I know of a guy with 90 plus StillPoints Ultra 5s Now that's quite impressive. Regards, |
Czarivey, I know of at least four very wealthy guys, all in the Northeast who have multiple very expensive turntables, amps, turntables and, yes, sets of cables. I know of one guy with eleven Stage III Krakens, I know of a guy with 90 plus StillPoints Ultra 5s.
Your wishful thinking doesn't make it so. |
I had a few miljonairs, but they do not spend so much money on audio like a person who is seeing it as his hobby. Hobby in US can drive mind outside sanity and as Bo noted, millionaires most-likely would not spend xx,xxx.xx money on audio wires. Having the fact of reaching descent wealth, very often it implies to strong mind that would certainly block such naive decisions. |
In the Netherlands sets above 50.000 dollar are often owned by people with a mid or even lower income. I had a few miljonairs, but they do not spend so much money on audio like a person who is seeing it as his hobby.
Maybe in the US it is different....
These days you can buy a much higher endresult in sound compared to let's say 5 years ago for less money.
I see this as a very positive thing. I use it, but many don't use it at all! |
How much information do you have for buying one computer versus another? Quite a bit actually. My latest computer purchase was a mac mini to use as a music server, which I compared to many other options like CAPS servers and other small non-laptop machines. At OWC online you can watch a video of them taking apart an entire mac mini to install new memory, drives, etc. I ended up having Mojo remove the SMPS and install filters plus an outboard linear power supply that I reviewed a picture of on-line before choosing Mojo to do the work. Yes you get amount of memory, processor speed, size, weight, etc. Do you seek interior pictures or timing of various tasks before buying? Actually, yes again, except maybe for inexpensive laptops or machines from "known" suppliers but even then the components they use are almost always listed so you can look them up. There are ways to hide proprietary circuits from a casual photograph but IME the absence of transparency often hides BS, especially when it is accompanied by overly enthusiastic rhetoric. Maybe I have engineer's disease but I want to know how and why things work. |
Mitch2, let me take another counter example to your car example. How much information do you have for buying one computer versus another? Yes you get amount of memory, processor speed, size, weight, etc. Do you seek interior pictures or timing of various tasks before buying?
I like 6Moons reviews also, but many audio manufactures will not allow such reviews. I much prefer to discuss the at least plausible explanation of how product X differs. But there are many things that manufacturers consider proprietary information. Would that you deny such manufacturers no reviews or just tell readers to hear this for yourself? In reality advising readers to seek to hear this piece is the only warrented advice, even though few of us can get such an audition. Wouldn't it be great were audio magazines be listening sessions where everyone heard the same thing rather than verbal reviews? |
I don't mind reviews of extremely expensive cables, gear or speakers, especially if I learn something new about design or materials. What I don't like are reviews that are all hype and don't provide any substance about the design, materials or actual (not pseudo) science behind the product. There is a well known and commercially successful brand of cables with many professional reviews where none of the reviews provide even basic construction details such as the speaker cable wire gauge. There is a new Class D amplifier manufacturer with supposedly great sounding products that will not post or allow pictures of the insides of their amps. Say what you will about a 6Moons audio review but at least they go over the construction of the reviewed item, show detailed pictures of the insides and compare directly with other similar products they have heard. None of us would buy a car without looking under the hood and comparing specifications and construction details so why do "audiophiles" pay as much as a car for cables or gear without the benefit of detailed design/construction information for comparison? |
Forget your Oyster Perpetual bud, I've got Valhalla! |
The top 1%
I know this thread has moved on, and this might not be the best timing. But knowledge is golden.
So the top 1%, is not what one thinks it is:
1. A family enters the top 1% or so today with somewhere around $300k to $400k in pre-tax annual income and over $1.2M in net worth. Compared to the average American family with a pre-tax income in the mid-$50k range and net worth around $120k, this probably seems like a lot of money. But, there are big differences even within that top 1%, with the wealth distribution highly skewed towards the top 0.1%.
-The net worth for those in the lower half of the top 1% is usually achieved after decades of education, hard work, saving and investing as a professional or small business person.
-They pay the highest taxes. While an after-tax income of $175k to $250k and net worth in the $1.2M to $1.8M range may seem like a lot of money to most Americans, it doesn't really buy freedom from financial worry or access to the true corridors of power and money.
-In many areas in California or the East Coast, this positions one squarely in the hard working upper-middle class, and strict budgeting will be essential. An income of $190k post tax or $15.8k per month will certainly buy a nice lifestyle but is far from rich.
2. One enters the top 0.5% with about $1.8M.
3. Top 0.25% with $3.1M.
4. Top 0.10% with $5.5M.
5. Top 0.01% with $24.4M.
So.... |
That is why audio need to become more open and honest. Shops and shows need to be more precise in what they do and what they use.
Audio is about comparing. The problem is that every single brand is showing often just only their products. One of the other things I often got really annoyed it reading tests about stuff I know what is very average or even poor what is getting very good reviews.
When you pay money or you give a tool to a magazine you get a good and nice review. It has become all about money. This lowers and limits the realistic perception for customers.
I only give other people options. Options are about freedom. I say; listen to this.....
When audio becomes more open and honest more people will buy it and the quality will raise. This is what I want.
I want the shit out of the audio market. Because this is the scam part in audio. The other part is not giving a honest advise. Often it is based on how much money they can earn.
I send my clients to other shops because I want them to get different chnaces. They have the same opportunities as I have. So use them wise. This is all I can say.
This thread is about expensive cables. I can garantee you that there are some which are worth there money. But....there are a lot more that are not worth their money. I see this as a problem.
I understand that some people don't like me. I ask them at shows just honest question's. There need to be more communication.
Every single brand is protecting their territory. Shops do the same thing. I call it shallow thinking. People have to learn to look further in general. In audio there is this need as well.
In the last years I see that audio has getting it more difficult caused by the econmic crisis. But the reactions of those who work in audio is making it even more worse instead of making it better.
The focus is not on giving the best quality, but on how I can get the best most money. I see it and it lowers the endresults. It is short time thinking. Why? Do you really think a client will buy again at you? After time you will not be satisfied, so he won't come back.
I am here to give thoughts to people! When you can proof I am wrong, be my guest and proof it! |
Mapman, I thought everyone knew I was now a reviewer. On Audioasylum you have to register as a reviewer, but not on Audiogon. I here of late have put a good deal of money into my system because I really could not do without what I was buying. Of course if I'm buying a product I "support" it.
I am not threatened by your posts. I am irritated with their making so many interesting threads into worthless by this nosense of nothing being worth it. You know that most who have been posting have found something worthwhile and that you cannot undo that. You and others, view yourselves as "scam police." No one appointed you to this.
I asked the question out of sincere concern that no one was interested in reviews of expensive cables. Had I not been so impressed with the power cords, I certainly would not have scraped to buy only a portion of what I need. |
05-23-14: Roxy54
You certainly have the "constant repeating" part down. +1. Well said Roxy54! |
Mapman wrote,
"Tbg,
You must have a lot of money invested in your system and I suspect it must sound quite good accordingly. Why not post the fruits of your work (ie your system or systems) here on A'gon.
Do you actually buy the products you support? Or are you a reviewer or dealer with special privileges?"
Pretty suspicious sounding. A little snarky, actually, if I can be so bold. |
I am not a reviewer. I am a person from the Netherlands who does consulting in sound and vision.
It is as it is. When people tell lies about me. They react only from egoistic thoughts. This is the main reason in failing as a human being.
There Always will be people who will react negative. At shows and in my work I beat these people with sound. That is how I can make them keep there mouth shut.
Because the best sound Always will win, and that is how I work! So keep it simple. |
I can sell audio without having anything. I can give a few examples.
When the Valhalla powercable came out, it was special for some time. Many I did sell just on the Phone. Because I can describe it very precise. Then people want it. My words are exactly what it will bring in sound. Because for a perfectionist it need to be like this. There is no room for error and no room for lies. I want audio to become open and honest as possible.
I want to raise the bar in general. It is not about me, I hope other people in this business will also give a better endresult.
I am here just for fun. I am curious about the reactions. Not every person like my direct approach. But that is alright. Don't forget here it are just words. In sound I am a lot better than in words.
I sell a 3 dimensional physical image. It is my personal view of how the absolute sound should be. My focus was and is on creating a 3 dimensional physical image for less money than what you need for highend. Other shops are not able to create the same level in endresult. Often they don't even come close. Don't forget I do this since I was 6. It never will be work for me. It is like a second nature. A part of who I am as a person. I am now 41 years old, I don't think there are a lot of people who spend so much time on audio and music. I never had collegues with the same level of drive and dedication.
In my country there are also people who don't like me. This has to do that they are aware of the fact thay my knowledge is so much better. At shows I can beat every single person with ease. Perfection is based on winning. I do shows because I want to be the best. The main reason is based on the irritation of all those fools in audio and the shit there is on the market. I really hate lying. As a perfectionist it needs to be the best, there is no second best.
I buy the brands I love. I do consulting in sound and vision. I don't have a demo room. I use my own room. And I have many demo rooms in my country. All my clients are prepared to let me use there sets. Why? Because they know I would do everything for them. They do the same for me.
What I said earlier; I use audio to achieve my main goal in life. I want to start a foudation. It is fot those who have no chance for a human life. And for those who cannot create chnaces for a better life.
In my world this is the highest thing I can achieve. As a perfectionist you go for this. For a long time I thought it is not possible to create it. In a short time I earn a lot of money with soudn and vision.
This money I want to use for my foundation. I give people the best quality in sound and vision and they also support those who have nothing.
I swimm against the stream, it is normal that people don't like it. I am different, I don't say better. I want the freedom to do it my way. And if other people think they can create a higher level......just show it. You have the same chances that I have.
I want to create chances for people who can't create them. And again it is not about me. I hope other people will do it the same way. Because with eachother we can create a better world for us all. People need to look further!
I have a lot of happy clients. I have a much more personal contact with my clients than I had when I worked in an audio shop. Consulting has a big advantage that I have more time for my clients in general.
I like speed, so when clients call me to aks me things. I will directly find the answer on the question. And call them back. I call it: Bobby Speed.
My clients can call me every single day from 11-2 o'clock. I live at different times.I am my own boss,so I do it my way. |
I can sell audio without having anything. I can give a few examples.
When the Valhalla powercable came out, it was special for some time. Many I did sell just on the Phone. Because I can describe it very precise. Then people want it. My words are exactly what it will bring in sound. Because for a perfectionist it need to be like this. There is no room for error and no room for lies. I want audio to become open and honest as possible.
I want to raise the bar in general. It is not about me, I hope other people in this business will also give a better endresult.
I am here just for fun. I am curious about the reactions. Not every person like my direct approach. But that is alright. Don't forget here it are just words. In sound I am a lot better than in words.
I sell a 3 dimensional physical image. It is my personal view of how the absolute sound should be. My focus was and is on creating a 3 dimensional physical image for less money than what you need for highend. Other shops are not able to create the same level in endresult. Often they don't even come close. Don't forget I do this since I was 6. It never will be work for me. It is a second nature. A part of who I am as a person. I am now 41 years old, I don;t think there are a lot of people who spend so much time on anudio and music. I never had collegues with the same level of drive and dedication.
In my country ther are also people who do'n't like me. This has to do that they are aware of the fact thay my knowledge is so much better. At shows I can beat every single person with ease. Perfection is based on winning. I do shows because I want to be the best. The main reason is based on the irritation of all those fools in audio and the shit there is on the market. I really hate lying. As a perfectionist it needs to be the best, there is no second best.
I buy the brands I love. I do consulting in sound and vision. I don't have a demo room. I use my own room. And I have many demo rooms in my country. All my clients are prepared to let me use there sets. Why? Because they know I would do everything for them. They do the same for me.
What I said earlier; I use audio to achieve my main goal in life. I want to start a foudation. It is fot those who have no chance for a human life. And for those who cannot create chnaces for a better life.
In my world this is the highest thing I can achieve. As a perfectionist you go for this. For a long time I thought it is not possible to create it. In a short time I earn a lot of money with soudn and vision.
This money I want to use for my foundation. I give people the best quality in sound and vision and they also support those who have nothing.
I swimm against the stream, it is normal that people don't like it. I am different, I don't say better. I want the freedom to do it my way. And if other people think they can create a higher level......just show it. You have the same chances that I have.
I want to create chances for people who can't create them. And again it is not about me. I hope other people will do it the same way. Because with eachother we can create a better world for us all. People need to look further!
I have a lot of happy clients. I have a much more personal contact with my clients than I had when I worked in an audio shop. Consulting has a big advantage that I have more time for my clients in general.
I like speed, so when clients call me to aks me things. I will directly find the answer on the question. And call them back. I call it: Bobby Speed.
My clients can call me every single day from 11-2 o'clock. I live at different times.I am my own boss,so I do it my way. |
He's a pseudo reviewer and I guarantee gets large price breaks on all the gear.
For that reason alone his comments, ideas, and recommendations must be dismissed as total BS. |
Tbg,
You must have a lot of money invested in your system and I suspect it must sound quite good accordingly. Why not post the fruits of your work (ie your system or systems) here on A'gon.
Do you actually buy the products you support? Or are you a reviewer or dealer with special privileges?
Just wondering. I'd really like to understand where you come from better. And why you see my posts and others like it as such a threat. Obviously, not everyone shares your views, nor mine. |
You certainly have the "constant repeating" part down. |
Spending money on shit is very easy in audio. Same thing about spending a lot of money on getting an average or low quality.
Audio is all about the right balance in a system. In most systems the balance is far from perfect.
This is based on:
- Using tools which togheter are not the right combination.
- missing essentail parts which need to be there.
- Not able to get a decent level out of the speakers caused
by a too low level in amps, source and cables.
* For me it is a constant repeating of the same limitations. |
Bo,
Move your business here because here people tend to spend a lot of money on wires.
Spending lots of money on good speakers looks like a very good mistake to me. |
I my country the most common mistake people in audio make is spending a lot of money on speakers compared to the rest of their set.
What I did 10 years ago during a audio show was using speakers of just 1000 dollar and I used an integrated amp of 7000 dollar. I had a stunning endresult. ( what counts most)
I told people the importance of an amp and that many people spend less money on amps.
There is a reason why people people spend easilly a lot of money on speakers compared to how much they spend on amps and cables.
This was a reason why I started to use blind tests in the past. Because audio works best by convincing people.
Still many make this mistake. So I bring in cables and amps to open their eyes ( ears) |
TBg,
Your question does not warrant a response.
Have a nice day! |
Mcondon, Jazzonthehudson, Czarivey, and, of course, Mapman, why do you bother posting here? Are you guys self-appointed snakeoil police? If you guys think those of us buying the HFCs enjoy their expense or that we seek the awe of those coming to our rooms and seeing these cables, you are crazy, but we do recognize the performance improvement of these cables and have found that those coming to our homes and hearing them agree.
Jazzonthehudson, until there finally is a dynamic and efficient point sourse speaker that is a reverse microphone, speakers will always be a compromise. |
Yes, I agree with Mcondon's post as well.
Good marketers know exactly what nerves to condition the public into potential customers. What seems like a bargain is all relative. Its all a game more than anything I suppose really.
AN $8600 product received a good review. What a revelation! A $5 one from Home Depot might just as easily, depending on context. Its hard to make a power cord that doesn't work well. Almost any will do. Not to say that they will all sound the same though, to discriminating ears they may well not. Plus results will vary most likley case by case. So the inherent unique value of any power cord is hard to establish, other than how much people will pay. I suppose that is why I was recently able to buy a $300 retail power cord recently new for $85. Yes I liked the resulting sound, and felt like I got a deal in the process. Its a very well constructed product, no doubt. I'm such a trained monkey!!!! :^) |
Mcondon,
I think you've just highlighted this discussion shortly and clearly! Count me as complete stranger to this hobby as I've been tellin' these hobby obsessed folks to go and see psychiatrist :-) |
Bol1972,
I agree with you...overwhole. |
I really like people correcting my average english writing. When I read it I remember it from school long time ago. The word overwhole I use a lot, so thanks for the right words!
It is not about the amount. I try to make people understand that cables have a big influence on the overwhole sound. The focus needs to be on the endresult.
I often ask my clients how much they would like to spend? It is my goal Always to create the best endresult for that money. Because I would want it the same way.
It would be great to use different sets on shows which cost all the same. Behind the curtains in a blind test.
In my country many people in audio are extreme egoists, they want to do everything by themselves. This is one of the biggest limitations in the world of Audio.
So and then you have me, swimming against the stream. And doing it totally different. With cables I have my own way of using them.
I love stunning cables, most of the time they are not cheap.
They can bring me to a much higher level in audio.
Here on Audiogon there are many sceptical people regarding expensive cables. I understand them.
The reason why they are sceptical is caused by the far over 95% of all the bullshit stuff there is on the audio market.
I hate it so much, that at shows I can crush people who demo it. I will ask them questions and will tell them based on facts why it is rubbish. Often they don't know what to say. I want these people out of this business. Same thing about the shit they sell.
And no you can't stop me, because I am on a mission. So F.... |
Bol1972,
Don't forget to stop at my house! Actally, I don't doubt that what you are saying about power cords is true; why would you make it up? The problem is that most of us who have 2k or 3k amps can't afford 4k cords, and those of us who have amps in that price range can't justify the value quotient of a cord that expensive, as opposed to a complex piece of electronics of the same price.
One more thing, and I am not trying to poke fun at your English, because I wish that I was even slightly bilingual, but I wanted to point out in a friendly way that you often say "overwhole" when you mean to say overall.
I do enjoy your posts. |
hahahahahahahahahaha.......I will come to the US as Santa.
I will give all audio addicted people free Purist Audio powercabels! |
Bo1972,
Good idea! Maybe then you can send shipments of $4,000 power cords to less fortunate audiophiles around the world so that they can finally hear what their $2,000 amps are really capable of. |
Very well put Mcondon!
The implied question could be: how much is it worth to you to have the London Philharmonic playing in your room w/o the coughs of your neighbor or the Carnegie Hall w/o the squeaking of (some) of their chairs? How much worth is having Diana Krall singing right before you? IME, no el cheapo wires can facilitate a mid level or even some high end system close to that level of realism. Believe me, I have tried "giant killers" in each category and am constant on look out for them. Hopefully someone will offer wires with magnets for the price of a set of CDs.
So if a high priced (all is relative) infrastructure - as I regard the cables are - can help your system to move in that direction of audio nirvana, why not? The margins on some cable are indeed higher than on some gear but the educated listener should know which emperor has cloths on and how much it is worth market wise.
To those who claim cables do not make a difference: good for you, money saved! Some day you may end up arguing with a friend who says amplifiers does not make a difference, they're just a bunch of parts and transformers, only speakers do... some day. |
Audio is only about a luxury you don't really need. But......music played on a good set can give you an emotional feeling what can be priceless.
It is a good thing to mention that there are more important things in life. I have the dream to start a foundation.
Every person who buys sound&vision equipment from me a part of their spending go to this foundation. I will professional film it and make photographs so people can see what I do with the money.
We want to start with the poverty in my own country. Because this is a problem what is increasing.
For me audio is a way to achieve my main goal in life. |
In answer to the original poster's question: yes, reviewers should review mega-dollar cables because it is in their economic interest to do so.
Even if very few of us will ever end up contemplating spending $8,600 on a Kraken power cord, which just received a good review on Dagogo.com, reviews of mega-dollar cables support all cable retailers/manufacturers. The reviews help convince a select few of us to spend absurd amounts of money on cables, e.g. $13K on the top-of-the line High Fidelity Cables power cord, which costs as much as a clean water well in sub-Saharan Africa or one third as much as an in-ground swimming pool. The rest of us see those reviews, dismiss the products as absurdly overpriced, but slowly become conditioned to spend $500, $1,000, or $2,000 on similar cables without compunction, telling ourselves we have found a bargain. Meanwhile, complete strangers to this hobby would tell us to see a psychiatrist.
In any case, those reviews keep this hobby fascinating, providing a window into both behavioral economics and human psychology. |
This thread has become the Tower of babel. |
Music is the essential part of audio. Without music there is no audio. I even think many people who love audio forget this! |
You are right Bo, but still would rather support artists, automobile makers, home builders than so mentioned home audio wire assembly lines. |
Audio is not about brands. Audio is all about creating the best and most convincing sound.
I give you an example. When I was at my friends house in his small concertroom, I was stunned about the intimate sound of an voice. It felt like a magnet. It got my full attention. Small and intimate individual focus is a very important part in the emotion music can give. That is why instruments and voices out of proportion are less involving. This is a very important part for realistic sound. I put a lot of afford to create this in every single system.
When a system goes deeper there is more information and low freq. have a big influence on our emotion. This is what I use for what I call Total sound.
A 3 d sound sets all instruments and voices physically loose from eachtoher. This is also a very important part to make music more realistic and involving.
A higher black level make your speakers more dissapear. This also creates a more involving sound.
Sound realism is maybe the most important part in audio regarding emotion. A violin and cello can give a very involving emotional sound in real. So you want an instrument to sound as realistic possible.
I prefer Pass Labs because their class A give a very realistic sound. But in drive and speed it is more complete than many tube amps. That is why I personally find it more complete than most tube amps.
All parts togheter creates an involving sound what you want to listen for many hours a day with your beloved music.
It is my focus to give clients an endresult in sound were they want to listen for hours a day.
In 16 years of time I know that a lot more people have sets which are incomplete and often they are not satisfied.
This needs to change. That is why a more open and transparent advise in audio is a pre.
The quality needs to get higher to give people more satisfaction in music. It is that simple! |
All dealers are good in convincing.
With great components different wires bring different colors and sound different far not due to the price level but due to electric properties achievable even with ones from radioshack or home depot. i did research on wires used during some of my favorite recordings and none of them used neither nordost, audioquest, siltech, harmonic or shaniata. do you think that recording engineers don't know about wire quality and performance? |
"Taking the fact that wires can only dictate 1% of overall system performance "
were can I read these facts. In my opinion facts are what you hear. That is why I love blind tests.
In the past I did many with amps and sources. In the past I Always compared a more expensive amp or source with a cheap powercable and a source or amp often half of the price of the other amp or source with a very expensive powercable. I Always used about the same value togheter.
Many people Always thought they would choose for the more expensive poweramp or source. In almost all situations it was the opposite. It is about the sound what you hear.
I sell by comparing. I create a 3 d sound and an extreme physical stage. I can send all clients to every single shop. In almost all situations they sell 2D sound. There lack of knowledge and insight in sound is what it makes so easy for me.
Many people in this business do not invest time in getting familiar with new stuff and improving their knowledge. |
Bo1972, I also sell popular products at my retail spot and can understand your points. It's the best bait for uneducated consumer!
By analogy, my consumers like to buy Madonna, Michael Jackson, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, The Who, Pink Floyd and so on...
Frank Zappa, King Crimson, Nat King Cole, Julie London, jazz of any kind will most-likely stay on shelves substantially longer and those are for educated consumers that know about music more than just popular stuff.
It's all natural. Well marketted product such as Nordost, AudioQuest will sell good weather it makes or it doesn't make sense.
Taking the fact that wires can only dictate 1% of overall system performance, the dumb ballpark figure to invest into wires should be very close to that ratio. For system priced $10,000 the total price for wires should be somewhere close to $100. My system is a-bit bellow $10k worth, but wires total worth is $185 including speaker wires(BTW unterminated Kimber 8TC purchased as left-over bulk). My wire philosophy is tied mostly with pro-grade. Ones used in studios will bring the sound with most precision and with least investment giving the largest performance per dollar IMHO. |
I owned the Diamond+ pure silver loudspeaker cable from 1999-2000. After this I bought the Nordost Valhalla. And I kept it for 12 years of time.
I sold Audioquest from 1998-2004. After that it went of the radar. I had to wait for some Kimber slect cables and I lend some Audioquest interconnects in 2010. When the Kimber came I realized that Audioquest made a big step.
After this I sold the Kimber select cables in one week of time. And started to buy and sell Audioquest again.
These days it is by far the most important brand in cables for me. Because it gives me the best results. Only those really counts!! |
I heard some very good thing about AudioQuest from someone the other day. I used to have the AudioQuest Truth interconnects (silver) as well as the AudioQuest Truth Digital Cable what twenty years ago. It's kinda difficult to believe the new stuff could be appreciably better than those cables, but I guess you never know. |
Sorry about my mistakes in writing.
Believe me with brands like Audioquest and Purist Audio the individual focus ( imaging) is superior because the instruments and voices are smaller in proportion. Beside this the black level is better. You get a higher physical and palpable image.
It is all about differences. I focus on those who are the best. They become the refference. When levels in black and imaging is less good for me it is inferior.
Then they don't bother to me any more. |
Nordost soundstage and imaging was top notch when demoed. |
Bo1972, "The prevered (preferred?) sound is what counts. There (their?) stories are worth nothing!" |
I sold and used Nordost my way. Like I do many things differently.
But for a reason. As a perfectionist it need to be perfect, or it is a no go.
I hate every single limitation. So what you do is you try to solve them. You add properties it does not own to make it complete.
So I used Kimber interconnects to change some limitations.
When I used Kimber interconnects the stage became wider and deeper. But I also got a much sharper individual focus of instruments and voices. And a much more open and involving mid freq.
And as you know; hearing is believing. In blind test all people choose for then Nordost/Kimber combo instead of full Nordost combo.
During discussions about this with the Nordost people they got irritated. Because they are f... blind ( deaf) and believe in there f....bullshit synergy story.
The prevered sound is what counts. There stories are worth nothing! |
Bo, your assessment of Nordost is consistent with my limited exposure to them to-date. |
I sold Nordost for over 9 years of time. I sold a lot of Valhalla in the past as well.
The limitations are involvement in the mid freq. Not an intimate realistic proportion of instruments and voices.
Other brands also can give a wider and deeper stage. |
I've heard Nordost High End wires once that I know of in a 6 digit tube amp dealer system with Magico Mini 2 speakers. It was very good sound in a smaller room with the Magicos, especially for classical music. but pop/rock genre left me somewhat cold for those $$$s. I expected perfection always with a system like that. |
