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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
tomrk
158 posts
 

For $80,000 based on going to various audio shows, it's hit or miss what you'll get.  However, it's a sure bet that an $80,000 system isn't 8x as good as a $10,000 system.   

My impression of  modern hi-end audio is that many of the components lack aesthetics; speakers are made to look different for the sake of being different, and as far the sound, sometimes the speakers have really have a great sound, but unfortunately you might need a gymnasium to hold them, other time you wonder if the people who designed them had lost their hearing in a war.   

My point is there's very little correlation between price and sound, and the best judge is to listen to it regardless of price point.  And there is often a vibe in reviews that the more expensive, the better it is, and that doesn't correlate with reality.

Finally, if someone wants to give me one of those new fancy reel-to-reel tape machines, I'd love to replace my RT-701.

tomrk
158 posts
 

@mylogic

My bucket list is to do an around-the-world travel on a chartered plane, but alas that takes about $125K per person (National Geographic).  It comes with it's own personal physician, no long lines and pat downs like commercial flying

I'm sure someone will build a new Zeppelin soon to take that around the world trip.   Maybe even landing in Lakehurst NJ.

tomrk
158 posts
 

@allenf1963

The reason these small companies charge a lot is they have rent, they need to pay employees, electricity, customer/warranty and material.   And they don't have the volume to spread that cost over 1000's of speakers.  Simple economics.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
15,045 posts
 

The room controls can help a speaker at a level which most cannot even imagine..

But no room can save a speakers from his own design "genetic" flaws...

And each speakers must be put in the room which is designed for it ...

I bet no Wilson speakers sound the same in different acoustics condition, where is design can be helped or impeded or even made atrocious...

 

mylogic
839 posts
 

@tomrk in response to @allenf1963 and my $80K system alternative, and your $125K round the bend world bucket list.

Yes it is about economics, conned sumer demand and it’s simple. There are those who are willing to pay. “That will be $80,000 sir, thank you, thank you” 

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