What is the greatest extent to which you have seen someone go in pursuit of the Nth degree of audio capture and/or reproduction? I realize that this could degenerate into scoffing or throwing things (like insults, snowballs or water balloons, depending on the season), so please state what you have seen without ridicule. What may seem outlandish to one person may, in the opinion of another, perfectly fit a certain situation. So let us be “ladies and gentlemen” and share our stories!

soundhound

Way to go Lena.......lol I was thinking the same thing but didn't have the nerve to say it

Lasher

..any guy that gets to pull the cord on a howitzer during sound bite recording sessions. But then again …that does not sound extreme………just good plain fun

There was a guy back in the old neighborhood in the early 70s who built a subwoofer (back then, just called a 'bass speaker') by forming and pouring concrete.

It sounded great, as did the rest of his system.

But wait...he then decided to take his system to wherever the party was.

I'll never forget the guy and his buddy, with the concrete sub strapped to it's own 'travel dolly', luggin' that monster up a flight of stairs.

Still not happy with the results, he removed cinder blocks from his basement walls and dug into the earth and built 2 concrete subs back in there.

He then had to remodel the basement so the parties could come to him.

Unforgetably cool.

Thanks, nullptr. Great, Great article. A "must-read."

Call me an audiophile...but here's what gets me with an article like that. Sure, the guy spends too much money on something that gives him a degree more excitement and enjoyment when he could of used the same money to buy something else. Sound familiar....

How about the guy who buys the Ferrari instead of the Subaru WRX? What you say? No comparison? I think it's very similiar to the arguement in that article. For the price of the Ferrari, you could buy a WRX, plus a house, plus an addition to the house to house your new car in style. Meanwhile, the WRX will provide you with the same amount of speed and acceleration you can get out of the Ferrari on normal roads. Under the right conditions, you could technically even race the WRX better than the Ferrari. Ok, I think you see where I'm going...

The quest for better sound from high-end audio equipment is the quest for more enjoyment. What level works for some is just not the same for others. If you have the time and the money, aren't you going to seek out the best possible way to find this enjoyment? Sure, there is plenty of gear that will give you that level of enjoyment for less money, i.e. Outlaw, but if you have the funds, why not seek out more? Personally, I would love to hear that system featuring tubes and horns and feel that little bit of tingles the reporter in the article feels.

The only time audio becomes a bad habit is when you don't stay within your budget. Overspending will get you into trouble no matter what the hobby. There are levels of enjoyment out there for almost every budget. If you can stay within your limits and find your optimum level of enjoyment, why not?

Just this budget audiophile's .02 cents on that...

Well said Jason J. Its free country. Hugh Campbell can spend his money the way he wants to.

True, but the Ferrari is measureably and obviously in a different class than any Subaru. But the core point is good. Just as long as it's clearly understood WHAT he paid for.