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Why are all the Virtual Systems mega-assaults now?

I've noticed that more recently nearly all of the activity on the virtual systems is with really decked-out systems in lavish rooms with $50K speakers and electronics, cables, and single malt Scotch to match.

Don't get me wrong, sometimes it's nice to see how the upper crust live. But I've always viewed a strength of the virtual systems as showing how people have put together budget items with great synergy. What ever happened to the guys with the Adcom amp and PSB speakers posting about the continuing evolution of their systems? (Maybe they've updated to a spiffy room, speakers that require a forklift to position, MBL electronics, and cables that each cost more than my car.)

I guess Albert Porter's system gets a lot more traffic because people like discussing systems like that, but I really do miss seeing new "bang for the buck" units pop up on the virtual systems and admiring their ingenuity for putting it together.

Am I the only one who's a little disappointed with this?

Michael
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sufentanil OP
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Fcrowder, I can understand that someone might gain some pearls of wisdom by looking at the uber-expensive systems, but I feel that I learn so much more about value and synergy from the more value-oriented virtual systems.

And Elizabeth, I understand your comment that people with "lesser systems" might not want to advertise it because it would be perceived as too pedestrian to be on Audiogon.

For me, I'm hoping that these people start coming out of the woodwork.

Michael
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John, that's a good point for looking at the number of systems in each category, rather than the number of posts on them. You're right, people like to talk about the whiz-bang systems a lot more than someone's NAD integrated.

I guess my cutoff for "mega-system" is if any one of the individual components costs more than $10,000. But you're right, that is a relative term that means different things to different people. Maybe we should look at it like porn: we can't define it but we'll know it when we see it.

Michael
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Albert, I completely agree with your statement that "money does not always dictate how good it will be".

I was just making the observation that most of the virtual systems traffic lately has been stilted towards the expensive side. Like you, I appreciate seeing well thought out systems for $1200. I guess I'm just seeing fewer of them now.

Michael
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Jb8312, I don't think that many of us feel intimidated by "sub $30K" systems. (I'm still at the stage in my life where I consider $30K for a stereo to be excessive.) And, granted, people do have to start somewhere with their audiophile stuff. (For me, it was NAD and PSB.)

I just think that my original point was about seeing more Audiogon traffic on the more budget systems, as I believe it takes more skill to set up a $1500 system and make it sound great than it does to set up a $20K system and make it sound great. And that's what I tend to look for in the Virtual Systems: synergy, and ingenuity. Which is why I've been a little dismayed that many of the posts are on the uber-systems.

Michael
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Newbee, glad to hear that I'm not alone in admiring the budget systems that are overachievers.

I'm still haunted years later by a system I heard at a dealer's. It imaged better than any system I'd ever heard before, or since. And it was such a unique, engaging presentation. The system? Music Hall CD-25, Jolida 302b, and Totem Arro's. I still own 2 out of the 3 items. The entire thing NEW retailed for $2000.

Another one I heard was an el-cheapo DVD player, Music Hall Mambo, and Totem Rainmakers. Outstanding.

And then I heard someone's vintage rig with an old Kenwood receiver and Advents. Fantastic.

THAT's what Audiogon is all about to me: Learning about how to put things together for a given listening preference, music type, budget, and setting. And then seeing how others have done it.

Michael
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Oh man, John, you are one lucky guy to snag yourself such a gorgeous wife. I think I speak for most of us here that we're all envious of you. :)

Michael
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