Florian did go way over the top with that thread he referenced above, and I don't agree with the message and tone of it overall. But he does have a point in one respect, which is this. To give a qualified, valuable opinion, its helpful to know what a current state-fo-the-art high-end system can do for sound reproduction. This doesn't necessarily mean that one should own the best and most expensive components. As long as we have a baseline knowledge of whats possible with the best systems.. Its completely ok to own a modest entry level system - we all started there and built gradually. Its possible to be the best and most avid audiophile with a modest system. The important thing is to keep sight of the fact that the best components and systems can bring you a lot closer to the music than a moderate/ entry level system.