Where do you draw the line???

Late to the party but....Sad because there seem to be so many 'educated audiophiles' who seem to equate higher performance with higher costs. Pure idiocy. Speaking from over 30 years of experience. I find it unbelievable that many seem to assume that for example a $2000 speaker or amp must sound better then a $1000 amp or speaker.

Then rationalize that even though they may not be able to hear any differences or may even perceive the expensive amp to be inferior, that somehow those who are more sophisticated can hear the differences.

I remember being in a Nashville showroom in the mid/late 1980s and listened to several sets of very expensive speakers. One set of speakers that impressed me very much and the two friends I was with were dimunitive Celestion DL8 mk2's. 19" two way that sold for a little under a grand. There was a set of $13000 speakers in this botique (sorry can't remember the name). These speakers were over 7 feet tall and were stuffed with drivers. We listened not saying a word, noticed some curious looks on my friends faces. After about 15 minutes I turned to the saleman and said "these sound like shit". He replied with a smile "I know but people love'em because they are so big."

He confided that all the salesmen thought they were a pure joke and laughted at "audiophiles" who carted these 7 foot monstrosities home.

Final thought, I know of one manufacturer who sells speakers for $2400 direct. He also produces a speaker that sells for $18000. Same tweeter and midrange. Only difference is the addition of an extra woofer and larger cabinet on the $18000 model Explain this one to me?

Actually my comments were directed toward the fact that a 30k system must sound better then a 20k system or the owner of the 30k system screwed up.

Audio equipment is not built to a price point to get the maximum amount of sound for the $$$. If one has bothered to look around. They will notice a very arbitrary pricing pattern. This is called marketing. Selling at a price point for maximum profit.

The audio mind set seems to be that if it costs more it must sound better.

Speakers, cables and interconnects seem to really thrive on the more $$$ must be better sounding mentality that is so rampid in audio.

$9000 dollar speaker wires. $5000 interconnects. You don't think the sellers of such items are sitting back and laughing at the gullability of potential purchasers?

I've talked with the owner of the company that sells the $2400 monitors with the same drivers as his $18,000 speakers on several occasions.

Several of the options he offers are Cardas binding posts ($300) Cardas Litz wiring ($300) and external crossover ($400). Straight out and in no uncertain terms he stated, the effect of these options added nothing to the sound, absolutely NIL!!!

Why offer them then? Audiophiles were demanding such items.

Do my $2600 monitors sound better then my $400 (direct from manufacturer) speakers? Damn right! Will every set of $2600 speakers sound better then my $400 speakers? I would certainly hope so. Will every set of $800 speakers sound better and/or have better drivers cabints etc. then my $400 speakers. Absolutely not!

sound better then $13000 speakers as a general rule. Point is here were some beautifully finished speakers that looked very impressive. Mahogany finish with 11 drivers in each cabinet. The crossover was so bad that you could actually tell which driver the music was coming from. I wouldn't believe it had I not heard it myself.

Newbee perty balless comment. Easy to hunch over your computer and take potshots at someone you will never have to face. "If you can't discredit the message discredit the messenger" Looking at your previous posts in this thread you seem to advocate the same beliefs as myself. Care to make any actual worthwhile comments on the 30k must sound better then the 20k simply because it costs more?