Is High End Audio Gear Worth the Money?

[Holmz]

Seems we’re assuming we all process 3D cues alike, maybe some have a lower 3D believability thresholds than others. And what about different ear shapes?

I suspect that it is largely true that we all process the 3D largely the same.
It might have been more universally standard in the days of old, when people spent more time in cathedrals, synagogues, etc.

It also might be less universal with the young crowd spending more time with earbuds stuffed in these days, than with them getting more natural sounds.

 

[Atmasphere]

I thought that they were Shieldmaidens Ralph.

If we're talking about Das Reingold, you can hear the Rhinemaidens lamenting the petty qualities of the gods just prior to when the gods cross the rainbow bridge (side 6 if playing the Decca Solti LP).

Ralph, are you saying you cannot get to "the flutes are in front of the French horns" with width and depth alone ÷ timbre?

No. Width and depth allows you to hear where the instruments are in the recording.

to the point where you feel you can reach out your arm and touch the musicians.

I recently heard a setup at Misco that used a special DSP processing system. The recording was that of someone cutting your hair. It was a bit eerie; the snip of the scissors being right by your ear and moving about your head while the voice of the barber talking to you behind you perceptually. The eerie bit was the speakers were sitting on a table in front of me; nothing to the side or the like at all.

 

[PYP]

I recently heard a setup at Misco that used a special DSP processing system. The recording was that of someone cutting your hair. It was a bit eerie; the snip of the scissors being right by your ear and moving about your head while the voice of the barber talking to you behind you perceptually. The eerie bit was the speakers were sitting on a table in front of me; nothing to the side or the like at all.

Talk about weird audiophile test records. I have a very fond memory of my Dad's test record of a huffing steam engine. VERY realistic according to a neighbor who got up from his throne suddenly when he thought a train was coming through his house. Yes, my Dad could get quite the volume from a few watts of power driving his mono speakers with a one-component crossover.

 

[Holmz]

If we're talking about Das Reingold, you can hear the Rhinemaidens lamenting the petty qualities of the gods just prior to when the gods cross the rainbow bridge (side 6 if playing the Decca Solti LP).

Damn… I’ll need to get more height out of the system.
I am totally missing the rainbow bridge as well as the unicorns.

 

[Atmasphere]

Damn… I’ll need to get more height out of the system.
I am totally missing the rainbow bridge as well as the unicorns.

The rainbow bridge appears when Thor invokes the thunder on side 6 as well. The Solti recordings of the Ring Cycle feature sound effects that Wagner scored (or suggested) that usually are not heard in other recordings of these operas. Yeah, I'm a bit nerdy on this stuff...

 

[njaudio2010]

Yes but also 2440 is available at much lower price than 375

yes,.. but with risk . most 2440s and 2441s have taken years of pounding .. and many have been passed around. my guess is that on average the 375s have had less usage and less pass-arounds. so 375 a better eco-choice. also consider the headache factor of trying out many pairs just to get a good pair. note the 2441 (orig al dia) is currently in my main horn system and is sounding real good. i am crossing at 500 but i think 450 is achievable. in the 500-1000 region you get a deep, chewy rich midrange ; in comparison, most modern compression drivers hollow out this critical region and focus their effort in shooting for the stars.

 

[bonzo75]

yes,.. but with risk . most 2440s and 2441s have taken years of pounding .. and many have been passed around. my guess is that on average the 375s have had less usage and less pass-arounds. so 375 a better eco-choice. also consider the headache factor of trying out many pairs just to get a good pair. note the 2441 (orig al dia) is currently in my main horn system and is sounding real good. i am crossing at 500 but i think 450 is achievable. in the 500-1000 region you get a deep, chewy rich midrange ; in comparison, most modern compression drivers hollow out this critical region and focus their effort in shooting for the stars.

Agree. Your system looks interesting in your profile. Do you have any pictures? Or videos playing classical?

 

[njaudio2010]

Agree. Your system looks interesting in your profile. Do you have any pictures? Or videos playing classical?

this picture is one if the pictures where i was experimenting with tweeters; here, beyma tpl-150h vs. faital104. 4-way active. marchand 126. gpa 515c woofers. here, subs not hooked up. for simple music 3-6 player ensembles ,presentation is riveting, engaging, seductive. healthy dose of vintage magic without the usual vintage wooliness. without subs, i do not find bass missing. 4550 really under-appreciated. supposedly long-throw but work well in 16x26x12 room. hard to say this with a straight face but jbl 4550 is a practical domestic solution ; especialliy, compared altec 210 cabinet. i think the difference between 4550 and altec 817 --> 100 horn cutoff versus 150 is immediately obvious. the 4550 does not have obvious shelving response that is present in both 825 and 817. also, stock, the 4550 is much more robust than any stock altec cabinet . apart from padding (2" owen-corning 700-series on 5 sides -- more than necessary i suspect - i have not done any reinforcement. i have my doubts whether this is would my preferred system for classical music- i listen to classical music differently-- pushing myself back- and an up front horn system might not be my first choice. speakers like duntech, dunlavy, magnepan, soundlabs might be better suited to my listening bias for classical music. yet to do that comparison directly.

 

[Iamrael]

I put high end audio purchases in the same category as spending money on expensive bourbon, booking a first class flight, or buying an unnecessary vehicle.
It’s worth it if it takes nothing off your or your family’s dinner table.

 

[njaudio2010]

I put high end audio purchases in the same category as spending money on expensive bourbon, booking a first class flight, or buying an unnecessary vehicle.
It’s worth it if it takes nothing off your or your family’s dinner table.

unfortunately, audio has become fashion. and sadly, doors are mostly closed to anyone with a young middle-class family. manufacturers now sell to a vanishing small market and feel they have to keep on going upwards in price. not really manufacturer's fault - market shrank when technology made small devices the standard. i shudder to think what i would do if i had to buy a new good system today.

 

[Rexp]

unfortunately, audio has become fashion. and sadly, doors are mostly closed to anyone with a young middle-class family. manufacturers now sell to a vanishing small market and feel they have to keep on going upwards in price. not really manufacturer's fault - market shrank when technology made small devices the standard. i shudder to think what i would do if i had to buy a new good system today.

Accounting for inflation, buying a turntable sourced high-end system now is probably cheaper than it was 30 years ago. I won't mention digitally sourced systems because I've never heard one I'd like to buy.

 

[steve59]

I would love to get an old pair of KEF model 4.2 that retailed around $6k 20 years ago and compare them to the Blades that retailed at $30k 5 years later and then decide.

I would say generally speaking Hifi's a hobby like anything else. To me nothing's worth paying retail, nothing. Let the wealthy pay for innovation and folk like me can bid on last gen's sota.

 

[A-Line]

My 2 setups are steadily evolving into a museum display of the "good ole days" of high fidelity. My oldest component dating back to the early 1970's.

Currently my 2 setups represent formats for tubes, solid state, true analog playback for records and tape, digital playback, radio ( vintage analog dial tuners, digital format tuners, and even a modern wireless transceiver and receiver device).