The most expensive speaker at CES 2015? $500,000

microstrip · Dec 17, 2014

Bruce B said:
Well I haven't been able to create an AD/DA loop at 384/32 that was totally transparent.
Which expert said this and what equipment was he using?

Bruce,

I was saying that the format is equivalent in a broad sense, not that it is totally transparent. Searching better I found these old comments - sorry I though 2L were a poster of WBF, I see they were only being quoted http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?9286-2xDSD-Smoke-and-mirrors-or-will-there-appear-better-masterings-on-it&p=165282&viewfull=1#post165282

We can also listen directly to the analogue output from the microphones. Digital eXtreme Definition is a professional audio format that brings “analogue” qualities in 24 bit at 352.8 kHz sampling rate. DXD preserves 8.4672 Mbit/s (3 times the data of DSD) per channel. This leaves headroom for editing and balancing before quantizing to DSD for SACD or PCM for Blu-Ray.
All audio formats on The Nordic Sound are sample rate converted from the same DXD master. Comparing them in our studio we find only subtle differences from DXD down to 192kHz and 96kHz. The obvious degeneration is from 96kHz down to 48kHz. We find DSD, as used in the SACD format, somewhat different in colour from PCM;

and http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?5879-2L-new-offering-Hi-Res-FLAC-amp-Audiophile-Vinyl&p=91885&viewfull=1#post91885

Recording in DXD (352.8kHz/24bit) preserve analogue qualities to the digital domain.

Mike · Dec 17, 2014

The look like Darth Vadar's Easter Island cousins.

Bruce B · Dec 17, 2014

Thanks Micro

Mike Lavigne · Dec 17, 2014

Bruce B said:
Well I haven't been able to create an AD/DA loop at 384/32 that was totally transparent.
Which expert said this and what equipment was he using?

when Bruce compared 382/32 to 2xdsd it came up short, and 2xdsd comes up short compared to analog.

too bad.....

passive analog crossovers are not easy; but they need no excuses as they go about their business.

BlueFox · Dec 18, 2014

PeterA said:
Well, the U3 is more than $500K, and with a couple of the Q18subs, closer to $700K. It would be quite a speaker system to hear, especially in as large a room as the one pictured. The U3 certainly excites a lot of other people.

I heard the U3 in Magico's listening room, which is bigger than the front half of my house. Anyway, it filled that room effortlessly. It really was quite amazing. However, at the end of the day, I still prefer my S5s in the living room.

MrAcoustat · Dec 18, 2014

FrantzM said:
Must say the aesthetics are up there

If i was going to choose boxes wich is a BIG if, it would be these and i would have 200k left for music.

microstrip · Dec 18, 2014

BlueFox said:
I heard the U3 in Magico's listening room, which is bigger than the front half of my house. Anyway, it filled that room effortlessly. It really was quite amazing. However, at the end of the day, I still prefer my S5s in the living room.

BlueFox,
Can you elaborate why?

beaur · Dec 18, 2014

es347 said:
..JV's latest "best in the world" I'd rather own that ocean front villa but that's just me..

If you know where to get an ocean front villa, not in a conflict zone for $500K I will call in some favors and get one too!

BlueFox · Dec 18, 2014

microstrip said:
BlueFox,
Can you elaborate why?

Because I like the appearance of the S5 better, and the S5 sounds so good in my living room. Plus I save approximately $630,000 with the S5, not counting the additional amps and cabling required for the U3.

MadFloyd · Dec 18, 2014

BlueFox said:
Because I like the appearance of the S5 better, and the S5 sounds so good in my living room. Plus I save approximately $630,000 with the S5, not counting the additional amps and cabling required for the U3.

Great answer! The S5's are the best speakers I've ever heard. I marvel at their sound, appearance and build quality every day.

andromedaaudio · Dec 18, 2014

I heard the S 5 s extensively i think they sound great and refined albeit on a smaller scale , i wouldnt trade them for mine if i had the chance , there are different approaches and there are speakers that can sound big/ controlled/ refined and powerfull .
Although S 5 s can fill quite a room , there is something else out there , large scale speakersystems as discussed here.

Ps i would definetively use tubes on the S 5

MadFloyd · Dec 18, 2014

andromedaaudio said:
I heard the S 5 s extensively i think they sound great and refined albeit on a smaller scale , i wouldnt trade them for mine if i had the chance , there are different approaches and there are speakers that can sound big/ controlled/ refined and powerfull .
Although S 5 s can fill quite a room , there is something else out there , large scale speakersystems as discussed here.

I'm sure there are better speakers - I just haven't heard them. And I do agree about scale. I want a larger S5.

andromedaaudio said:
Ps i would definetively use tubes on the S 5

I would definitely not.

KeithR · Dec 18, 2014

since Verity can't sell many 30k speakers apparently, now it has gone the Asian billionaire route. interesting.

PeterA · Dec 18, 2014

KeithR said:
since Verity can't sell many 30k speakers apparently, now it has gone the Asian billionaire route. interesting.

Perhaps that is because Magico sells so many S5s. The local Boston dealer sells both Verity and Magico. I once compared the brands. This is an interesting move for Verity. I wonder just how many +$200K speaker systems are sold each year.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

KeithR said:
since Verity can't sell many 30k speakers apparently, now it has gone the Asian billionaire route. interesting.

High price is King.

KeithR · Dec 18, 2014

why not $1 million? I'm actually being serious. I can't imagine price elasticity is high at these pricing points.

Johnny Vinyl · Dec 18, 2014

KeithR said:
why not $1 million? I'm actually being serious.

Patience Grasshopper....it'll happen!

andromedaaudio · Dec 18, 2014

Talking million $ systems its been done in the past , kharma designed a 1 million $ active system in the nineties somewhere iirc , a one of a kind job for a person in Belgium , the grand enigma system

This 12-ton system is fully active with 30 kW of amplification, equipped with 24 ultrahigh efficiency planar-magnetic HF-units, 24 15-inch LF drivers and 48 6-inch MF drivers. Placed in a specially prepared subterranean listening room of 45,000 cubic feet it presents sound with incredible dynamics and limitless power, easily reproducing live concert levels at a distance of 10 meters

kharma_grand_enigma by andromeda61, on Flickr

FrantzM · Dec 18, 2014

Bruce B said:
Well I haven't been able to create an AD/DA loop at 384/32 that was totally transparent.
Which expert said this and what equipment was he using?

IF we were to compare this with any analog crossover. The results would have been even worse.

Let's face it there is no perfectly transparent transform. Whether one hears it is another debate. in the here and now however an (any) analog crossover on the issue of transparency ( I suppose by that you mean NO character of its own) is not a champion.

andromedaaudio · Dec 18, 2014

FrantzM said:
IF we were to compare this with any analog crossover. The results would have been even worse.

Let's face it there is no perfectly transparent transform. Whether one hears it is another debate. in the here and now however an (any) analog crossover on the issue of transparency ( I suppose by that you mean NO character of its own) is not a champion.

Where do you base such a claim on

The most expensive speaker at CES 2015? $500,000

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