4. Extremely Expensive Audio Components

All images in this section courtesy of MusicDirect or the copyright holder.

MusicDirect started sending me their slick catalogs a while back. These folks are into the hottest audio and price is no object. I’ve spent some time putting together my own audio systems. Back in the day, I even built a speaker system or two - cabinet and all from the ground up. So, I do appreciate the value of high-high end audio components and dream a lot while pouring over the MusicDirect catalog or surfing the Company’s website, though there’s precious little I can afford to buy.

Actually one thing I can afford are the LPs (that’s recordings on vinyl for those born after CDs). These are very high quality mostly re-mastered pressings fit for the audio components sold at MusicDirect. Quality CDs of much of the Company’s vinyl catalog are also available. You’re not going to find Blaqk Audio or Throwdown, but if your taste runs to Jimi Hendrix or the Allman Brothers or James Taylor or quality classical recordings, this is the place for you. Prices for single LP record albums range from below $10 to as high as $36.

Jimi Hendrix’s "Smash Hits" is available in a limited numbered edition single LP for $29.99.

OK, I can hear you. "I don’t have anything to play LPs on."

Not to worry, MusicDirect has the answer. For maximum fun, I’m going to show you the top price products in each category. The Company also has products for less to considerably less money, so don’t fail to look out of expected sticker shock.

Back to something you can play LPs on. Let’s start with an Avid - Acutus Reference Turntable.

Avid turntable and power supply/controller box

Then lets.... Oh, you want to know how much the turntable costs. Ahem, $19,000 without tone arm or cartridge.

Add a tonearm, the SME Model V for $5,300.

But you’re not done. Now you need a phono cartridge with stylus (needle) to actually play your LPs. Let’s go with Clearaudio’s Goldfinger at $7,995.

Total for your turntable setup: $32,295

Well..., you’re not exactly done with the turntable. Fancy phono cartridges like the Goldfinger put out very little voltage, so you have to amplify the signal before you feed it to an amplifier. You need a phono preamp. The highest end choice: Balanced Audio Technology’s VK=P10SE at $8,500.

So, your turntable with all accessories will set you back $40,795.

I could go on, but I’ll let you check out the amplifiers, speakers, headphones and other paraphernalia you’ll need to complete your system at MusicDirect’s website. A complete system using the highest end products will run you well over $100,000. Do remember though, you can put together a very good system from MusicDirect for lots less than that movie-and-sports-star-only price.