[nathanm]

The focus-on-expense thing kind of derails the whole point of having a Hi-Fi in my view.  Inevitably that is what people want to know and it just kind of turns the whole endeavor into a vanity wankfest.  I've always thought that the only real difference between normal people and audiophiles isn't so much the equipment but rather that additional care is taken by the audiophile and the music is actively listened to and "performed" whilst sitting lined up between two speakers.  (Don't forget the earnest eye closing and gentle toe tapping)

If you take the cheapest speakers and place them properly and position yourself formally in the room you will not necessarily get excellent sound, but it will be a heightened experience because your mind has switched gears away from background noise.  I think phantom imaging is what most people don't ever experience and what sets the audiophile setup apart from the norm.  Right after that of course is tonal quality and dynamics (in the rare case where a recording has these quaint qualities that is)

I felt all high and mighty until a friend brought over his "lowly" Polk speakers and we set them up in my foam room.  I couldn't deny it, they sounded good.  It's all about execution.

[fiveoclockfriday]

To the OP, just a comment...I am impressed you purchased a $20,000 system driving a taxi for a living. I don't mean to imply anything by that, I am genuinely impressed by your dedication and passion. Well done!

- Eric B.

[Wind Chaser]

There's no point in trying to describe it, but when someone expresses interest, I sit them in the ideal location and tell them to close their eyes.  After they listen for a few seconds to music that they are familiar with they are usually quite astonished and say something like "Wow!" or "I can see why you're so into this."

If you're not getting those kinds of reactions, perhaps your system isn't quite as good as you think it is.  I find that when I listen to a lot of peoples' systems, regardless of what they have or invested; there isn't much happening because the speakers are so haphazardly set up.  They're position has more to do where they look good or fit best into the room rather than where they will sound best.  And another thing that severely limits the potential of a lot of systems is having the speakers so close together that there is practically no sound stage. 

[Wind Chaser]

To the OP, just a comment...I am impressed you purchased a $20,000 system driving a taxi for a living. I don't mean to imply anything by that, I am genuinely impressed by your dedication and passion. Well done!

I wonder if his wife feels the same?

[WerTicus]

Best way to explain it is with their favourite song, and let them have the sweet spot

[Nick77]

I too practially never bring it up. I think I was so astonished or maybe ego wounded by the fact that one time I had some friends over for an action movie and several times the whole room was pressureized by explosions. Even I was totally blown away with the HT experience that night but they never even said a word. I think most of my friends could not afford the luxury of a nice system so they fail to appriciate what someone else has. This experience has lead me to completely stay away from bringing up any 2 channel experience.

[ecramer]

I get that Wow reaction they just don't care about if they have that same quality of sound or the willingness to put any money into a Stereo system. I think it stems from the love of music foremost for most of us, Which drives us to where we are in this crazy hobby. I'm sure there are many big buck systems owned by people who's only drive is I have money to burn, look at this it cost an arm and a leg  who own 3 Cd's that some one told them were audio Cd's to show off there system.

I  need a bigger room to get some more room between the speakers. As you say sound stage suffers really badly.  I see lots of pictures on Audio circle with the same placement as me so i am pretty sure it is a common problem. compromise is a way of life.

There's no point in trying to describe it, but when someone expresses interest, I sit them in the ideal location and tell them to close their eyes.  After they listen for a few seconds to music that they are familiar with they are usually quite astonished and say something like "Wow!" or "I can see why you're so into this."

If you're not getting those kinds of reactions, perhaps your system isn't quite as good as you think it is.  I find that when I listen to a lot of peoples' systems, regardless of what they have or invested; there isn't much happening because the speakers are so haphazardly set up.  They're position has more to do where they look good or fit best into the room rather than where they will sound best.  And another thing that severely limits the potential of a lot of systems is having the speakers so close together that there is practically no sound stage.