Amps $100K and up

BlueFox

I guess if I replace my Pass amps I will stay with a newer Pass amp.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/editors-choice-power-amplifiers-100000-and-up?mc_cid=e36cad04a7&mc_eid=e1d92f05ef

VR3

I think high end audio should be required to display build cost once pricing hits a certain threshold.

marvda1

i don't see a thing that makes the D’Agostino amp cost $295,000, well i guess you can't see magic

VR3

I understand these companies have to make money but I'm willing to bet material cost is around 5% of msrp.

To quote Louis Vuitton. We don't sell products, we sell desire.

nooshinjohn

What are you guys complaining about price for. All of these amps are cheaper than a tank of gas...

Clipdat

Why would anyone spend more than $3k on an amplifier?

https://benchmarkmedia.com/collections/amp/products/benchmark-ahb2-power-amplifier

invalid

Is a Rolls Royce Boat tail worth $28 million, I bet the materials cost is only a fraction of the retail.

mhardy6647

Is one Bitcoin worth $20,665.40?
Probably not by tomorrow morning.

CottageChz

I laughed at that email today before I hit delete

audioluvr

Where's Joey? He needs to buy all these and write up a review.

treitz3

Just for size reference on the Dan D'agostino amps...



Keep in mind that the cost of this amp is still at a lower cost than the speaker in this photo. The Wilson Audio Chronosonic XVX Floorstanding Speakers come in at $335K. In these types of systems, a simple phono cable could cost $14K. The speaker Magnum Opus speaker cables start at $43K. Just one set of interconnects can start at $37K

I know someone who spent $350,000 just to fly 3 acousticians into his home (paid for all expenses, including hotel costs), measure the room and offer room suggestions just so he could extract the most out of his system that he could. He felt that this was more than worth the price of admission for just that. The folks who buy these types of systems are the same folks that have the latest and greatest Porsche or Ferrari sitting out in their multi-car garage(s) and they upgrade those frequently as well.

I have read about many people building a custom room, studio or even a dedicated building (not a mis-type) for a 2 channel high-fidelity system. One of them spent over a million and a half just on the dedicated building for a 2 channel rig. The acoustical properties they were trying to achieve started before the foundation went in.

Audio is relative. Some may consider someone else spending $5K for just a stereo system being "way out there". Others might consider 20 or $30K invested into a system as beyond wasting one's money. I know many a folk who have easily spent over 100K on a stereo system. Many people would call them flat out crazy.

Then there are the folks that won't even consider an amplifier in their system unless the asking price starts at 100K. (or in some cases, much higher than that).

The thing is, as they talk and I observe? They have the same problem that many have at any price level. They are trying to achieve an unrealistic goal of perfectly reproduced music, albeit with a much fatter wallet. The best we (as humans) could ever hope for is the best reproduced approximation of the music or event (as intended by the artist) or at the very least? Excellence thereof. Perfection is simply not attainable.

With that said, out of these choices (if I had the dough and electrical support for them)? I would tend to go toward the Boulder 3000 Series amps. Either those or the D'agostino amps....and maybe even the Gryphon Mephisto Solo. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

With that said, I already have my dream amplifier (one that I can afford) and the same gripes many of us have with our stereo systems? The folks that spend uber dollars on their systems? Well, it seems that they have some of the same gripes after all is said and done......they are just trying to catch excellence, just as we are with our systems. They just play on a different dollar spent scale.

Tom

pitdogg2

I was lucky enought to hear a set of Dan D'agostino amps at Axpona one year, I was NOT disappointed. They just melted music into the air. IF I ever win the lottery Dan D'agostino and Bill Dudleston at Legacy Audio WILL be contacted.

treitz3

BTW, when I mentioned the speakers? That was just for the mains. I couldn't figure out which sub's they used in that photo. It's either the Wilson Audio WAMM Subsonic or Thor's Hammer. AFAIK, those alone start at around the $40K mark.

Tom

VR3

I thought the master chronosonic with the subs that Dave Wilson did was close to 800k?

The mainstream version that came later was like 350k?

treitz3

Could be, Trey. I don't know but I thought that price was a bit low (it's the only price I could find relatively quickly). Sometimes when this gear is advertised or written about? The price can be elusive....unless you are legitimate prospective buyer. I haven't been as interested in the Wilson subs as I have with the Genesis Sub's. Gary has a new direct-servo sub that I don't even know the name of anymore that is most interesting to me. It's not even on his website yet.

Just looking at the photos made me drool.....and now I can't even find where I was reading about it/seeing the photos.

Tom

VR3

Yeah the original chronosonic, to my understanding was only 15 sets and with the subs was north of 750k.

After his death they released a different model for the "masses" 😅

audioluvr

When I win the lottery I may upgrade my DAC. Pretty happy with the rest.

Toolfan66

If I win the lotto I am traveling with my 30k ear pods, music will have never sounded better.. LOL!!!

SIHAB

careful what you ask for...

treitz3

I wonder how much these amp stands are? I know they won't be cheap!



Tom

pitdogg2

You can't afford them....

Not Tom

VR3

Probably 5k lol

treitz3

It looks to be a custom made amp stand from the B line (custom, not "B-stock") by these guys specifically for this amplifier.....



https://bassocontinuo.biz/b-by-bassocontinuo/

Gotta scroll all of the way down and it's on your left. 5K probably wouldn't be too far off.....or too low.

Tom

pitdogg2

That site 404's on every link I chose.

treitz3

Ah, just look up the key words "bassocontinuo". It should be the first hit on Google.

With that said, I found one of their upper lines, without going into their custom line. 5K is way too low. Seeing as how it looks like it is milled from a single chunk of solid aluminum? We could be talking about much, much more than 12K. Here's one of the ones in their lineup....coming in at a cool 7.3KUSD.

https://www.hardtofindhifi.com/bassocontinuo-ultimate-line-gargantua

Tom

invalid

txcoastal1

treitz3 wrote: »

It looks to be a custom made amp stand from the B line (custom, not "B-stock") by these guys specifically for this amplifier.....



https://bassocontinuo.biz/b-by-bassocontinuo/

Gotta scroll all of the way down and it's on your left. 5K probably wouldn't be too far off.....or too low.

Tom

There basic one is $6k

I would say those custom ones are $20k each...maybe more, 200lbs each

invalid

It seems there are two different companies making stands for D'agostino amps

txcoastal1

bassocontinuo--Gargantua

$7400 US

https://www.jordanacoustics.co.uk/products/racks-furniture/gargantua

mhardy6647

Gargantua.

Well... either they have a sense of humor...
or they don't.

VR3

So funny considering my gear is sitting in ventilated shelving for a closet 😅