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Why is it that so many audio show attendees leave with the impression that much of the ultra expensive gear is not only obscenely overpriced but also very disappointing in sound quality? On these pages I've read many accounts of speakers that are multiples cheaper than the high priced spread perform better under audio show conditions. I suppose you could claim that the high priced speakers need a highly tweaked man cave to really show their colors but IMO for 20 grand + they should sound awesome at the show or it leads me to conclude either the manufactures are clueless about room preparation or they're trying to pull the wool over the eyes of potential customers who are overly impressed by cosmetics and high price tags.
What's the point I'm trying to make ... ... probably stating the obvious... due dilligence when spending your hard earned $$$ needs to be excercised even for the highest priced gear. Assurance of quality is not proportional to price, seems to be random thing...
My $57,000 dCS easily sounds twice as good as my $32,000 Naim CD555 did, in addition to playing SACD's and functioning as an upsampling DAC as well. When I bought the Naim, it sounded more than twice as good as the $16,000 Meridian 808 I was using (though I did lose DVD-a capability). The Meridan sounded worlds better than the Modwright Denon I was using at the time, and the Modwright Denon sounded light years better than the Ah! Toejb player before it.And just for laughs, I borrowed an Ah! Tjoeb player from a friend to compare to the dCS, it sounded like a transistor radio in comparison. However, listening to the Ah! Tjoeb on his Marantz 2275 and JBL L100's, it sounds pretty darn good.So, I'd say going from a $1,000 player to almost a $60,000 player has yielded pretty linear results. Granted most people aren't this obsessed, but there's a lot of performance out there. Your call whether you'd like to spend the money on something else.
"My $57,000 dCS easily sounds twice as good as my $32,000 Naim CD555 did"With all due respect, how do you confirm that statement? It almost like some of the claims madeon the Mapleshade site that their footers would make your system sound 93% better etc, etc. IMO this sort of hype costs credibility.Instead of twice as good you might be better off saying that there was a noticable improvement in sound quality. "Sounded like a transistor radio in comparison...." Again, IMO, a little less hyperbole would be a wise choice."So, I'd say going from a $1,000 player to almost a $60,000 player has yielded pretty linear results."I doubt this statement. I bet this graph wouldn't be linear but that it would indicate an increasing rate of diminishing returns.-Roy
Well again, if you haven't heard these players together in a suitable system, your comments really don't mean much.And actually the comment comparing the Ah! Tjoeb to the dCS was made by the owner of the Ah! Tjoeb. To beexact, he said, "holy shit, my player sounds like a transistor radio compared to that..." But as always, it's relative to the system it's installed in. It sounds great in his system.And I can confirm the statement on the Naim and the dCS because I own both players and have listened to themfor quite some time. The Naim is a fantastic player, but myself and everyone on the staff that has heard bothside by side agrees the dCS is in another realm completely, as well as being able to play SACD and high res downloads.I think you like to use the word hyperbole.If you've read our magazine, I have used the word "Best" once in five years, and have never written about gear in a flavor ofthe month kind of way, but when something this good comes along, I am truly excited about it.You can have all the opinions you want about diminishing returns. I stick by my original statement and I've livedwith enough good digital hardware at almost every price point to feel more than comfortable making it.
I like everyone's input here. Interesting topic for sure!Jeff @ Tone, imho, definitely has some great points having been a reviewer and also a magazine publisher (not to mention the many years of interviews, contacts, factory visits, actually listening to 100's possibly 1000's of systems as well as 1000's of components). I agree with his overall comments, "if you haven't heard..." and also, "if you haven't purchased/ owned." Absolutely unique individual whose comments have some serious weight to them.rajacat makes some interesting points as well concerning cosmetics and price tags which I also believe can be true and both topics are part of the total picture. People definitely buy/ like with their eyes, ears and wallets.I hope that manufacturers continue to make statement products that I will most likely never be able to afford - hopefully they are pushing the state of the art and not just maximizing profit but, I do believe profit is also a just and valid motive - not something evil. I think Jeff's comment about people being dismissive is sadly spot on.Different strokes for different folks - live and let live. I enjoy this hobby too and hope that there will always be differences of opinion - it's healthy!