dvl
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For me it's about perceived value. Long ago, in a galaxy far away, i bought Cary Monoblocks that retailed for 15k, for 7.5k. Got a great deal and they were very nice amps. Enjoyed them a lot. Now i have a Torii Jr. with anniversary mods, which amounts to about 3k. i got one of the first ones (#9) so got it below what it cost now. i think the Jr. i have now is a better bargain than those monoblocks at half price, so today i would not spend 7.5k for amps like that. If Steve came up with an amp that "blew away" what he's building now and it cost 7.5K, i'd seriously think about it. It would greatly depend on the speakers i had at the time.
Four years ago i bought a ZP3 for 1295. Loved it, thought it was one of the great bargains in high end audio. A few years later, i came across a Herron VTPH-2A that retails for almost 3 times what i paid for ZP3. i didn't pay retail, got a great deal on it so i bought it and sold the ZP3. i paid about double the price of the ZP3, it is a better phono stage. It should be at that cost. The point being i was willing to pay it.
i inherited some money a couple of years ago from my music-loving mother. i gave some to my boys then used the rest on a new turntable. Bought a VPI Aries 3D for 5k. Saw it retailing for 9k, so feel like i got another deal. But it was still 5k and i was willing to pay it!
Speakers are another thing. i've been patiently waiting for my last pair. Have not found them yet. Right now i am still enjoying my Monoliths, which are not the most revealing, but do so many other things well. i think i'd pay 6-8k for a pair that i liked.
David
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