- New concrete room underground.
- Saskia II turntable
- 12" Schroeder Reference arm.
- Decca Reference + Emia strain gauge cartridges.
- 211/45 SET amps using all bulk foil resistors and Deuland caps.
- Field coil/Horn/ribbon Speakers. RCA LC-1A driver.
How I'd spend money given no limits
oldhvymec asked me this in another thread, and I thought it was worth sharing to hear how others might respond and spend for themselves.
Maybe a better question is, would I drop a million dollars on a stereo system if I could? No, I can’t imagine unless this involves building a home around it. In large part because I don’t see the returns. Let me expand on this.
First, what is best? I completely and utterly want to burn down the idea that high-price = high-end. So, the question for me is, is there higher performing gear I could get given cost is no object? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you can get to great performance for free or what a covid economy would call cheap.
For me, much of this hobby was in building, not buying. I made my own speakers, which may sound like crap (but I like them!), but the pride of ownership is unparalleled. Anyone with a fat enough wallet can buy their way into the club and pretend to be part of the cognoscenti but when you build anything, even if from a kit, you are ahead of everyone who has not. If I had any amounts of money to spend in my version of this hobby I’d experiment with custom line arrays or for HT, high output MTM, and innovative bass traps. My money would go to 3D CAM based milling machines, and sawdust removal. I would also hang out on Audiogon laying waste to snake oil salesmen all day long.
In terms of electronics what have I heard I feel is the equal or better than what I own?
In another area, headphones, I probably would drop a lot more money than I have. The best audio at a show, ever, was from Audeze headphones driven by Woo Audio tube headphone preamp. I’d love to have that experience in my home again. BTW, that was a very long time ago, so if I did this again I’d definitely want to listen to Raal Earspeakers and other headphone amp/DACs.
Any remaining money I’d spend on supporting musical education and culture. Great musicians come from an environment that includes formal education, access to instruments and a thriving supportive community.
Best,
Erik
Erik, if you could, would you. if you could and had all the means, would you buy the absolute best you could buy?
Maybe a better question is, would I drop a million dollars on a stereo system if I could? No, I can’t imagine unless this involves building a home around it. In large part because I don’t see the returns. Let me expand on this.
First, what is best? I completely and utterly want to burn down the idea that high-price = high-end. So, the question for me is, is there higher performing gear I could get given cost is no object? Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think you can get to great performance for free or what a covid economy would call cheap.
For me, much of this hobby was in building, not buying. I made my own speakers, which may sound like crap (but I like them!), but the pride of ownership is unparalleled. Anyone with a fat enough wallet can buy their way into the club and pretend to be part of the cognoscenti but when you build anything, even if from a kit, you are ahead of everyone who has not. If I had any amounts of money to spend in my version of this hobby I’d experiment with custom line arrays or for HT, high output MTM, and innovative bass traps. My money would go to 3D CAM based milling machines, and sawdust removal. I would also hang out on Audiogon laying waste to snake oil salesmen all day long.
In terms of electronics what have I heard I feel is the equal or better than what I own?
- Luxman
- Ayre
- D’Agostino
- Vandersteen
- CAT
In another area, headphones, I probably would drop a lot more money than I have. The best audio at a show, ever, was from Audeze headphones driven by Woo Audio tube headphone preamp. I’d love to have that experience in my home again. BTW, that was a very long time ago, so if I did this again I’d definitely want to listen to Raal Earspeakers and other headphone amp/DACs.
Any remaining money I’d spend on supporting musical education and culture. Great musicians come from an environment that includes formal education, access to instruments and a thriving supportive community.
Best,
Erik
67 responses Add your response
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I will keep my actual dedicated audio room with my crazy cheap homemade embedding devices because like said the OP, when you make something yourself you are ahead and proud.... I will buy the Berning Zotl amplifier to replace my Sansui, i will keep my Starting point system nos dac and i will study about new speakers (undecided for the moment ).... Not so costly additions after all... I like the philosophy and experience of the OP, audio is not about money at all.... My best.... |
I have my Lotto Wish List but I am sure it would change after auditioning gear:
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue16/lavigneroom.htm |
Call me crazy but it would be more matched systems and not a “one killer system”. I currently have 5 different systems and love them all. It’s like some crazy harem of sound. Some systems play more intimate and others rock the house. My wife believes they are all too loud, oh well. As to additions, absolutely. Something matched to some Sonus Faber Strads would be nice and always thought about a Hovland amp. From there some of the ancient Western Electrics would have to make the list, matched to proper amplification. Then there is the Meridian dsp8000 and the list goes on and on. Each is so, so different in stage and presentation. Would this satisfy my appetite, probably not. I thought I was done when I assembled my first “forever” system. Nope, didn’t happen. I kind of look at my habit as similar to a car collector. A Ferrari definitely has some incredible appeal, but would you pass a chance to own a duesenburg, if your in to cars. Would you say, I got a Ferrari, I’m good. Heck no, both have a ability and looks galore but what a difference. Now yes, as an audiophile we do run into Porsche owners. Those that swear, “their brand”, is all there is. All I can say is, well good for you, have a cookie. |
Having spent a large portion of my life amongst such people, I promise you the only thing they have you do not is more choices. With that comes huge input from people asking for funds continually for as many "worthy" causes as you can name. Finally, if your huge wealth is well-known, you need to pretty much hide and so do your children. That is what gated mansions and yachts really do. Be happy with what you have. As I have told my daughter ever since she was able to understand, most humans in the world live in dirt-floored huts with no sanitation or medical care. Being born in the USA or any other developed nation is blessing enough. Oh, I would spend a BUNDLE on Audio Research and Magnepan stuff and it would reproduce music better than anything else. Cheers! |
With no limits I would probably try to listen to a number of systems before making a choice. Electronics I have heard that sounded very good include * CH Precision * Apurna (https://www.apurna-france.com/index_en.html ) * Aavik * Devialet * Pass Labs * Absolare Speakers * Magico M6 * Focal Utopia * MBL * Bayz * Avantgarde * Kii Three with BXT (maybe not as good but good enough) I don't have a turntable right now but with unlimited budget I might just trust Fremer and go for the S.A.T. XD1 |
Anybody who covets mbl but either can’t afford them or lacks the proper room to set them up in should consider a pair of Ohm Walsh speakers for a fraction of the price then throw the kitchen sink at them to get the most out of them. Maybe even if they can afford mbl but just want something more flexible with placement and manageable. OR simply hand made in the USA. Also reliability will not likely be an issue, not to say it would be with mbl. https://ohmspeaker.com/news/top-10-greatest-speakers/ |
The point of how becoming a 1% er overnight is rather moot, as I am sure it’s not about to happen to me. ;-) The question really is, what do I like in my hobby? Am I a shopper, tinkerer or builder? Next is what do I admire. I absolutely admire me some $2 million dollar cars, and $30 million dollar homes and with the funds would buy some. Have I ever heard a $300K speaker system I wanted to own, make space for and spend time with? Sadly no. With that kind of funding I’d still be a tinkerer. Headphones on the other hand... Best, E |
Becoming instant 1%ers changes most people Erik. You post like it doesn’t. Exactly. Another off the wall goofball fantasy thread. When in reality if you woke up one day with all the money in the world another stereo will probably be the last thing on your mind. What would happen is first you go looking for a better home. But it turns out all the really good homes already have people living in them. So what do you care? Buy them out! Why not? You have all the money in the world! And the world is such a big place, pretty soon you're hiring people to find even better places and stuff. Whole teams, armies of people! Why not? What do you care what it costs? You have all the money in the world! This is like the other one he did, anyone remember? Its the end of the world, everyone gone, you make one last trip to the store what stereo do you get? What do you mean what stereo? Whole planet to yourself, gonna spend it cooped up in a shack in the woods? What planet are you on? Planet! Now you're talking! All the money in the world, before long the question is, why just this one world?! Then again maybe not. Maybe you really do think so small all you can come up with is Krell and D'Agostino. Even stuck in the stereo rut the choices aren't very imaginative. All the money in the world. What a waste. |
If you had unlimited money you would need to hire me to come and custom tune a system for you. Solid concrete cabinets. No mdf nonsense. Just thick concrete. Perhaps 10 metre thick should do the trick. Accutons or scanspeak, or textreme. All active tuned crossovers not passive and PERFECT phase. 20-20khz no problem. PAINSTAKINGLY CUSTOM tuned by hand and by ear. PAYMENT UPFRONT AND ACCOMODATION AND TRAVEL EXPENSES MUST BE COVERED. The sound quality would be so beautiful that we wouldnt be held liable for any reactions that might occur including heart attacks or stroke. all the best, Master tuner. |
And we know that Kenjit speaker would be very inexpensive, because no speaker can possibly cost a lot to build or make. He’s told us so, many times.Depends. I could do reasonably priced speakers or I could do what everybody else does and charge you 100K for some accutons. If you are interested, payment will be required upfront and we can have your ears tested to determine the exact tuning required. |
What is a hearing aid? It is a miniature speaker with built in eq. Except a hearing aid is not designed to have ultra high end sound quality it is simply designed to work. A speaker is a big hearing aid which you dont have to wear. The problem is it needs to be custom tuned just as a hearing aid needs to be custom tuned to each user. |
"...maybe if I got to go to the Munich High End show I'd have very different ideas about what kind of a high end system I'd actually feel worthwhile??" Once in Munich, how do you even remember to go to the High End show? It is a nice city with many interesting corners. Just sit in a cafe in Schwabing and forget about impedance and soundstage. |
....all the irregulars are here....may as well doom this thread.... maps, 👍 on Ohms, anything Walsh...natch. Erik writes a bro bouquet, and nobody blinked....🤦♂️🤷♂️ E....re 'phones: Near Nirvana Now, get a pair of muscian-grade earpieces fitted into your head. Obviously, Bluteethed and you get your phone as well. And if something ails your ears, covered. ;) As for mega $: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMVuRGw_a5A Godnight, Tweet Prints.... |