Superampman
AK Member
Absolutely correct. Some people want nothing near reality. Just a certain 'HI-FI' sound. More like memor'ies'.
why some spend $$$$$$$ on their systems
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Absolutely correct. Some people want nothing near reality. Just a certain 'HI-FI' sound. More like memor'ies'.
Patch-Cord
Active Member
Are you speaking from the viewpoint of someone who has spent big money on their system?
kitaTkarma
Member
I have 3 "product obsessions": audio, photographic, golf.
If spending thousand$ makes a perceptible difference on enjoyment/performance GREAT...
I'd wager that for many if not most into those "other two", spending more does more for the joy than for results...at least that's WHAT I PERCEIVE from seeing them...
....but for OUR obsession, enjoyment and perception are more achievable in terms of performance, and the "point of diminishing returns" are more easily achieved....a lot depends on the type of music we choose to listen to...and the ease with which we're satisfied....
...as for me, that enjoyment comes from the music more than the gear....I've not done any calculations, but....I've likely spent 10x more on the music than the gear.
If spending thousand$ makes a perceptible difference on enjoyment/performance GREAT...
I'd wager that for many if not most into those "other two", spending more does more for the joy than for results...at least that's WHAT I PERCEIVE from seeing them...
....but for OUR obsession, enjoyment and perception are more achievable in terms of performance, and the "point of diminishing returns" are more easily achieved....a lot depends on the type of music we choose to listen to...and the ease with which we're satisfied....
...as for me, that enjoyment comes from the music more than the gear....I've not done any calculations, but....I've likely spent 10x more on the music than the gear.
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Patch-Cord
Active Member
Originally Posted by lordoftrings View Post
anything you're passionate about in life has no money value attached to it, audio included.
Again... tell that to my attorney. I think she's expecting me to be very passionate.
anything you're passionate about in life has no money value attached to it, audio included.
Again... tell that to my attorney. I think she's expecting me to be very passionate.
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There can be some real musical excitement in hearing that information revealed, not that it takes vast sums to acquire it necessarily. I have a some recordings (mostly classical) that really come alive in a good system. Listening to a lute playing in a room in an ancient Scottish castle and hearing the the sound of the lutenist's feet sliding on the old floorboards, hearing the dimensions of the room in the image and being able to hear that the walls are stone certainly adds to the pleasure and mood. Listening on a system that doesn't resolve those things is a different experience, not a bad one but not nearly so involving to me. So, spending what is needed to get to that level is worthwhile to me. Tens of thousands of dollars weren't needed to get to that point, nor are they ever likely to be available for the task.Yeah, but wouldn't you like to know what rosin Jascha Heifetz used on his bow or if Johnny Winter used a stone pick or one of those mundane plastic ones.
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
I've heard a couple of systems slightly above and below the $50k mark. They are a whole different universe from what I own and enjoy on a daily basis. If I had the money I would spend it and so would you. If you say otherwise you're flat out lying.
Let's pick up the logic of high end haters and roll with it.
If you like to go fast and can afford a Bugatti you should just buy a Mustang Cobra because it is still a fast car.
If you like sports cars and can afford a Ferrari Enzo you should just buy a Miata because its still a sports car.
If you're a photographer and can afford a DSLR, or a 4K movie production camera you should still just get a point and shoot or a GoPro because they do the same thing.
Yeah. That's how ridiculous you guys sound.
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Let's pick up the logic of high end haters and roll with it.
If you like to go fast and can afford a Bugatti you should just buy a Mustang Cobra because it is still a fast car.
If you like sports cars and can afford a Ferrari Enzo you should just buy a Miata because its still a sports car.
If you're a photographer and can afford a DSLR, or a 4K movie production camera you should still just get a point and shoot or a GoPro because they do the same thing.
Yeah. That's how ridiculous you guys sound.
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Superampman
AK Member
Sure, why not? But especially about the tube guys.
They typically presume to 'improve' on reality.
Patch-Cord
Active Member
Fiddlefye,
Very well put. My own system isn't budget in my eye's, and it may be budget to others, and yet others will think I have spent too much. However, what I have spent takes me closer to the way something has been recorded and mixed.
Depending on what i am listening to, my room sounds like a club, recording studio, concert hall, garage, or whatever other venue you can think of. It doesn't always sound like a concert hall, but if it needs to, it does. And this is all done without DSP. It takes the information it receives, and puts it out accurately.
Earl Klugh "Naked Guitar" sounds like Earl is sitting in the room with me. I can hear his fingers hit the body of the guitar. I can hear the strings resonate. I can hear his fingers sliding up and down the strings as he goes from fret to fret.
For me, this is what it is all about.
Then again, when watching movies, it's nice to hear birds chirping way offscreen in the distance, or people chatting a few feet away in a restaurant. Or listen to a helicopter fly overhead, or gunfire fly through the room.
For me... it's all about ambiance. I don't hear the speakers, I hear the room. I hear the outdoors... or whatever, (recording dependent). Humans don't hear in 2D. There is a reason our ears are on the sides of our heads.
If I were to lose any of my senses, I would miss hearing the most.
While I may or may not be able to justify what I have spent on A/V, I can at least justify the experience that I get from what I spent. Did I get my 7K worth. To my ears I did. Have I heard better for more? Yes. Have I heard worse for less? Yes. Have I heard the reverse? Yes.
Does it bother me that people spend more or less than I do and get the same results? No. What matters is that I like what I am hearing.
However,,, if I think there is room for improvement, am i going to spend the money? Only if I can afford the upgrade.
Very well put. My own system isn't budget in my eye's, and it may be budget to others, and yet others will think I have spent too much. However, what I have spent takes me closer to the way something has been recorded and mixed.
Depending on what i am listening to, my room sounds like a club, recording studio, concert hall, garage, or whatever other venue you can think of. It doesn't always sound like a concert hall, but if it needs to, it does. And this is all done without DSP. It takes the information it receives, and puts it out accurately.
Earl Klugh "Naked Guitar" sounds like Earl is sitting in the room with me. I can hear his fingers hit the body of the guitar. I can hear the strings resonate. I can hear his fingers sliding up and down the strings as he goes from fret to fret.
For me, this is what it is all about.
Then again, when watching movies, it's nice to hear birds chirping way offscreen in the distance, or people chatting a few feet away in a restaurant. Or listen to a helicopter fly overhead, or gunfire fly through the room.
For me... it's all about ambiance. I don't hear the speakers, I hear the room. I hear the outdoors... or whatever, (recording dependent). Humans don't hear in 2D. There is a reason our ears are on the sides of our heads.
If I were to lose any of my senses, I would miss hearing the most.
While I may or may not be able to justify what I have spent on A/V, I can at least justify the experience that I get from what I spent. Did I get my 7K worth. To my ears I did. Have I heard better for more? Yes. Have I heard worse for less? Yes. Have I heard the reverse? Yes.
Does it bother me that people spend more or less than I do and get the same results? No. What matters is that I like what I am hearing.
However,,, if I think there is room for improvement, am i going to spend the money? Only if I can afford the upgrade.
davidro
Lunatic Member
Sure, why not? But especially about the tube guys.
That is, presuming recorded musuc and reproduction thereof represent reality.
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Patch-Cord
Active Member
Sure, why not? But especially about the tube guys.
Since you didn't actually say "yes"... I'll take that as a "no".
Next. Why start in on the tube guys? Have you ever heard a tube system?
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
Maybe not to you. However, that's not the point. Just about everyone has something they spend money on that others don't agree with. For some reason whenever the idea of spending big bucks on audio comes up the wallet police start posting telling others what and how much of their money they can spend. Get a life. It's not your money!!!!
FYI: Kappa 9's were not ever the best that Infinity made. The IRS series are all audibly better. If you don't think so it's most likely because you've never heard them.
There's always a lot of "my CL/GW or whatever" budget system sounds as good as any uber-fi system. Those who write that sort of nonsense have almost always never heard a really high end system
You're absolutely correct. However the "wallet police" always seem to come out when high end (expensive) audio anything is mentioned.
My comment about rosin and picks was meant to be humorous, hence the big grin smiley.
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Will S.
Super Member
Somethings make a big difference. Some make a small difference. Some make no difference at all. And some times the difference is worse rather than better. Figuring out what's what is the hard part and something on which there will never be a consensus.
Just as an anecdote, I auditioned some Wilson Alexias (just because I happened to be in the room when a serious buyer wanted to listen). And while they moved a load of air (pants flapping!), I hated them. Super harsh in the upper mids.
telefunken
Member
A lot of people would be better served wih a hh scott/fischer tube receiver,a british monitor a newer dac and a decent turnable/cables-that would give them a "rich" sound (in a reasonable size room) that they probably want.
Most people do not want/need super detailed sound-they are better served with a system that "rounds-off" in a euphonic manner.
A lot of newer systems (at any price) sound etched.
Most people do not want/need super detailed sound-they are better served with a system that "rounds-off" in a euphonic manner.
A lot of newer systems (at any price) sound etched.
AudioMayhem
Active Member
I call bullshit, have you ever spent time in a lab measuring those variables and then seeing that they have a measurable effect on the output from the speakers?
Marketing + placebo effect = something worth spending money on?
I think not.
JoeESP9
ESL's & tubes since 83
I've never been all that fond of the Wilson's I've heard either. I feel the same way about a lot of very popular speakers. However I'm not egotistical enough to presume that I can tell someone else what they hear or don't hear and most especially how they should spend their money.
RamblinE
(╯°□°)╯彡┻━┻
The wallet police and high end audio haters are the mist counterproductive people. Ever.
Oh so you bought those nice components and speakers used? The only reason that is even possible is because somebody spent a lot if money buying them new. Way to bite the hand that feeds you, after a fashion.
High end audio is an inextricable part of this hobby. We all share it. Grow up and shake the penis envy.
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Oh so you bought those nice components and speakers used? The only reason that is even possible is because somebody spent a lot if money buying them new. Way to bite the hand that feeds you, after a fashion.
High end audio is an inextricable part of this hobby. We all share it. Grow up and shake the penis envy.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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