Ken Fritz's $1M Dream System update

This system's use was limited to a minuscule sweet spot of only a couple of seats when in a concert hall there are hundreds and sometimes thousands of seats. A music system or home theater should offer a shared experience with friends. That is the problem with how wasteful the system was. The children should not have working on it or any other hobby they do not choose forced down their throats. 

To be honest with ourselves, can we really notice the difference between an overpriced system and one that most of us can afford without having to have unrealistic sensitivity to sound characteristics? Even for the few who do, concentrating to evaluate subtle differences in soundstage and the like will cost the attention to the emotional content of the music. 

There is no reason to envy systems that cost six figures with the likes of speaker cables that cost five figures and sound better by placebo effect.  

Honestly this year at axpona I’ve heard two outstanding system one is the Borensen c1 set up $35 k and other one is the Wilson Maxx Dan Agostino amp and preamp If Iam correct. My guess the price close to $500 k. On the 35k I heard amazing musicality and energy, palpability   On the expensive set I heard musicality, energy, liveness, like you are in the concert hall. 

@drbarney1 I was so flustered every time I had guests over (often) in my new custom listening room listening to giant headphone (not as bad as electrostats) Legacy Focuses. I finally sold them and switched in my living room Sig IIIs. Great. Then I finally could afford the ultimate speaker brand for dispersion without sacrificing sound quality, the Von Schweikert VR9 SE Mk2 upgraded. I often prefer listening off axis now, stereo or mono. Some people enjoy one or two person audio systems, particularly if they are single or don’t care to share. Duntech/Dunlavy and many stat speakers are for them.

As to comments concerning a $million system-it’s the reason I found Von Schweikert’s so late in life. My wife heard their show system in 2017 and for the only time in her life, felt emotionally congested and wished we could have a system like that. We do now and it cost 20% of that by buying used Von Schweikert speakers although I was ready to purchase their less expensive VR models. My best friend has VR35 exports and they sound very similar to my speakers lacking only in the dynamic range and deep bass but his room is a typical condo. I wish I had purchased his speakers a decade ago instead of the Focuses. Plus an SOTA pair of amps, near SOTA DAC/Pre-amp and CD transport. Wow!!! I’ve heard at least 1000 audio systems in my life, mostly at shows and salons. I don’t change equipment often and now my friend/dealer has set me up to life.

Family first, business second, then my music/video hobby which does consume about 25% of my time. 

@mikelavigne Similar response except I never want to retire.  Married 42 years (I'm younger).  My wife demands season opera tickets as she doesn't like to listen to it at home (or even on 75" 4K TVs).  Plus, i am an amateur recording engineer with over 150+ recordings in major and salon venues, recording archivist to 2 composers and now have acquired too many LPs and CDs (61,100 total physical media).  Despite all my family illness traumas, my music is a respite which I use every night for 2 hours prior to bed and go immediately to sleep.  I'm a happy pessimist (especially happy when things turn out for the better)

What is all this backlash against single listening chairs? God forbid a man have a hobby he can enjoy in solitude! I have as much company as I want in my life already. Sure it was fun having a great stereo to share when I was actively dating, but these days I really enjoy immersing myself in peace.