11/4 at 10:09 I wrote
I think the shop is / was a Marantz dealer but the Wilsons and D'Agostino were pre-owned.
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?
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@devinplombier That's nice , but it has nothing to do with how you started the thread which is what I commented above on |
I have the Yamaha NS-5000's mentioned in this thread paired with a Luxman Class A integrated and the Marantz SA-10 also mentioned and dissed. It's a great system but as also mentioned I just experienced the Sphere in Las Vegas and Eagles concert. First thoughts are to build an igloo sphere in my living room and put a pair of Clarysis electrostats inside! Maybe we're all doing it wrong. |
If you have the courage to explore how the pros do it and try to incorporate some elements in a home system, here’s a pathway... https://usa.yamaha.com/products/proaudio/afc/afc_enhance/index.html#product-tabs If you want an easier solution, more packaged and turnkey for home use, here’s one from Sony. Such things require significant engineering R&D & investment....and can only come from the big dogs...Li’l weener dog brands don’t have the resources to deliver such things.
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