There are a ton of good options for everyone's tastes in audio right now. More than at any time I bet. It's really interesting once you get away from dealers commercials interrupting threads is that folks want to interact with owners of other products or just want validation of what they know or have just purchased.
There is a reason that many owners stay within their own lines or the opposite happens with folks always buying and selling and chasing their tails (often times), or just wanting a totally different sound. Some are into their gear and some into the music. The rest are into their gear for sure, but also are in search of the best recreation of 'real music'.
What is real music? Do these folks go to live events and try to get that at home? Do they NOT go to live events and the only reference they have is what a dealer, friend or internet tells them? A great speaker is a great speaker. I always hear folks say that a speaker does rock better because it moves more air. Some say that the intimacy of a vocal group is best on say Harbeth or some other mid centric speaker.
I honestly say that's all BS. I really do. I understand that some want to move more air and add subs, because their speaker can't move what they need in their room (or just simply want). Fully understand and of course respect that. The more I go listen now days, the more I realize that there are many good speakers. There arelly are. I listen to Vandersteen adn love them, but I could be happy with most any speaker over 20k for the most part I think. I'd have to overlook the shrill highs that so many top speakers have, but they do so much right. I'd get used to the coherency thing or the smearing that so many have as they do other things well or may just be fun to listen to. I want it all though and that's why I am so careful of my system matching as well as my own room. I hear so much about DSP and have heard it on speakers, preamps and stand alone devices. I"m talking state of the art gear and expensive stuff, so it's not crap for what it is. I am still not a big fan. I now what I hear and for ME, it dont' think it's near where is needs to be for high end. Will it get there? Maybe or maybe not. Hey, I have a high end DAC as have heard most of the upper crust DAC's in more than a few systems as well as in my own as I've had some sent my way at times. They still aren't analog. They just aren't and I'm sad since I had to sell my analog rig recently as I can't get up every 25 minutes to flip and clean albums. Too demanding for my MS and it has been for years, but I waited to sell (still need to sell my albums, lol.....maybe, lol).
There are many who say that digital is as good or some even may say better, but there's a reason even young kids are buying tables and albums. Newer technologies have allowed makers to produce the best sounding analog gear we've ever seen. Same with speakers. Figuring out ways to use some exotic materials in cabinets, cones and drivers along with components in crossovers (including wire and solder or cold welds) have given us some tremendous speakers. We all have personal favorites. For me, any dealer lacks credibility, unless you are close friends and they are honest. Some really are trying to help, but they are still in business and need to feed their families as well as those who work for them.
My friends and I talk about this all the time. We all have favorite posters and folks we've met from the boards who we trust. We know how they are different in their tastes than us and are able to read their thoughts on gear and translate if you will to how we'd hear something. It's respecting what others hear and fall in love with. As much as I love Vandersteen's with the gear I've put it with in my room, it's not for everyone. As much as you guys love Wilson's or Magico's or B&W's or Dynaudio or ........ the same goes for you too. This is why we can fight, disagree or whatever on a board, but folks really need to go listen. The problem we have is that you can't audition most of the gear in many parts of the country. I"m blessed to live near a two hour drive where I can audition anything I want for the most part. Wish others could too.
OP, hope you aren't scared off by what became of your thread as I felt it was a normal starting thread until the hijack. What have you done? Have you auditioned anything yet? Did you get a new set of Wilson's or something else?
