rationalize spending all that money on items we know we’re going to have to replace in the short-term, but we get all tight with the check book when someone dares suggest that we invest that much money in a lifestyle product that will last and enrich our home for many years to come. If I didn’t have enough audio equipment right now at home to fill a space cruiser, I would either spend it all on clothing, hockey tickets, or stuff for my wife and kids. The Audiophile System Builder: Powered Loudspeakers and USB DACs Technics musters its mojo again for a $53,000 digital audio system, and we tried it Knowing all that, why do people balk at the idea of spending a similar amount of money – if not more – on a product that will allow them to take full advantage of their music? For some of us, that number is in the $20-30,000 range. We’re willing to wager that the average person has spent more than $5,000 during their lifetime on music alone. Think about it this way: Is there any single item you own more of than music? Unless you have been listening to the same 10 CDs for the past ten years (or are an unabashed pirate), it is likely that you own hundreds if not thousands of albums (CDs, downloads, records) which had to drain a rather sizable portion of your savings. But is there any rational reason to step up and spend double that amount? And when does the law of diminishing returns start to kick in? Don’t get us wrong – $2,500 buys you a lot and it should. In our first two installments of the “Audiophile System Builder” we focused on assembling a desktop audio system for under $1,000, and a more sophisticated system for your den or living room that will set you back $2,500.
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