I built a $20,000 System! Did I go Overboard!?

Last video was less than $1500! What do I get when I spend over 10X More?

[eddents]

Going overboard for me is getting 3 fish tacos AND the Supreme Enchilada plate. This system is to the moon and back! What a ride it would be.

[vmmotors]

Randy must be making big money !!!
No more cheap audio man
Big money audio man Haha

[daveandreahoward]

I mean, it's like a TV. You can spend thousands of dollars, sooner or later, you're gonna be watching Gilligan's Island at 3am on it. Ya know?

[ginom]

Both Eastern Bay and Chesky Audio Speakers sounded great!!! I loved the leather jacket as well. Great video Randy! 👍👍👍

[markparker]

My absolute most favorite and satisfactional video you've ever made. Enjoy it like there's no tomorrow, you deserve it. CHEERS! 😂🤑👍

[twissted]

I just built a $1500.00 for my Toy hauler. A WiiM Ultra paired to new Klipsch Nines I found on eBay $949.00 as a open box. Beat that!

[km]

I was there and heard the eastern bay speakers. They were absolutely amazing how big and deep the sound got, even without the sub! They are killer for under 1500, and look so pretty 🤩

[jmal]

15k is enough to build any number of great sounding systems. It's a fun exercise to think of the options. In my case, I would probably go with a Sugden A21 or Rogue Audio CMIII, Technics 1200g with a 1k cart, Revival Atalante 5 speakers, a Node, and some reasonable cables. I might even be able to manage a separate phono stage and stay under 15k.

[TraditionsByTheSeasons]

Hi Randy, this is my Wife’s account, I’m the guy that told you about the Boenicki speakers in room 844, curious if you got to hear them and what you thought? Thanks

[Final_Resolution]

I went to my first audio show here at the Capital Audio Fest. Came with the wife and kids and totally missed out on catching up with my audiophile YouTube hero’s. Happy Veterans Day sir. Semper fi to all my fellow Marines as well!!

[Themanthatisi]

I hit 15k at my peak in audio on a single system….. Post 55yo, I have been slowly downsizing my main system. I recently packed three monoblocks and 2 stereo amps in storage, got one 7ch amp. I replaced my separate pre and pro with a pre\pro combo. Sold my cd player, and using my blueray player for the super rare times I listen to a cd, streaming is more practical now. As I age, my desire for better and more separates has slowly declined into good for the price and a less is more mentality, why I like this channel.

[BornIn]

two BX2s and a pair of SVS Titan speakers is my dream stereo set and everything in white!

[davidrivera]

Cost no object dream system, now your talking. Amp McIntosh MC 462 with CL12000 pre ( the real deal, not wannabe), speakers Wilson Audio AlexiaV, dac Rock and Wavedream, streamer, Hifi Rose RS130. No vinyl for me thank you. I'm 64, did vinyl from 71' to 98', it's a never-ending rabbit hole pursuing the best pressings. A great SACD transport is a better option.
Esoteric Grandioso being the best.
Hey, I'm only at $200K. Better upgrade the speakers to Sonos Faber Reference Suprema, and top of the line Mc amps & Pre along with dac from MSB Technology.
On further thought, I'll stick to my all in $8k rig. Thanks Randy for knocking some sense into us.

[richardelliott]

the gyro se record player is an end of search answer to a very critical component. a budget way to play with the big boys, it is a recognized classic that is still a performance market contender, ever since old man Michell brought it to market way back in 1968. few designs last that long. I am grateful I have one every time I hear it function

[philmccracken]

The answer to your thumbnail question did you go too far building a $20, 000 system? Answer: For your viewers yes you did.

[spaminatord]

Great video good picks on the would be no cost no oject system! Would have been really cool to get to hear it all together!

[adsph]

Top of your game here Randy. Thanks for putting in the work.

[dizzle]

Some purdy stuff on display throughout this 'un, Randy. I'd be excited as heck just walkin' around one of these expos, even if I didn't have a dime to spend on anything. The environment itself seems great, and the expensive music makin' modules take it over the top.

My system is currently sittin' in the $20k neighborhood...and I think I'm happy in terms of gear moving forward. I do want a nice hardwood rack w/ white oak shelves & black legs/feet. That rack will add another $1, 500-ish to thangz overall. Spending all this money isn't necessary, tho. I'm sure there are guys with $5, 000 system that perform comparably to mine...just because they have better knowledge concerning speaker/subwoofer placement, a treated room, etc etc etc.

My currrent gear:

Sources:
- Eversolo DMP-A6 M.E. w/ on-board linear PSU, 2TB Samsung 990SSD & a Pioneer optical disc drive for ripping CDs.
- Music Hall Stealth w/ Ortofon Concorde Music Black, 3mm Funk Firm Achromat, Clearaudio Professional PSU, Michell Engineering clamp.

Preamps:
- Black Ice Audio F360 w/ RAY'S TUBES 6NS7 RESERVE tube
- Black Ice Audio Fusion9 MkIII w/ pair of NOS Telefunken tubes

Power Amps:
- Pair of Emotiva XPA Hc-1 monoblocks

Speakers:
Arendal Sounds 1723 THX towers

Subwoofers:
- Pair of SVS Sounds SB-16 Ultras

Surge Protector/Power Conditioner:
- Audio Quest Powerquest 505

If I do end up buying anything else, it'd probably be a decked out Geshelli Dayzee, and I'd then use my Eversolo as a transport for .flac & streaming. The main thing stopping me from doing this is I opted for the DMP-A6 Master Edition, which is an upcharge...and then I added that linear PSU that costs like $250 or $300 (I don't remember exactly). Basically, I feel like I spent too much money on the Eversolo to use it as ONLY a transport. My kit list may look entry level to some folks, but it took me almost 2 years to "comfortably" put together my current gear. I ain't a wealthy man.

If I were starting over from scratch, I'd probably buy the new Eversolo DMP-10, or one of Advance Paris' more fancy pants All-In-One units and skip a turntable & phono preamp altogether. I do enjoy vinyl as a hobby, quite a bit. ...but great analog playback is so pricey. Turntables, cartridges/styli, phono preamps, tubes, mats, clamps/weights and RECORDS are so expensive. About 90% of my actual listening is digital. I don't even spin CDs at all. Didn't even add a transport to my setup...unless you want to count the $150-ish external Blu Ray burner that I use to rip CDs to the DMP-A6 M.E.'s SSD.

[SpirallingOut]

I agree with just about every choice except the turntable. That thing is 10K here! Surely you can get something amazing (incl. cartridge & tonearm) for 1/4 that.

[Audiorevue]

Hey you know Randy I don't know of anybody's mentioned it to you but it looks like you've lost weight and I think that's awesome.

I don't know if it's intentional or not but I've recently lost some weight intentionally myself and I know it's been a huge burden, quite literally, off of me and as a resulted in me feeling better and feeling more energetic and having better focus and mental clarity and just the whole thing.