Albert,
Spoken like a true MUSIC lover!
We have different vendor's components in our systems but otherwise I'd say we're a lot alike.
Cheers! |
Agree with Shadorne.
I'd only add that the underpinnings of audio is science and engineering, but 98% of the end user experience results from the artistic aspect, which includes the recording process. |
You can achieve fairly high end sound for medium or low end cost if you match any decent speakers properly to a decent amp and focus on good speaker placement within the room
Most systems sound "high end" when speakers can be placed at least a few feet away from walls to avoid early reflections. In general, most speakers sound better when given some "room to breathe" in this manner. Avoid speakers that are too big in a room that is too small. Most decent, smaller "monitor speakers" work well in a variety of room sizes when paired with a decent quality matching amp, like a NAD (warmer sound) or Rotel (more detailed/transparent).
Then add some decent interconnects (anything other than stock cables that come with units, DNM, audioquest or MIT among others are safe bets) and any decent Monster power conditioner and you should be 90% there. Everything from here is a tweak to your particular tastes. If you are using a phono, make sure the cartridge is properly aligned and matched to the phono input properly. |
Dave,
I think your distinction between ego and loving music is an important one on this topic. Being a music lover is perhaps the biggest factor in achieving "high end".
A music lover will achieve a high end system much faster and possibly more cost effectively in most cases. The devil is in the details, and only a music lover is tuned in enough to those details to be able to separate performance from cost.
The good news is this: you do not have to be ultra rich to achieve high end performance if you are a true music lover. |
If I had the budget, I'd probably end up spending more.
But my system fits my current dwelling pretty well. The differences, if any, would be marginal or subjective, IMHO.
If I had a larger house with larger rooms, I would probably be inclined to scale my system up somewhat accordingly, which would likely cost more.
I might go with a fancier CD player, though I'm not sure I would gain much, which is why I am where I am there.
If I weren't turned onto the Ohms, I might have to spend more to match them otherwise, though I think I could find something second hand in the price range that might be in the same league at least. |
My system is clearly not high end if the measure is $$$$s spent compared to others.
I listen to the best systems I can without regard to cost whenever I have an opportunity and use these to set my reference for what is possible. Then I decide how to best invest the funds I can to best achieve that level of performance myself.
My current setup definitely floats my boat in regards to performance and enables me to fully engage my love of music with no significant compromise, which I guess is my goal.
Believe me, I'm always looking for ways to make my system better whenever possible. I do think though that given where I am at currently, the improvements I can achieve are very very marginal.
If I could do anything to improve my system at present, I would probably invest in a bigger listening room somehow in which to really unleash some large scale audio fury! |
In looking at Albert Porters System, I see that he has a one meter interconnect that costs more than my entire main system.
I've never heard the Dali's in Albert's system, but have heard other large Dalis albeit in listening rooms that were too small for them and based on that would expect his are quite extraordinary speakers with what has to be state of the art midrange detail, clarity and resolution in combination with the rest of his extraordinary system.
IT would surely be quite a rematch of David versus Goliath to compare my system to Albert's. I'd probably only even consider doing it if I could get a home game in my modest sized room in that I am fairly certain I'd get blown away in a much larger room.
The best I could probably hope for in reality in such a duel would be to put in a valiant challenge and confirm that the differences in performance were in fact marginal compared to the large difference in cost.
If I could afford Albert's system would I buy it? Sure why not. As I've stated repeatedly already, it is without doubt quite extraordinary! What audio nut wouldn't like to own it? Certainly not this one.
If I could afford it, I would also like to buy the Taj Mahal as my new listening room and have it custom treated for better acoustics while at it. |
Actually in recollection, I misstated something above.
The speakers I referenced that I had heard were large Avalons, not Dalis. The dealer sold both but I did not get a chance to audition any Dalis. I thought the design of the Dalis in Albert's system looked much different from the ones I was recalling...now I know why, two different lines!
So that fact is I've never heard Dalis. I'd surely at least want to hear them first before saying I'd buy them if I could.
Nevertheless, the Dalis is Albert Porters system surely sound outstanding as well in his exceptional setup.
Sorry. |
GoGirl,
The only advice is to enjoy the music regardless and don't let the technical details or worries about what you might be missing drag you down. You are young and have plenty of time to achieve your ideals. Take it slow and easy and enjoy the ride! |
back to the original question, here's my poor attempt at defining hi, medium and low end:
Low end: does what it does poorly
mid fi: does what it does well
hi end: does everything very well but still no two setups sound the same...still subject to personal tastes and biases regarding what sounds "best" |
Shadorne, funny, I owned and used a Zerostat back in the day. It did do what it was advertised to do, but I never found static on vinyl to be such an earth shattering issue for me with my custom and quite proprietary record cleaning technique (see other thread on record cleaning techniques), so the zerostat went its way. |
