How close are you to Highend? True highend sound

LuSh · May 2005

I've come to met a few people here that share a real passion for music and ensuring that one day they'll get a rig that truely makes them happy without compromise. What have people upgraded to recently? What's left? Where do you think you'll settle? Have you had a taste of true highend?

With my DAC, Transport, Wiring all set for the long haul. Next will be the speakers. I have mentioned in the past my desire for Reference 3a's abut Gallo Nucleas Reference 3's also look interesting. My intergrated amp (simaudio moon) will get me through the next couple years, but ideally I think a Jeff Rowland, Y B A or i-5 Simaudio is where I want to be. I think by this time I will have a sense of what true high end music reproduction will entail without spending several 10's of thousands of dollars on my hobby.

Where do you see your system developing to down the road? Where do you feel you'll draw the line?

Early B. · May 2005

I draw the line where most people do -- with money. At some point you'll reach the plateau of diminishing returns where you'll have to spend 100% more money for a 1% "improvement." Just depends on how fat your wallet is. I'm already there, so you can kinda guess that my wallet's been on the Slim Fast diet for quite some time. Yes, I'd like to "try" some more expensive speakers, but I ain't gonna buy 'em. I heard a $14K pair of speakers that sounded like ****, so that's what convinced me about the value of upgrading. Besides, I can't afford for my system to sound like ****.:p

Joey_V · May 2005

For me, I'm in between the beginning stage and the achievement stage. I'm been on a journey that has taken me beyond what I expected my system to be at this point in time... however, there is always something to improve upon. The funds arent there - so I will have to make do with what I have for the most part. Not like there is anything wrong with what I have, IMO.

The only thing I see in my immediate future is a center - that's all for the upgrading aspect.

Not until I make some actual disposable income will I move up towards true high-end. I am very content with what I have and my knocking on the high-end door.... or atleast in the driveway.

steveinaz · May 2005

Define "true high-end." I think any system that meets the minimum requirements to be considered "high-fidelity" IS high-end.

The important thing is that the listener has the sound they're looking for. Having said that, aside from an up-coming speaker cable change, I'm done for a long, long time....I'm enjoying the music.

faster100 · May 2005

hIGH END, or High fidelity.. did i spell that right? LOL

I don't care nor can afford High end.. some of my gear is "higher end" then the typical non audio nut but no where near "HIGH END"

I echo steve, if it sounds good and meets your requirements and taste for sound... Its "your" high end.. But i have a feeling this thread isnt about that... no agenda intended with that comment either..

I know you run alot of high dollar gear and cables so do you mean according to the user or price tag? just curious..

as for my system, I don't nit pick it and love the sound right now. Just wanna roll tubes and sit back and listen.

LuSh · May 2005

By True High end, I mean having listened to a cost no object system, and trying to acheive that sound through any means possible. Money doesn't always dictate performance.

danger boy · May 2005

I am so far from high end it's not even funny.

but i guess if it's high end to you and you enjoy the sound and have put some effort into getting components that sound good do you..then i would be satisfied in calling it "hi fi".

Spawndn72 · May 2005

I have never listened to a "cost is no object" system before and I am kinda glad that I haven't.

I see a new pre-amp in my future, new speaker wires and I want to get my TT refurbished but past that I am very happy with my low to mid-fi stereo.

Just for refrence I have:

Adcom GA-545 amp
Adcom GTP-400 pre
Pioneer DVD/Multi-format player
Dual 704 TT
Pioneer RT-707 R2R
Polk Monitor 7 speakers
Acoustic Research cables
14Ga lampcord speaker wire.

steveinaz · May 2005

Spawn
Your equipment is niether low or mid-fi in my book. You've got a very fine system from what I see.

The term "high-end" was developed so audio snobs* with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.

High Fidelity is high fidelity. If your system is capable of reproducing the frequency spectrum applicable to humans, while keeping distortion and noise to a minimum, and doing so in a realistic fashion; you're there.

*EDITED: Replaced "small-dicked audiophiles" with "audio snobs."

ND13 · May 2005

"DITTO"

Early B. · May 2005

The term "high-end" was developed so small-dicked audiophiles with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.

That about sums it up.

If I may use an analogy, let's take restaurants. Now there's fast food restaurants and on the other end of the spectrum there's four star restaurants. Both have delicious meals, but just because the four star restaurant costs 20 times more doesn't mean the food tastes any better. The taste of food is just as subjective as the taste for sound in music. Sure, the food might look nicer, you may get better service, etc., at the finer restaurant, but in the end, it all turns to ****.:p

PolkThug · May 2005

I'll never get there, I'm stuck with grunt Polk and Onkyo gear, but I won't enjoy my system any less.

steveinaz · May 2005

It's not a contest, it's about enjoying music.

Spawndn72 · May 2005

It's not a contest, it's about enjoying music.

I have always thought that the kid listening to his favorite band on a cheap boom box is alot happier than the guy trying to decided which $5,000 set of interconnects sound better.

marker · May 2005

I've got high end, BOSE! Top that beoythches!

faster100 · May 2005

Originally posted by marker
I've got high end, BOSE! Top that beoythches!

and about 4 to many rigs in your sig

Early B. · May 2005

I have always thought that the kid listening to his favorite band on a cheap boom box is alot happier than the guy trying to decided which $5,000 set of interconnects sound better.

AMEN.

RuSsMaN · May 2005

I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

steveinaz · May 2005

THAT is awesome, I swear I can almost smell Sandalwood incense....

RuSsMaN · May 2005

No Steve, that smell would be weed.

madmax · May 2005

I consider my equipment at the low side of high end. It has always been my experience that to move to a higher level you must spend more. I understand that some people can spend way too much for no gain but I'm not talking about that group. I'm talking about people who know what they are doing. There is a reason one amp costs $500 and another costs $5000. I'm not saying you cannot be happy with either one, just that there are differences if set up properly. Of course within any given cost range you will find pieces of equipment which cost more but deliver less.

madmax

ND13 · May 2005

Russ,

Ihad one of those systems when I was 11 years old. Played alot of KISS, QUEEN, and DOOBIES on it, too.

Skynut · May 2005

Right now I am pretty happy with what I have, My future plan involves a new amp and acoustic treatments. I have got to get my sound deflection under control.

dragon1952 · May 2005

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

I'm assuming that was placed out in the road on purpose in the hopes someone would run over it :rolleyes:

Skynut · May 2005

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

That is one pimped out rig you got there. Do I see 8 track?

RuSsMaN · May 2005

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5777362880

dragon1952 · May 2005

(WE DO NOT HAVE THE BUBBLE TOP that goes over the receiver )

Well I don't know about you guys but that's a show stopper for me right there :rolleyes:

BTW, they don't mention the chair.

amulford · May 2005

If you like it what it does, it's high end. Or should I say it is to you.

Now, if that doesn't meet someone elses "standard", so be it. I am not into this to keep up with the Jones. I'm in this for me, eff the friggin Jones.

I have heard some pretty good rigs. Would I like to emulate that sound? Not really. I want to acheive what I want. Do I have to spend a fortune? Maybe, maybe not.

I am still building. It won't ever stop. But I'm not trying to reach "audio nirvana". If that's your aim, then hey, whatever blows your skirt up. My priorities may differ.

Just my .02.

aaharvel · May 2005

MCINTOSH from what I hear from others would be "high-end"

I've SEEN (not heard) their gear in Magazines and was absolutely floored. Gorgeous. I'm wondering how much better they are then Adcom...?

Could you imagine hooking their stuff up to a simple pair of rti-4's? hehehe...

until then i'll keep on dreaming. =(

ND13 · May 2005

Kudos to Zero and amulford!!!!!!!!!!

Couldn't have said it better myself.

LuSh · May 2005

Somewhere this thread got derailed into "its not about highend its about what people like" arguement. I really don't care about those comments I was more interested in what people like F1nut wanted to do down the road and a few others I enjoy talking to from time to time.

How close are you to Highend? True highend sound

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