I don't justify it. If I have to justify it, that means I shouldn't be getting it. I PLAN all of my large expenditures, I save for it, and utilize patience until I get what I want at the price I want it.
Once I get it, I plan no more big purchases until I have put the money just spent back into the bank.
I waited over a year to get my Sunfire TGP III on Audiogon. That patience paid off big time. I was willing to spend 1500.00 for one. I got mine for 1100.00!
The other reason why I can spend what I do, is because instead of buying a cheap POS, I buy something that is made to last for years & will keep it for years.
My main speakers are going to be 20 years old in Feb. I am only just now possibly considering upgrading them simply due to age. I will keep my Sunfires until they die, the same with all of the rest of the gear in my signature.
I don't need the latest & greatest thing that comes out, nor do I want it. That to me would be a waste of money.
I agree totally with this post. Especially avoiding POS! We unfortunately have endless discussions on these forums about which POS is better than that POS. That is one aspect that makes them tiresome.
Unless you are super wealthy, the best way to go about things is to build a good system over time and gradually improve it.
I leaned early that a good audio system brings immense pleasure, and keeps you connected to the musical arts world. Not only that, a good system is like a magic carpet, and really can put you in another space a continent apart.
My systems have been in continuous evolution for over half a century. By making good choices, I have some items that have been in continuous use for close to half a century. Now that's value. On a yearly basis I have spent relatively little on the hobby. If I had to do it all at once the result would be penury!
So I would recommend starting with two good speakers, rather than five or seven and a sub and adding as funds permit. Two good speakers will beat out seven mediocre or bad ones any day. Also if you choose wisely you can enjoy those speakers over many years, without costly upgrades.
If funds are tight good older gear can be a superb investment. Actually good older items such as preamps, amps and turntables, are an excellent investment. If you do your homework, you can run down units that have known superior performance and known for very low failure rates over time. So you can actually buy older units with a much lower statistical chance of failure than a new unit.
It seems on eBay there are a lot of savvy buyers, as I have noted that units in the category I have described fetch the best prices, and likely always will.
You probably will have to sacrifice a remote, but that may well prevent you dying of pulmonary embolism.
I'm not one for movies much. Some I really enjoy, an awful lot put me to sleep. However other family members and friends really do enjoy it, which is a big added bonus.
So there are lots of reasons for spending funds, thought and effort on AV systems. It should never put you or your family in penury.
