2. misc-audio
  3. 193074-178346

At the top of the line is it really all that different?

I'm writing about my experience with the top of the line bespoke gear. Not the insane one-of a kind that I'll never own but the really good stuff that say $50K each will buy.

I have listened to my personal favorite ARC vs. D'Agistino, vs. Bryston vs. Pass vs. the top Macs (no love lost there).  Wilson vs. Sonus, vs. Magico vs. Bryston T-10  vs. Maggies (!) vs. Perlisten. 

So many cables that I can't recall the names. 

I can tell a difference between the voicing of the products at my dealer but the difference is so subtle that in my home they are "nearly" identical. ( I know, I know but I said "nearly") 

I read reviews with all the silly superlatives that make the reviewed item sound heavenly and the "other guys" sound like the AM radio in my '67 Mustang.

I have had my ears checked and my audio sensitivity is "age appropriate" I'm 62.

I have 2 listening rooms- one is a dedicated properly treated room and one is a barn sized great room with anterooms on 3 sides. In my dedicated room I'm all alone with my music which can be really lovely but not often visited vs. the great room with my dogs, kids, and wife. I don't do critical listening there but I love full beautiful sound when the ones I love most are near. 

So, I would really appreciate thoughtful guidance to my quandary- is top end gear crowding at the top of the pyramid with very little difference? Are the glowing reviews colored or even deceptively presented?   Or maybe I'm growing weary of very little cost/benefit improvements as I climb the audio ladder .....please advise. 

 

yesiam_a_pirate

Showing 1 response by decooney

decooney
2,334 posts
 

I found it helpful to attend a few different audio shows to see and hear the low/medium/high level gear. What can be most promising are the rooms with less expensive gear that sounds great. Then get to know the Co owners, designers, and talk with them about their designs and product parts qualities next. It’s more fun to be a value-shopper and can be rewarding.

It’s too easy to just go out and blow a ton of money on flashy gear and hope that you are settled with it later. Takes work to figure out what is right for you and going somewhere to listen to gear set up by others and talking with them about it can be quite rewarding figuring this out for yourself even more. It’s a journey for all of us.

This can also help to quickly figure out what you don’t like, that’s for sure, low or high cost. I’ve heard some high $ gear that just sounded quite agitating, fatiguing, at shows, with horrible matching and paring of gear too, lol. Best of Luck.

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