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Heh.. those are cheap. Check out these $27,000 speaker cables...

http://gallery.consumerreview.com/audio/gallery/files/opus-mm.asp

"No, gamers have always been much worse than audiophiles. "

You're kidding, right? Audiophiles are off the deep end. I don't think you have ever seen an *actual* audiophile-- you're mixing them up with people who like stereos. Audiophiles do things like buy $3000 cables. Or put all their components on 200lb. granite blocks or $600-per-component magnetic levitation dampers to ease vibration. Power conditioners. Huge stacks of tube amps. Subwoofers that require special basement rooms to be built to act as the box.

In the worst cases, the quest for perfect audio goes so far as to become pointless. There's an article I wish I could find for you about one particularly off-the-deep-end audiophile who paid so much for the system he used to listen to classical recordings that had he kept the money, he would have had enough to bring the *actual orchestra* to his house to play for him regularly, for years. Say what you want about huge stereos, but if it gets to the point where you can afford to bring the source home with you, you don't need reproduction.

The worst gamers can't hope to touch this. The most expensive rig on the market with a massive hang-on-the-wall plasma or whatever as your huge monitor is still just a drop in the bucket compared to people who will spend $3000 on three feet of speaker cable. And unlike some of the audiophile quackery, at least a fast machine has measurable performance gains. Try convincing a real engineer that your $1000 power cable makes a detectable difference in sound quality.

For your reference, as a guide to the levels this insanity can reach:

$23,000 for a pair of 8-foot speaker cables

$75,000 per speaker

$40 silver-plated electrical outlet (because... ummm... you can't just use any old outlet with the next item:)

$1000 5-foot AC power cable

There's much worse. Try pricing out monoblock tube amps. Keep in mind they're not just going to buy one per channel (the minimum), but probably one per *driver* (as in, three per speaker if you have a woofer, mid, and tweeter).

This should get better soon, since Herb Sutter and Stan Lippman are both at Microsoft now, and seem dedicated to standards compliance

BillG: So, Stan and Herb, I understand you two are working on standards compliance?
Stan & Herb (look up from monitors): Yes, we feel its very important to be compliant with all standards.
BillG: "Standards", aye? That's very interesting. But would you rather do that all day, or come see what I have parked outside for both of you?

If it's not capable of at least 200 mph I'm not interested.

There's all different kinds of Pr0n. For example, here is a gallery of high end systems and components to excite you.

Talk of $140K systems is aiming too low. For *truly* high-end gear check out this fine example. The text associated with it is particulary revealing (once you get past the fanboy drooling).

Net result of viewing these feelthy peectures is it makes me want to go out and buy some better gear. Could I hear the difference? YOU BET. (Too many Who concerts and all.)

There's all different kinds of Pr0n. For example, here is a gallery of high end systems and components to excite you.

Talk of $140K systems is aiming too low. For *truly* high-end gear check out this fine example. The text associated with it is particulary revealing (once you get past the fanboy drooling).

Net result of viewing these feelthy peectures is it makes me want to go out and buy some better gear. Could I hear the difference? YOU BET. (Too many Who concerts and all.)

Am I the only one who thinks it's unreasonable to use Ask Slashdot to help you pick a DVD player?

Come on, look around. Try Consumer Review, or Home Theater Forum. Or use your favorite search engine.

There are plenty of sites to help you evaluate electronics equipment, and they're all more appropriate places for this discussion than Slashdot.