To say the least, I am quit skeptical of the ridicules prices now being tagged on some of audio's supposed hi end components and products, but, without doubt, I know that all components, cables and other audio products (regardless of price) do not sound the same as their counter parts.
I have three CD players that each have their own sound and level of performance. The one that, hands down, sounds/sounded the best and does/did better with large, complex musical and vocal passages, is the one I've had the most trouble with and has recently stopped reading discs. The old stand-by Dennon (while not quit on sonic par with the others) does sound good and is the one that just keeps going, has never given me a problem and has no trouble reading, even my less than perfect discs.
I have also had the same experience with amps, pre amps, cables, etc. and not always did I get the best performance out of the one that cost the most. The idea that someone with a $10K set of speakers would need a $25,000 amp $10K or 20K in cables and a $10K power conditioner, to make them sound good, seems like a bit of a lark to me, but to each their own.
We all have different likes, needs and expectations of what, in our particular environment, satisfies our musical enjoyment.
For me, it is (with a little trial and error, patience and at a reasonable cost) what works best with my Maggies, to make the music I like sound good.....Jim
I have three CD players that each have their own sound and level of performance. The one that, hands down, sounds/sounded the best and does/did better with large, complex musical and vocal passages, is the one I've had the most trouble with and has recently stopped reading discs. The old stand-by Dennon (while not quit on sonic par with the others) does sound good and is the one that just keeps going, has never given me a problem and has no trouble reading, even my less than perfect discs.
I have also had the same experience with amps, pre amps, cables, etc. and not always did I get the best performance out of the one that cost the most. The idea that someone with a $10K set of speakers would need a $25,000 amp $10K or 20K in cables and a $10K power conditioner, to make them sound good, seems like a bit of a lark to me, but to each their own.
We all have different likes, needs and expectations of what, in our particular environment, satisfies our musical enjoyment.
For me, it is (with a little trial and error, patience and at a reasonable cost) what works best with my Maggies, to make the music I like sound good.....Jim