[quote name='Dingus' timestamp='1394045089' post='2387358']
That is what I would describe as "sensible" crazy money, if that makes sense.
Always bear in mind , if you buy really expensive hifi equipment, you also have to budget for the price of a property with a space you can use as a dedicated listening room, because unless the environment is correct you won't hear anything like the true potential of the equipment.
I have had most of my own relatively modest system for several years, and none of my components are the latest thing by any means- my CD player dates back to the mid-1990's( but it is recognised classic), and the newest thing is my Exposure amp that I bought about five and a half years ago- but a good sound is a good sound , regardless of the age of the equipment, and I am very happy with the overall sound it makes. I know people who have spent a lot more money than me and ended up with systems they are far less happy with. That doesn't mean, however, that I don't recognise the superior performance and potential for enjoyment of much more costly and impressive gear than my own. If I had a more normal and settled home life I would probably have bought a much better system by now, but there seems little point when I seem to hardly get time to listen to it. .
[/quote]i think a good separate system is only as good as the room your sitting in. and as your point suggests, you really don't get the true potential in most home situations. i live in a detached house, so i have some great M Audio monitors for when the girlfriend is out, and some AKG's when she's in. i have a pair or 1980's KEF speakers that are fantastic, i think there called Cantor 3. huge things