We need a "High END" thread for audio nut heads.

24

Comments

  • Drumingman
    Drumingman Posts: 348
    edited February 2006
    Yes, We need an exclusive Hi end room. They can sit in there and eat their snack cakes and keep all their audio gear and advice to themselves. The rest of us can have some chips and listen to our "R and Monitor Series" and think "I'm The King of the World". Really, There is no need for this segregation, this is a forum for "All Polk Owners". But as the old saying goes, ones man's ceiling is another man's floor.
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2006
    I am not sure high end would include any Polk Audio products. I love my LSIs but I would not consider that high end but with that said, I wouldn't mind a little walk on the other side.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,748
    edited February 2006
    Here's an idea, let's have a low-fi section, a mid-fi section and a hi-fi section, so that noone has to deal with the other if they don't want to. Pretty ridiculous, eh!?!









    Joey,

    Not to answer for Troy, but if you ever walked into a real high end store, you'd understand why Tweeter is mid-fi. I'm sure Troy didn't mean to offend anyone with his comment, nor do I.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited February 2006
    Ford isn't a hi-end sports car company, but I did sit in a Ford GT in their showroom.

    I think that the attitude that naturally comes with knowledge is what is sometimes offensive and just as I have found out throughout life a great understanding of anything specific, like audio, leaves little room for such an understanding of people. As our knowledge grows our tolerance shrinks.
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • speakergeek
    speakergeek Posts: 555
    edited February 2006
    Knowledge without wisdom is folly.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    George Grand wrote:
    High-end is in the ear of the beholder. You want high-end? Buy the best you can afford. That is your high-end. If you want it to REMAIN your high-end, don't post on audio forums, cause somebody is going to come along and call your stuff mid-fi. This is all very simple.

    Ed **** Zachry

    People in hi-fi get a little egotistical when they reach a point in life where they can afford the rediculous...that doesn't make your system "mid-fi." The term "mid-fi" was put in place to justify the existence of $25,000 pieces of equipment. Self-righteous **** in it's best form. One of the biggest ploys in marketing is to make you feel insecure about what you have...
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • George Grand
    George Grand Posts: 12,258
    edited February 2006
    My prince has come. FINALLY...... someone who almost understands me.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    wingnut4772 wrote:
    I am not sure high end would include any Polk Audio products. I love my LSIs but I would not consider that high end but with that said, I wouldn't mind a little walk on the other side.

    What makes you think your Lsi's aren't high-end audio? people get too caught up in the money factor. Hey, you can spend $650,000 on a Ferrari Testarosa, or you can spend $65,000 on a Corvette and whip it's **** any number of ways...it's your dime, the rest is hype.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    George Grand wrote:
    My prince has come. FINALLY...... someone who almost understands me.

    Baby, we're blue-collar audio nuts, thats all. :D
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2006
    Thank you George & Steve!!!! The problem is EGO! If everyone could just check them @ the forum door everything would be fine.

    I have a pretty good idea who has some high end stuff, but I have never heard it from them! But more importantly, they NEVER put down anyone else's system.

    They try to encourage people to get the best that they can afford & will be happy with, without trying to put them down to make themselves feel important & self satisfied.

    This is supposed to be a hobby that we ALL enjoy & want to learn more about. Not a contest of who has the biggest baddest system known to humanity.

    Or to put it bluntly: GET OVER YOURSELVES!:p :D
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    What kills me is people will drone on and on about a 8 watt tube amp at .8% distortion (and that's fine, inaudible for most) but in the same breath they'll say a $1000 SS amp is "mid-fi.....it's "ok" for an entry level system"---give me a frickin' break. Pull your snobby-**** head out of **** and get a clue.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2006
    WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! OMG you just nearly made me break a rib Steve!!!:D

    steveinaz wrote:
    What kills me is people will drone on and on about a 8 watt tube amp at .8% distortion (and that's fine, inaudible for most) but in the same breath they'll say a $1000 SS amp is "mid-fi.....it's "ok" for an entry level system"---give me a frickin' break. Pull your snobby-**** head out of **** and get a clue.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2006
    What makes you think your Lsi's aren't high-end audio? people get too caught up in the money factor. Hey, you can spend $650,000 on a Ferrari Testarosa, or you can spend $65,000 on a Corvette and whip it's **** any number of ways...it's your dime, the rest is hype.

    Because I have listened to 'higher end' speakers (Sonus Faber) and if I could have afforded them at the time I would have bought them over the LSIs. I chose to go with the LSIs because I felt that they offered the best sound for the money ..... but I still dream of the Sonus Fabers...and those are still considered mid-fi by some audio snobs (The Grand Pianos).

    I do believe though that there is a lot of marketing hype out there with a lot of BS but I think that true high end does exist as well.
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • mantis
    mantis Posts: 17,201
    edited February 2006
    TroyD wrote:
    Tweeter is midfi. One step above CC and BB.

    Deal with it.

    BDT

    When did Krell, Focal Jm labs and Martin Logan get out of High end??? Is there something your not telling me or did I miss something?

    Dan
    Dan
    My personal quest is to save to world of bad audio, one thread at a time.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    wingnut4772 wrote:
    Because I have listened to 'higher end' speakers (Sonus Faber) and if I could have afforded them at the time I would have bought them over the LSIs. I chose to go with the LSIs because I felt that they offered the best sound for the money ..... but I still dream of the Sonus Fabers...and those are still considered mid-fi by some audio snobs (The Grand Pianos).

    I do believe though that there is a lot of marketing hype out there with a lot of BS but I think that true high end does exist as well.

    What you heard was a "different speaker" not necessarily higher end. Different tonal signature that just happens to cost more...No doubt Sonus Faber builds a fine speaker, but talk to someone with Wilson watt puppy's and Sonus Faber will be quickly relegated to mid-fi again, get my point? Where does it end? How much does it cost for manufacturers to build a "cost-no-object" speaker; I bet it would shock people; I'll bet it isn't 10% of the price of admission....
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • venomclan
    venomclan Posts: 2,467
    edited February 2006
    High end is such a relative term. What does it mean? Exotic? Limited? Expensive? Sure all those things. But Status is the most defining. There are too many people out there willing to spend 10 times what others pay just to get that extra 5% better performance. This is the same in every industry. To some people, the guy with the Ferrari is low end, to others the Mustang owner is wealthy. The smallest run down house on my block starts at $400K. In the midwest that will get you an 8000sqft mansion, in CA a 1 bedroom condo in a bad neighborhood. Status is what people believe will seperate themselves from others.

    The funny thing about audio is that it is all subjective. Who can really say that one system sounds better than another for all applications? In all environments. There is night and day differences, but once you get to a certain level the laws of dimishing returns always comes into play. I love it when the guys in Stereophile review a $30K tonearm and still find faults with it.
    Venom
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2006
    I know Hi-Fi when I hear it.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited February 2006
    ..and by the way, can someone quote the specs for "mid-fi" while we're at it...I'd just like to know exactly what it is that makes a system mid-fi...anyone? Anyone got those specs handy?

    ...that's what I thought.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • shack
    shack Posts: 11,154
    edited February 2006
    I'd just like to know exactly what it is that makes a system mid-fi
    It's the gear between Hi-Fi and Lo-Fi.
    "Just because you’re offended doesn’t mean you’re right." - Ricky Gervais

    "For those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don't believe, no proof is possible." - Stuart Chase

    "Consistency requires you to be as ignorant today as you were a year ago." - Bernard Berenson
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  • cfrizz
    cfrizz Posts: 13,415
    edited February 2006
    :D That's because it's not specs that makes the determination, it's MONEY!:rolleyes:

    steveinaz wrote:
    ..and by the way, can someone quote the specs for "mid-fi" while we're at it...I'd just like to know exactly what it is that makes a system mid-fi...anyone? Anyone got those specs handy?

    ...that's what I thought.
    Marantz AV-7705 PrePro, Classé 5 channel 200wpc Amp, Oppo 103 BluRay, Rotel RCD-1072 CDP, Sony XBR-49X800E TV, Polk S60 Main Speakers, Polk ES30 Center Channel, Polk S15 Surround Speakers SVS SB12-NSD x2
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  • wingnut4772
    wingnut4772 Posts: 7,519
    edited February 2006
    I think Hi Fi is the pricey stuff that is worth it. Not just hi priced crap but the gear that is the tried and true and you get what you pay for. Marketplace, economy and inflation determines if Hi Fi is $2000, $5000, $10,000 or more for a pair of speakers
    Sharp Elite 70
    Anthem D2V 3D
    Parasound 5250
    Parasound HCA 1000 A
    Parasound HCA 1000
    Oppo BDP 95
    Von Schweikert VR4 Jr R/L Fronts
    Von Schweikert LCR 4 Center
    Totem Mask Surrounds X4
    Hsu ULS-15 Quad Drive Subwoofers
    Sony PS3
    Squeezebox Touch

    Polk Atrium 7s on the patio just to keep my foot in the door.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,748
    edited February 2006
    shack wrote:
    I know Hi-Fi when I hear it.

    Bingo was his name.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,086
    edited February 2006
    What's the point of getting pissy over what constitutes hifi/midfi/lowfi??

    If you are happy w/your gear does it REALLY matter?

    If you've ever been to a real high end shop, you'll know why Tweeter ain't it. Not a slap, but it is what it is.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited February 2006
    steveinaz wrote:
    Baby, we're blue-collar audio nuts, thats all. :D
    I agree Steve,High End is in the eye of the beholder. i have been thru quite a few pieces of gear in the past few years which was part of a learning experience for me. i listened to suggestions from time to time on this forum and other forums as well, but i mainly try to buy gear that sounds good to my own ears and works well with the rest of my system. i am very happy with the sound of my current system. i mainly post on the two channel forum and if a high end forum was created i would still stay on the two channel forum.whats a audio nut head ? thanks...WCW III
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,780
    edited February 2006
    Tweeter aint NOTHIN...

    I went in a shop 3 stories under ground in a room that costed $500,000! Completely suspended from the building - UNDER GROUND. Completely soundproof, vibration proof. Each room had its on setup with NO MORE than 2 pairs of speakers. Tube amps, the works.

    THAT was an awesome store.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,086
    edited February 2006
    mantis wrote:
    When did Krell, Focal Jm labs and Martin Logan get out of High end??? Is there something your not telling me or did I miss something?

    Dan

    Oh, Jeezuz Dan, put down the box cutter, already. I'm not insulting your manhood here.

    C'mon, each of these companies have gear that runs the gamut from midfi on up. At your average Tweeter, you aren't seeing the 'statement' products. That's a fact, jack.

    Go visit Sound by Singer (or whatever the name is) in NYC, then go to your local Tweeter and tell me the difference.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited February 2006
    Low fi is off the shelf, brick and mortar common man gear. It makes sound, but nothing to paint on the side of your plane, or write home to mom about.

    Mid fi is esoteric, speciality shop / mail order stuff - and you'll end up at 95-98% of what is the perfect sound (for your ears).

    High end costs a ton, but the last 2% usually does.

    That's how I see it anyway. Proper mid fi can make you cry. High end will move your bowels.

    Steve, you of all people should know not to get wrapped up in specs. It's all about the sound broham.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited February 2006
    If you order it from a online catalog, it isn't high-end.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • Early B.
    Early B. Posts: 7,900
    edited February 2006
    The term, "hi-end" for any product category implies an extremely high price tag, regardless of whether the product is actually better than a similar one at a fraction of the cost.

    Therefore, no one on this forum has hi-end gear.
    HT/2-channel Rig: Sony 50” LCD TV; Toshiba HD-A2 DVD player; Emotiva LMC-1 pre/pro; Rogue Audio M-120 monoblocks (modded); Placette RVC; Emotiva LPA-1 amp; Bada HD-22 tube CDP (modded); VMPS Tower II SE (fronts); DIY Clearwave Dynamic 4CC (center); Wharfedale Opus Tri-Surrounds (rear); and VMPS 215 sub

    "God grooves with tubes."
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  • unc2701
    unc2701 Posts: 3,587
    edited February 2006
    As for tweeter, I walked in and asked if they had a phono stage. Blank stares all around. Phono preamp? You know how a turntable needs a special input on a receiver? Blank stares.

    This I expect at Best Buy, Circuit City, etc. At a High end shop, on the other hand, you'd have a dozen choices. Tweeter's not high end. They might be able to get the good gear, but so what?
    Gallo Ref 3.1 : Bryston 4b SST : Musical fidelity CD Pre : VPI HW-19
    Gallo Ref AV, Frankengallo Ref 3, LC60i : Bryston 9b SST : Meridian 565
    Jordan JX92s : MF X-T100 : Xray v8
    Backburner:Krell KAV-300i
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