So, I listened to a $1Million Dollar System


So, I listened to a $1Million dollar system.

A somewhat local dealer had an event that showcased the Dan D’Agostino Relentless Epic mono block amps, Relentless Preamplifier, Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX speakers and subsonic subwoofer. Along with the Transparent cabling, HRS stands, DCS Dac and other accessories I estimate the total cost to be over $1Miilion.

I was able to sit in the front row center. The speakers estimated to weigh over 700 lbs. were toed in quite a bit towards the listener.

The demonstrator played a lot of obscure music that centered on some very deep bass. I must admit the bass was quite impressive.

Eventually (reluctantly) the demonstrator played a few tunes that I requested, and I was quite surprised.

With this million-dollar system the music sounded quite dull, the rep called it “mellow”, but to me it was dull. There was no life to the music, limited highs and zero music coming from the extreme left- right.

For instance, I use the Linda Ronstadt track “Blue Bayou” as a reference. Within this track at about the 40-60 second mark there is a mandolin that plays in the extreme left channel. On many systems that information is buried deep into the mix. However, systems with high resolution can play it clearly. Unfortunately, with this million-dollar system I could not even detect it.

So why is it? Can the Wilson speakers be adjusted in such a way as to accent the bass and attenuate the mid-treble? If so, why would they demonstrate that way? Were the speakers too toed in? Or was it because there were about 10 people in the room (btw, a large room) which muted some of the speaker’s energy? Whatever, I was NOT impressed.

ozzy

128x128ozzy

Maybe someone from @paragonss weighin on OP experience, room acoustics and setup? They carry all the brands featured in the demo. 

In years of visiting dealers and going to shows very rare to hear system that really moved me. Even ten, twenty years ago, when my system at much lower level, I judged my system as preferable to vast majority of these setups. Setups at dealers, shows have so many inherent liabilities, may be room, lack of synergy between components, AC quality, high ambient noise levels is major impediment, loss of transparency, resolution here. Things like expectation bias, distraction of senses due to other stimuli  may also impact impressions. Nothing like being alone in one's own dedicated listening room, with an entire system carefully assembled for max synergy. This is real comfort zone, relaxed state, easy to get away from analytical listening mode. For all these reasons and more I don't get excessively negative about less than satisfactory listening experiences of high end systems in these settings.

Hey Ozzy, 

  I was there Thursday too. I spent most of my time in studio 2 listening to the Alexia V driven by ARC and dCS and I was impressed with the sound in that room. The dCS rep was playing a good mix of things to show off various elements of the Ring DAC in the Rossini player and also taking our requests. I really enjoyed the hour or so I spent in there. I didn’t get into studio 1 to hear the big Wilson’s, but for one song (a cover of Brothers in Arms). I have to say I was more impressed with the smaller setup in studio 2. Living close by though, I’m lucky to be able to hear this stuff pretty regularly. Which I’m thankful for. I’ve learned a lot about what I like and what I don’t like just by being lucky enough to have a couple fairly large dealers close by. 
 

Best,

Neal

I learned a long time ago that people with a lot of money are often not very smart at spending it.  Very often folks with a lot of anything tend to waste it or not think very much about how to use it.

So, I don’t want to mention the dealer, for I am very grateful for the opportunity to be able to hear these components. And they put on quite a nice event.

I’m still thinking that the system was set up exactly the way they wanted it to be. Perhaps the Wilson’s have too much hi-frequency energy and they tried to tone it down? I dunno, but it was quite dead sounding.

Also, I know presenters want to use music that shows off the equipment’s ability but music I am familiar with helps me evaluate the equipment.

ozzy