https://www.stereophile.com/content/estelon-and-vitus-audio-lead-way-million-dollar-system
I noticed this over at The Stereophile in their coverage of Axpona 2023. This is over the top with $330,000 of cables and amps which need powered equipment to move. You can't listen to music without gear, but this is absurd. Of course the next question is when does it become absurd?
Not to sound blasé .. There are fora where this kind of budget is almost run-of-the-mill.. Have a look at some of the "virtual systems" at Audiogon to have an idea. I have heard personally, a few systems, where the total would easily surpass that budget ... Frankly, some were acceptable but most were downright bad...
It would be of bad taste to name names... but for many folks $350,000.oo speakers are not an issue... from there, you "just" add a $150,000.oo amplifier, a $85,000.oo "Line Stage".. a $30,000.oo Phono Stage, a $125,000.oo DAC... and you must cable these, since the Line Stage is dual mono , that's 2 AC Cable.. The Amplifiers are mono Block that also 2 AC power cords, the DAC is a "stack" with each a Power cord, that's 4 AC power cords and you must link those DAC components with, yes, more audiophile cables and that could be 8 cables .. Yes.. Then there are the Interconnects ... Then the speaker cables and in many case you bi-wire.. so for each speaker you have a pair of cables and ... you have to use " cable lifters", let us not forget the AC Power conditioner ... I was going to stop but .. I remember the Turntable , itself usually a $100,000.oo item, plus the arms each at around $20K, plus the variety of cartridges.. each at least 5 K ... then you may have to figure out the R2R decks (none cheaper than $10,000.oo) and their preamplifiers (usually around $20,000.oo) ... and their AC and interconnect cables too
... Now you think that I am finished? Noooo!. You must figure out the "vibration control" systems, with some of these contraption, actually these are stands (for everything.. even for the power conditioner...
) some costing upward of $50,000.oo...
Are you still counting? . I stopped and am out .. for now
Peace