Been into Audio ( Off & On ) for 45 years, since the second year of college.
Probably $5K over the years, hardware bought & sold. Way more than my frugal nature is comfortable with, a rounding error for others.
Still, I’m very happy with where I’m at. Got that Grin on my face that is basically priceless.
Mark Gosdin
I just realized that etude is sub 4k. Anything you personally find better for iesl in that price range? I’ll probabaly just snag one to play with a hit if not
$4K? In GBP maybe. Or used. But unless the Étude got a significant price cut, they were $5,400 (USD) and are now $6K.
I didn’t test the Pro iESL exhaustively, just with amps I had on hand. Things like resolution, texture and micro-dynamics improved a bit with the step up from the Étude to the Linn AK/4200 and Chord Ultima 5.
If I still had it, it’d be interesting to try it with a pair of Gjallarhorn’s or an Aegir.
Sorry. I was talking used pricing. And sounds good. Ill do a bit of reading and see if I can borrow something nice from a friend for a bit. If not Ill just snag something to make sure I’m getting it enough power.
$7,000 is a significant investment in audio gear,
A drop in the bucket compared to others on this forum thread. But to me yes it was alot of money.
My audio equipment, 2 Chl, HT and Headphone. Too darn much according to the wife and a lot more than her Lexus LS, but I have more invested in my guitars which makes no sense to me.
Yep! For starters and intermediates in the hobby, that’s still a crazy amount of money.
The high spenders on any forum are outliers in the world, considering the grand scheme of things.
Even then, we as audiophiles are considered outliers. Most “normal people” won’t consider spending above $500 on their audio equipment in general.
Are you saying were not normal because we enjoy a hobby and have the resources to purchase high end gear??
I may be misreading, but I think you’re taking @SebastienChiu’s comment the wrong way. Saying “not normal” is not a criticism - he’s just saying it deviates from what is typical, which is absolutely true.
For example, I make a good bit less money than a lot of my close friends, and they still think I’m nuts for spending what I do on audio gear - and it’s not because I can’t comfortably afford it - it’s just that most people, even those that can easily afford it, don’t spend nearly as much as many on this forum do on their audio equipment.
We’re all a bit nuts, and that’s a-ok 
Correct - @andris said it best! Not trying to be critical of anyone, moreso stating a generalized fact.
We value things differently - for me, my audio experience and quality comes first and that’s why it’s at the top of the totem pole for my spending. In my groups of friends outside of the community, I’m the only one that has gear like I do.
Hope that helps!
The correct way to state that would be not the “Norm” or not the average.
I think you did just fine @SebastienChiu 
We’re all friends here, @EmpireZeus. @SebastienChiu wasn’t calling anyone out, and he’s been an active, friendly member of this forum for quite some time. Very few people on a dedicated headphone forum are “normal people” in terms of their commitment to audio, and it’s perfectly fine to say that.
No problems, started thread to understand what percentage folks spend, turned into so much more.
On a lighter note music! For those that like rock check out 10 albums that changed my life by Sammy Hagar.
Yep. To the average person, they either don’t ever listen to music “analytically” enough to care about sound quality or they just can’t wrap their mind around the sound from their airpods being any different than the sound from a Susvara. Humans are very adept with our eyes, we are not (evolutionarily speaking) very good with our ears. It’s easy for most people to see the difference between a standard definition LCD TV and a 8k OLED. It takes concentration, focus, and a DESIRE to understand to hear the difference between average consumer audio gear and the good stuff.
All of which just means music means more to us than it does to the average person. Or we’re giant nerds that REALLY love a rabbit hole. Neither of which should come as a shock to anyone here.
Absolutely, and I fully embrace that! 
And I will also gladly own that I am not “normal” in the sense that I have spent >$10,000 on our hobby, which is a lot of money both to me and to many people.
My brother is picking my brain on some different audio and headphone setups, and I have given him a range of gear in different price brackets. But he kind of blanched when he asked about what would constitute a “really excellent” headphone and I recommended the Focal Clear OG for “only” $900!
I feel that. When I first dipped my toes in this hobby, despite considering myself a casual audiophile for many years, I STRUGGLED with the idea of spending $700 on Focal Elex. That seemed positively CRAZY to me, and I wondered if I should have it insured. LOL
Little did I know that was just the beginning of a LONG and WILD journey.
So true, but if it gives you greater pleasure than say the latest iphone or car, who’s to judge.
I want it all. Car iPhone headphones and stunt kites.
and speakers
and vacation…
