genez hints at a key question. In my experience audiophiles spend freely for things such as $5k power cords hooked into a cheap socket in a house with old O2 polluted copper or worse aluminum.
Or they keep a huge equipment rack between the speakers wrecking center fill, with turntables with the cover on getting hit by heavy bass waves. Choose speaker locations based on ease and looks and not sonics.
I recently moved from a great room set up with ASC traps, fabric wall hangings and small oriental carpets to balance reflection and absorption. My 2k Triangle Celius 202's with fully redone x-over and Fountek ribbons sounded like they were $5k speakers. New room compromised by WAF, lack of ASC traps, sound like $700 speakers. Half hour of listening was enough for me to decide to pack them away and buy another high end can - this time Audeze to go with my HFM, Senn etc.
Or they keep a huge equipment rack between the speakers wrecking center fill, with turntables with the cover on getting hit by heavy bass waves. Choose speaker locations based on ease and looks and not sonics.
I recently moved from a great room set up with ASC traps, fabric wall hangings and small oriental carpets to balance reflection and absorption. My 2k Triangle Celius 202's with fully redone x-over and Fountek ribbons sounded like they were $5k speakers. New room compromised by WAF, lack of ASC traps, sound like $700 speakers. Half hour of listening was enough for me to decide to pack them away and buy another high end can - this time Audeze to go with my HFM, Senn etc.