Why Are People So Concerned About How Others Spend Their Money?


It's really tiring. Audiophools, Snake Oil, why buy this/that. I don't give a rip what others do, although I like to read about it but none of my business. I'm just not geared that way. People want to buy a Lambo, 10,000 buck cables, 100,000 buck loudspeakers, it's no skin off my nose yet some people are obsessed with what others do. I don't get it. 

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Showing 4 responses by kahlenz

I like pointing out you can get a whole lot of audio without spending a whole lot of money. Most of the time my posts are honest assessments, sometimes they are intended as humor. I appreciate the fact that some people spend a lot of money on gear;  it supports the industry and encourages research and design which trickles down to me.

For the cost of some Grado SR 60s you can have a mind-opening audiophile experience. A pair of Kef LS 50 self powered wireless speakers can get you stereo audio that should satisfy most people for a lifetime.  Anything more expensive than that will only be incrementally better, and logarithmically more expensive.  Everything is on a bell curve.

"Having owned Grado60s and LS-50s, I can tell you there is an audio world out there that is a quantum leap past that level of gear. But I do agree with what you were trying to say. "

I would venture to say that the difference between the LS 50w system and a million dollar system is less than the difference between LS 50s and typical laptop speakers.

@larsman I would stongly recommend using a subwoofer system with the LS 50s.  I another recent post on another thread I recommended a Rythmik sub for the Kefs, but there are many out there that will fill the bill, including distributed bass arrays.

I am currently using a single REL t/5 with Harbeth P3 speakers.  By crawling around on the floor I was able to get good placement that limits resonant peaks and nulls.  I've also balanced the output and crossover to just gently introduce the low frequencies (nothing dramatic; but enough to open up the sound).  I may add another t/5 someday, but I'm pretty satisfied with what I have.

In a double-blind A/B test at normal listening levels most people would have a hard time distinguishing between LS50s and speakers that cost 100x as much.  They would, however, immediately be able to tell the difference between the LS50s and  laptop computer speakers.

All bets are off if the program is played at paint-peeling volume levels or the subject gets to look at the speakers.