There are lots of things that I would squander $5,000 on and not think twice about. Most people would probably think these things were a waste of money. None of the ways to part $5K from my wallet has anything to do with music though. I mean, I can listen to tunes on my PS3 already.
I guess for the sort of folks that consider themselves audiophiles listening on a plain CD player or the PS3 is sort of like a muscle car enthusiast driving around in a minivan. Still, the Vincent Audio C-60 CD player is crazy expensive at $4,695. That much money gets you a CD player that has both vacuum and solid-state output stages.
The output stage can be changed with a remote control to give the vacuum tune sound that some audiophiles apparently like. The device has a top-loading CD tray that promises to skip no bits during playback. The thing has balanced XLR output along with unbalanced RCA, coaxial optical out, and digital outputs. Still, for $4,695 this thing better be delivered to my door lovingly packed between the massive fun bags of Jessica Simpson.