Dylanhenry
Its all about perspective
your perspective as to what comprises HIGH END and my own simply differ.
You are a proponent of Wilson, referring to them as the best speakers in the world. Fine by me. Wilson, just like any other brand has its own sound. I dare say it doesnt appeal to everyone. Nor do I suspect some recent objective gathering has since crowned them as the sole principal in the industry. The only definitive statement I can make about Wilson is that they are expensive
and as I said, perhaps over valued as well.
Another one could be, thay have too much cantaffordium or unobtainium used in the materials list.
I assure you my own rig sounds more palpable, and musical than that which I experienced at the dealership listening to the Sophias.
And as usual the orig poster asked for others to subjectively mention the likely synergy between his Marantz int and the Sophia IIs.
My stance from hearing them and seeing what they were paired with for that level of performance I realized on the spot, is that more power than his integrated amp will supply, will likely be needed to get the best out of them.
Others said go B&W
and as well, I noted again, these two are power hungry units. More so than their specs reveal them to be.
Im a proponent of great sounding systems. Cost is part of it all, but Im not dismissive of components due to their price points. Neither have I read anywhere articles which have outlined the pricing guidelines declaring what is and what is not, high end. Consequently, Id not proclaim that whatever expense would be needed to surmount the least level.
That phrase is as subjective a thing as any other discussed around here. Its also a phrase some cling to for sheer affluent effect. I find it disdainful to indicate $14K as the entry level price point for loudspeakers comprising the high end realm of audio recreation. By intimating such a thing submits to all others in this hobby who have thrown tons of duckets at their rigs, that they are still muddling their way along in a less than enterprise. It implies yet greater separation amongst the throng of avid enthusiasts.
By my reckoning, Id venture to say 90% or more, of the consuming public at large would submit other criteria for the phrase high end
and isnt the majority just another word for mass? I think aside from mere terminology, high end has a larger berth than you will concede. Maybe adding something more definitive such as ULTRA to preface the phrase is in order
. Probably more to your liking as well
The other subtlety I was transmitting to the orig poster was, given the state of items on hand there were many other fine choices for less money
and there are in fact. Truth be told, Ive found far more often than not, those rigs wherein the greater body of the investment lays in front of the speakers out perform those where the investment is the other way around, laying largely on the loudspeakers.
Its disconcerting at the very least to spend 6K on an amp, 9K on a pre, 8K on speakers, 4K on a sub, 10K on conditioning & cabling, lets not speak of the accessories
. Then to be told you are of the mid fi or mass fi market, or worse yet
below the entry level threshold of high end audio. Doubtless, other loudspeaker and device makers would argue it as well.
Its perspective
. Or maybe just the choice of words being used which casts at times, a pall of diminishment & separation. Ill take issue with it routinely, as Im more aligned to share and be a part of though.
