Holey smokes do some of you guys pour a lot of cash into this hobby.

[O'Shag]

I agree with Feanor.

Bernd, your not the only lost cause.

Differences can be profound. I've heard some high-performance / expensive components, and there's no doubt many can deliver a more accurate and meaningful rendering of the recording. The $145,000 Acapella Triolon Excaliburs driven by einstein electronics is one of my fantasy systems. The MBL radiostrahler driven by MBL electronics could be another. Thats not to say audio nirvana can't be experienced for a lot less, because it can. Having said that, I don't think you can get 90% of the performance of the high-end systems for 5k. 15k might do, with some carefully chosen components on the used market with a decent pre-amp, amp, speakers, source, interconnects/speaker cables/ and power conditioning (maybe including powercords). If Home Theatre is included, then your looking at dropping a lot more cash. Its when it comes to tweaks though, including aftermarket powercords, that things can get a little looney tunes, especially from the perspective of 'she who must be obeyed' - just kidding; my missus is a gem.