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What Does 80 Grand Get You Nowadays?

A system was playing in a shop. I sat down and pretty soon I thought gosh, I’m glad my system sounds better than this.

That system - just preamp, amp, and speakers - cost about $80,000 new.

I didn’t make the speakers at first, because Sabrinas look far better than the usual Wilson house look. They were driven by one of those new high-end Marantz amps, and I don’t think that was a match made in heaven. The Marantz was driven by a Dan D’Agostino pre that looked like a Minion had been crushed in a hydraulic press. Audiophile music was streaming, but I did not catch whence issued those dulcet ones and zeroes.

I suppose that system constitutes high-end for some. Now, it certainly sounded competent, but it also sounded boring. I thought, this is the Audi SUV of audio: competent and boring.

Conversely, I was impressed and pleased to no end that the end sound of my modest system from the last century could play in the same league as an almost-six figure modern system, and do so in a more engaging and fun fashion - to my ears, at least.

I’m biased, of course; and I am certain many high-priced systems out there leave mine in the dust. Still, I would have thought $80,000 guaranteed a better baseline sound.

How about you, have you heard a lot of gear whose sound was way out of whack with its price?

 

devinplombier
deep_333
2,459 posts
 

I've heard the Alexxx V with the D'ogastino and whatever, price in the vicinity of 400k to 500k.....Such a foolish wall of sound...borderline incoherent, no spatial nuance, .. 

I heard a klipsch jubilee, rig price around 50k, which ran circles around the foolish Alexxx...the jubilee was very enjoyable.

I heard a b&w 801 d4 based rig in the vicinity of 150k or so.  It had some tricks up its sleeve. 

There was a 4 million dollar horn rig that sounded like a dying donkey at one of the shows.

I have a less than 20k pro rig in my semi-retirement cabin that smokes most of them.

Ya never know what you get for the price.

Clutch your wallet tight and run as fast as you can from some clowns.

llg98ljk's avatar
llg98ljk
330 posts
 

What no one is saying is that the room is probably the biggest factor in this discussion. I'm sure that my meager +/- $5K system can sound better than a poorly chosen $50K system in a hotel demo room.

billstevenson
1,219 posts
 

There is some gibberish in the mix in this thread.  None here heard what the OP heard, but there has been some nonsense spewed in response.  Normally I would sit outside, but when I think it might actually influence someone into making a bad decision I must comment.  To wit:  @audphile1 pontificating about the sound of Marantz.  Now I have no problem with a statement that he/she does not like the sound of Marantz or any other product for that matter.  That is a matter of personal taste and opinion and is perfectly legitimate.  The statement made, however, is patently false, specifically claiming the sound of the company's products to be "rolled off" and "constipated" both statements demonstrably false and easily refuted.  Perhaps the author needs to go in for a check up.  Ear wax build up perhaps?  I respectfully suggest you state your opinions as such, and otherwise with all due respect, stick to facts.  

larsman's avatar
larsman
3,173 posts
 

@llg98ljk + 1

kennymacc
730 posts
 

@devinplombier I wouldn't be at all surprised if the very next person who sat down in front of that very same 80K audio system you thought sounded substandard, thought it sound absolutely outstanding!!!  Nothing is more subjective than high-end audio.  One mans bull, is another mans well balanced.  Happy listening.

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