Capital Audiofest 2025

[LL21]

Interesting to use this speaker with CJ electronics…only heard them with Kharma’s own amps and could never get into them.

I agree...I have read various comments over the years about Kharma...and interestingly the most notable combinations appear to be Tenor Audio of old, Gryphon (more than a few in Asia), and it appears perhaps CJ is another option. Amplification with good power and rich overtones and power in the mids and midbass region.

I dont know if Kharma still use the Accuton ceramic drivers (they used to), but I do wonder given what I have read about those, whether the Accuton focus on strict adherence to accuracy within certain parameters (they apparently dont do well at all when overdriven even a touch) means that a bit of fulsome color and overtone is no bad thing. And potentially quite a good thing.

 

[Gregadd]

Discretionary income
-The future of the high end.We see a shrinking marke and a sharing customer base, competing for a diminishing base.

Discretionary income for an American family is the money left over after paying taxes and essential living expenses, and its value varies significantly based on income, location, and family size
. For all U.S. households, the average discretionary income is about

$27,000$ 27 comma 000
per year, though this figure can be much lower for some families. A common budget guideline suggests using 30% of after-tax income for discretionary spending, which is money available for non-essential items like hobbies, entertainment, and savings.





How to calculate discretionary income

1. Calculate your after-tax income: Determine your total income after federal, state, and local taxes have been deducted.
2. Identify your essential expenses: Tally up your necessary costs for the month or year. This includes housing (rent/mortgage), utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments.
3. Subtract essentials from after-tax income: Subtract your total essential expenses from your after-tax income

 

[unboxed]

Discretionary income
-The future of the high end.We see a shrinking marke and a sharing customer base, competing for a diminishing base.

Discretionary income for an American family is the money left over after paying taxes and essential living expenses, and its value varies significantly based on income, location, and family size
. For all U.S. households, the average discretionary income is about
View attachment 161846View attachment 161846
$27,000$ 27 comma 000
per year, though this figure can be much lower for some families. A common budget guideline suggests using 30% of after-tax income for discretionary spending, which is money available for non-essential items like hobbies, entertainment, and savings.





How to calculate discretionary income

1. Calculate your after-tax income: Determine your total income after federal, state, and local taxes have been deducted.
2. Identify your essential expenses: Tally up your necessary costs for the month or year. This includes housing (rent/mortgage), utilities, groceries, transportation, insurance, and minimum debt payments.
3. Subtract essentials from after-tax income: Subtract your total essential expenses from your after-tax income

Two HUGE problems with that formula. Savings mentioned as non-essential!

"budget guideline suggests using 30% of after-tax income for discretionary spending, which is money available for non-essential items like hobbies, entertainment, and savings."

1. Minimum debt payment means always in debt
2. Zero saved and invested for retirement means little or no discretionary income in retirement.

 

[Porsche]

FWIW, I visited the Avant Gard room a couple of times, and the hosts were very courteous and welcoming. The room also sounded great-rarely heard horns sound better.

agreed, nice sounding system