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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 vuch

vuch's avatar
vuch
144 posts
 

Thankfully, regarding your question of which I was wondering the same thing; the answer is, wait for it... YES!

I've been playing around with my 2nd system lately. This gets a little interesting.

After the last time I listened to the rig I took out the Scott A 436 integrated to have work done on it. The next time I listened to the rig I came up with a pair of Bose Video Roommate powered speakers and tried to run the turntable through the McIntosh MR-55a tuner which has a phono stage! 

It's a mono tuner so only one RCA input for the phono. One channel was very quiet and didn't sound great. The next day I picked up a gold plated Y adapter from Auto Zone of all places! I rushed home to hear the results! I was now getting stereo into mono but it still sounded like listening to a hand held transistor radio, maybe not even that good. There was absolutely no bass. My tech confirmed my suspicion that the phono input was probably set up for 78 rpm records and stylus compliance.

A week later I got a sweet deal on a Bellari VP129 Tube Phono Preamplifier. I put it into the rig and boom! Nice stereo sound from the Bose speakers. Then I changed the 12ax7 tube, which looked stock to me, to a new Electro-Harmonix. Sonics definitely improved with the new tube.

The Bose sit top of the Infinity RS4b speakers. They're ported and have a good amount of weight to them having the size and shape of small bookshelf speakers. There is good imaging and decent sound.

The last album I listened to was PF Meddle. The next day I listened to Meddle on the main rig. It was so obvious that the main rig is worlds better sounding. The joy and relief of knowing that all the money and time is worth every note was very, very satisfying!

 

 

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