[GT Audio Works]

Laugh it up guys...Sure it looks ridiculous from an elitist high ender's point of view. Though I imagine our systems look just as ridiculous to folks who would buy this, especially once they know how much we paid for our gear.  But I believe what you are looking at is an attempt by the big mass market production machine to grab a piece of the DJ pro equipment market. In my travels as a service man I would see quite a few households.. usually of lesser means who spent their hard earned money on professional gear. Big black boxes with metal grilled 15" woofers and horn tweeters, accompanied by utilitarian looking rack of equipment with the ubiquitous equalizer. Why ??? Because these folks with limited means enjoy their music just the same as us and have no idea high end audio even exists.  Samsung is trying to offer a neater integrated package at a price less than that room full of DJ gear. I have no idea of the technology under the hood of this system, but from the small amp size and power specs my guess would be class D with DSP, cheap and effective at keeping those metal cones within their pass bands. The top mid/tweeter sections come apart from the woofers, so placement in a room will be acceptable.. though I could do without the glowing cones! I would bet it sounds ok for the money, maybe voiced for more boom and sizzle than refinement, but with different DSP voicing options most folks can settle on a sound they like.
I personally am glad to see such a thing...maybe stereo is not dead yet to the mass market, as witnessed by the inclusion of a turntable on some retail commercial I saw on TV the other day. Check out this link http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-12698_7-10016190-1.html  and notice the Samsung unit with the glowing red tubes under glass. Maybe our desire to keep the fires burning with old technology such as turntables and thermionic emission devices is being considered cool by todays mass market...a good thing that may lead a budding audiophile down the path to the high end.   Greg

[steve k]

Where do you put the records in???

[GT Audio Works]

Where do you put the records in???

been done

[RDavidson]

Laugh it up guys...Sure it looks ridiculous from an elitist high ender's point of view. Though I imagine our systems look just as ridiculous to folks who would buy this, especially once they know how much we paid for our gear.  But I believe what you are looking at is an attempt by the big mass market production machine to grab a piece of the DJ pro equipment market. In my travels as a service man I would see quite a few households.. usually of lesser means who spent their hard earned money on professional gear. Big black boxes with metal grilled 15" woofers and horn tweeters, accompanied by utilitarian looking rack of equipment with the ubiquitous equalizer. Why ??? Because these folks with limited means enjoy their music just the same as us and have no idea high end audio even exists.  Samsung is trying to offer a neater integrated package at a price less than that room full of DJ gear. I have no idea of the technology under the hood of this system, but from the small amp size and power specs my guess would be class D with DSP, cheap and effective at keeping those metal cones within their pass bands. The top mid/tweeter sections come apart from the woofers, so placement in a room will be acceptable.. though I could do without the glowing cones! I would bet it sounds ok for the money, maybe voiced for more boom and sizzle than refinement, but with different DSP voicing options most folks can settle on a sound they like.
I personally am glad to see such a thing...maybe stereo is not dead yet to the mass market, as witnessed by the inclusion of a turntable on some retail commercial I saw on TV the other day. Check out this link http://reviews.cnet.com/2300-12698_7-10016190-1.html  and notice the Samsung unit with the glowing red tubes under glass. Maybe our desire to keep the fires burning with old technology such as turntables and thermionic emission devices is being considered cool by todays mass market...a good thing that may lead a budding audiophile down the path to the high end.   Greg

Elitist? Do you honestly feel Samsung is doing people with "lesser means" (but a vehicle large enough to take the system home) a favor at $1300 + tax, which will end up in the land fill likely sooner rather than later? This isn't a substitute for a DJ system anymore than Beats headphones are a substitute for professional production monitoring. I understand what you're saying about it perhaps opening the door to better things down the road, but there are much better starting points than this disaster from Samsung. I naively started down the path with an Aiwa system back in the mid 90's........then proceeded to blow money left and right somewhat aimlessly at upgrades and also repairs. It became an obsession, with no real goal in sight but to continually own better and better gear. Within maybe just the last 5-7 years did I finally get on the right path when I became friends with an old audio enthusiast who had been down that path LONG before me. He opened my eyes and ears to the world of sonic gems that can be easily had for hundreds, not thousands of dollars. I'm willing to bet that almost anyone on this board can put together a FAR better system than this garbage from Samsung for $1300, and do it easily. Now if we could just convince typical consumers that we know better than the geniuses at Samsung without sounding pretentious..........

Sorry, but I just can't help but see anything more than a heaping pile a of glowing plastic garbage (like the much smaller Aiwa system I once owned) to take money away from the naive consumer when I look at that system. Been there. Done that. I can now look back and laugh about it, but I would never wish for anyone to go through the trials and tribulations of starting out in this hobby the same way or worse than I did. I can't help but continue to laugh when I see that the problem has grown in size and ridiculousness. My Aiwa system has come back! And she is pissed!

[Guy 13]

Elitist? Do you honestly feel Samsung is doing people with "lesser means" (but a vehicle large enough to take the system home) a favor at $1300 + tax, which will end up in the land fill likely sooner rather than later? This isn't a substitute for a DJ system anymore than Beats headphones are a substitute for professional production monitoring. I understand what you're saying about it perhaps opening the door to better things down the road, but there are much better starting points than this disaster from Samsung. I naively started down the path with an Aiwa system back in the mid 90's........then proceeded to blow money left and right somewhat aimlessly at upgrades and also repairs. It became an obsession, with no real goal in sight but to continually own better and better gear. Within maybe just the last 5-7 years did I finally get on the right path when I became friends with an old audio enthusiast who had been down that path LONG before me. He opened my eyes and ears to the world of sonic gems that can be easily had for hundreds, not thousands of dollars. I'm willing to bet that almost anyone on this board can put together a FAR better system than this garbage from Samsung for $1300, and do it easily. Now if we could just convince typical consumers that we know better than the geniuses at Samsung without sounding pretentious..........

Sorry, but I just can't help but see anything more than a heaping pile a of glowing plastic garbage (like the much smaller Aiwa system I once owned) to take money away from the naive consumer when I look at that system. Been there. Done that. I can now look back and laugh about it, but I would never wish for anyone to go through the trials and tribulations of starting out in this hobby the same way or worse than I did. I can't help but continue to laugh when I see that the problem has grown in size and ridiculousness. My Aiwa system has come back! And she is pissed!

Hi RDavidson and all Audio Circle members.
I agree 200% with you.
I also took the same path as you did,
now, several 1,000 $ later I am wiser.
Thanks in part to Audio Circle members.

Guy 13

[GT Audio Works]

Elitist? Do you honestly feel Samsung is doing people with "lesser means" (but a vehicle large enough to take the system home) a favor at $1300 + tax, which will end up in the land fill likely sooner rather than later? This isn't a substitute for a DJ system anymore than Beats headphones are a substitute for professional production monitoring. I understand what you're saying about it perhaps opening the door to better things down the road, but there are much better starting points than this disaster from Samsung. I naively started down the path with an Aiwa system back in the mid 90's........then proceeded to blow money left and right somewhat aimlessly at upgrades and also repairs. It became an obsession, with no real goal in sight but to continually own better and better gear. Within maybe just the last 5-7 years did I finally get on the right path when I became friends with an old audio enthusiast who had been down that path LONG before me. He opened my eyes and ears to the world of sonic gems that can be easily had for hundreds, not thousands of dollars. I'm willing to bet that almost anyone on this board can put together a FAR better system than this garbage from Samsung for $1300, and do it easily. Now if we could just convince typical consumers that we know better than the geniuses at Samsung without sounding pretentious..........

Sorry, but I just can't help but see anything more than a heaping pile a of glowing plastic garbage (like the much smaller Aiwa system I once owned) to take money away from the naive consumer when I look at that system. Been there. Done that. I can now look back and laugh about it, but I would never wish for anyone to go through the trials and tribulations of starting out in this hobby the same way or worse than I did. I can't help but continue to laugh when I see that the problem has grown in size and ridiculousness. My Aiwa system has come back! And she is pissed!

The elitists I speak of are people that think that nothing but high end audio can possibly sound good and be worthy of listening to.
Most people do not give a damn about high end audio. They are just looking to fill a room with some visceral sounding Rap, Rock, Reggae , Salsa, Merengue,  Top 40...whatever...for a price that is within their reach. 
Everyone seems to think this system sounds awful..has anyone heard it?? Modern electronics,drivers and dsp and can go a long way to making a passable sounding system. I agree the are better starting points than this light show, but as I said most people don't know high end audio exists. And if they did, as you have stated, it takes a slow learning curve to figure out what's good, most folks do not have the means or the desire to head down that road. 
If you could go to Samsung and sell them on building an entry level audiophile system for the masses for $1,300 and then tell them you want to substitute that 2 cent capacitor with a $10 audiophile grade cap, they would laugh you out of the room. Its all about the numbers for this stuff...it may be crap, but then again it may sound good..the reviews from purchasers on Anazon seem to be happy with it.

[RDavidson]

The elitists I speak of are people that think that nothing but high end audio can possibly sound good and be worthy of listening to.
Most people do not give a damn about high end audio. They are just looking to fill a room with some visceral sounding Rap, Rock, Reggae , Salsa, Merengue,  Top 40...whatever...for a price that is within their reach. 
Everyone seems to think this system sounds awful..has anyone heard it?? Modern electronics,drivers and dsp and can go a long way to making a passable sounding system. I agree the are better starting points than this light show, but as I said most people don't know high end audio exists. And if they did, as you have stated, it takes a slow learning curve to figure out what's good, most folks do not have the means or the desire to head down that road. 
If you could go to Samsung and sell them on building an entry level audiophile system for the masses for $1,300 and then tell them you want to substitute that 2 cent capacitor with a $10 audiophile grade cap, they would laugh you out of the room. Its all about the numbers for this stuff...it may be crap, but then again it may sound good..the reviews from purchasers on Anazon seem to be happy with it.

I completely understand what you're saying, but I'm pretty positive that a new NAD 3020 and a set of Pioneer towers will not only sound better than this Samsung system, but do so without a fancy $10 cap anywhere to be found, AND well under $1300. This Samsung system does nothing but perpetuate naievity and ignorance. Look around. There's this overriding fact that the mainstream electronics companies think they know what is "good enough" for consumers. This Samsung system is proof. The existence and sales of mp3's is even bigger proof. Why not try and give consumers a taste of true quality at an affordable price instead? Wouldn't this be a better start for a budding audiophile and the masses alike? I rest my case.

[GT Audio Works]

Elitist? Do you honestly feel Samsung is doing people with "lesser means" (but a vehicle large enough to take the system home")

I forgot to ask...I don't get the correlation between a persons ability to purchase this audio system and the size of a their car.   Greg

[KenSeger]

I forgot to ask...I don't get the correlation between a persons ability to purchase this audio system and the size of a their car.   Greg

Joke: If you can afford $1,300 for the system you have to have enough money to have a vehicle large enough to carry it home, unless Costco offers delivery services(doubtful).     Of course in the real world everybody knows somebody with a truck, Suburban, mini-van that will haul it for the price of a beer or two and a pizza.
Also in the real world, this $1,299 + tax masterpiece isn't for fine listening.  Not much Verdi or Dave Brubeck is going to be coming through the Flanger, Chorus, WahWah, Panning or the other 3 effects.  And the last high end 8" tweeter I've heard of was the Hartley-Luth.  People may like the blue lighting from a McIntosh, but this unit's lights are a different manner, different taste, different goal.  Ditto the sound.  I think the words we are looking for is thump, thump, loud.
One could lecture a college student on the fine points of wine: holding the glass at the right angle so as to get the bouquet properly from the bottom, side, and top - the importance of the crystal content of the glass in that its surface structure affects the surface tension of the wine and therefore affects the evaporation rates of the various smell components - the importance of proper airing - et cetra.  But if the college student is only interested in getting his girl friend drunk and willing, all that is a moot point.
As for the manufacturers driving the market.  Samsung is as desperate as the next company to figure out what they can make that enough of that people will buy.  Do they try to drive the market, sure.  Every company would like to be able to do that.  Can they?  Only to a very limited extent.  The bargain bins and overstock stores are littered with bad guesses.

[Scott F.]

You guys are complete buzz kills 

If you think anybody over the age of 14 is going to want this thing, you're nuts. It's huge, shiny and the drivers (as in the woofers and midrange) light up and change color with the beat of the music. This thing is stupid on so many levels. It is nothing more than audio bling aimed at vacuous bipeds inveigled by shiny things.             ...I've been waiting years to use inveigle

The sound...really? .....the drivers light up

This post wasn't to spark some ethereal conversation debating the merits of this thing, it was to poke fun at the nitwits who would even consider buying it....and yes, it's perfectly fine to poke fun at morons. Why? Because we all have our moronic moments when it comes to big, loud, shiny things that light up.

[Bob in St. Louis]

Why? Because we all have our moronic moments when it comes to big, loud, shiny things that light up.

Indeed. I even thought it was so cool when the sunlight shone through the cone of a driver that I grabbed the camera to shoot a quick pic.
I even have the occasional moment when I contemplate building a speaker that has ambient lighting that passing through the driver.   

But it damn well wouldn't flash with the beat, nor would it change colors.    

[GT Audio Works]

I completely understand what you're saying, but I'm pretty positive that a new NAD 3020 and a set of Pioneer towers will not only sound better than this Samsung system, but do so without a fancy $10 cap anywhere to be found, AND well under $1300. This Samsung system does nothing but perpetuate naievity and ignorance. Look around. There's this overriding fact that the mainstream electronics companies think they know what is "good enough" for consumers. This Samsung system is proof. The existence and sales of mp3's is even bigger proof. Why not try and give consumers a taste of true quality at an affordable price instead? Wouldn't this be a better start for a budding audiophile and the masses alike? I rest my case.

Your right...anyone seriously considering buying this thing would be much better off with an NAD integrated and some tower speakers. The trouble is I doubt they would take the time to investigate their options. Even at it's hefty price tag most folks who would consider buying this crazy thing would do so on an impulse and never be interested in good gear anyway. I guess Samsung knows big shiny things get the most attention.

[RDavidson]

You guys are complete buzz kills 

If you think anybody over the age of 14 is going to want this thing, you're nuts. It's huge, shiny and the drivers (as in the woofers and midrange) light up and change color with the beat of the music. This thing is stupid on so many levels. It is nothing more than audio bling aimed at vacuous bipeds inveigled by shiny things.             ...I've been waiting years to use inveigle

The sound...really? .....the drivers light up

This post wasn't to spark some ethereal conversation debating the merits of this thing, it was to poke fun at the nitwits who would even consider buying it....and yes, it's perfectly fine to poke fun at morons. Why? Because we all have our moronic moments when it comes to big, loud, shiny things that light up.

I couldn't agree more. I was having fun. I just fail to see how this is doing a favor to anyone with lesser means. I know people will buy whatever they think is cool, even if it junk. But I can't help but think that stuff like this doesn't need to exist when there is good gear at affordable prices out there......beer budget even. Wine doesn't even have to enter the picture, let alone the nuances of such. See, I have a bit of a love / hate view of consumerism. Consumerism drives competition, but it has also created a world of garbage. People don't buy things that last, and I don't think they really expect things to last in a lot of cases. This creates another problem. The design and manufacture of things that are intended to have a limited lifespan. We all know that this Samsung thing will more than likely end up in a landfill sooner than a NAD 3020 or something along these lines of quality. We're all a discerning bunch especially when it comes to this hobby. We want quality. Is it not OK to want others to have the same? Why is it OK for the masses to buy mp3's and this Samsung thing? This stuff is just slowing progress for everyone, including us discerning consumers.

[RDavidson]

Your right...anyone seriously considering buying this thing would be much better off with an NAD integrated and some tower speakers. The trouble is I doubt they would take the time to investigate their options. Even at it's hefty price tag most folks who would consider buying this crazy thing would do so on an impulse and never be interested in good gear anyway. I guess Samsung knows big shiny things get the most attention.

Yeah I know.........and that's part of the problem. Wouldn't it be great if everyone appreciated our hobby, even on a fundamental level? As much as I hate Beats headphones, I have to admit that they've opened the doors for other manufacturers, like B&W to create a great product for the masses. And slowly, some of the masses are starting to hear and appreciate the difference between listening to mp3's vs lossless formats. I haven't given up hope. This Samsung system and most others like it are a setback in the case for good home audio. The translation from this dreadful system to better home gear isn't the same as the translation from Beats to B&W's. There's a disconnect, where there doesn't need to be.

[GT Audio Works]

You guys are complete buzz kills 

If you think anybody over the age of 14 is going to want this thing, you're nuts. It's huge, shiny and the drivers (as in the woofers and midrange) light up and change color with the beat of the music. This thing is stupid on so many levels. It is nothing more than audio bling aimed at vacuous bipeds inveigled by shiny things.             ...I've been waiting years to use inveigle

The sound...really? .....the drivers light up

This post wasn't to spark some ethereal conversation debating the merits of this thing, it was to poke fun at the nitwits who would even consider buying it....and yes, it's perfectly fine to poke fun at morons. Why? Because we all have our moronic moments when it comes to big, loud, shiny things that light up.

Sorry for the buzz kill Scott, it would be funny seeing someone at the Costco checkout with this monster in their cart !!
As far as the sound...I'm not going to knock it until I have heard it. C'mon...15 inches and 600 odd watts of light up glory!!
Makes me want to pull out my Wild Cherry album, undo the top few buttons on my shirt and put on my platform shoes !!

[dB Cooper]

I love music and will listen to it on almost anything from internet streams in my iPhone to my decent C&C system. This pile wan't designed to be listened to, however. It was designed to be looked at. The people who put this out didn't spend five minutes thinking about SQ and it wouldn't surprise me if they never even listened to it.

People can buy whatever they want. I think $150K "high end" systems are equally absurd and about conspicuous consumption too, just a different target audience.

[RDavidson]

You guys are complete buzz kills 

If you think anybody over the age of 14 is going to want this thing, you're nuts. It's huge, shiny and the drivers (as in the woofers and midrange) light up and change color with the beat of the music. This thing is stupid on so many levels. It is nothing more than audio bling aimed at vacuous bipeds inveigled by shiny things.             ...I've been waiting years to use inveigle

The sound...really? .....the drivers light up

This post wasn't to spark some ethereal conversation debating the merits of this thing, it was to poke fun at the nitwits who would even consider buying it....and yes, it's perfectly fine to poke fun at morons. Why? Because we all have our moronic moments when it comes to big, loud, shiny things that light up.

Sorry for peeing in the pool. I can't help it. I'm a designer. This Samsung thing flies in the face of nearly all my sensibilities. I'm very passionate about great design and great products which last, not only in terms of build quality, but design quality. I know not everything can be timeless, but can't more companies at least strive for such? Again, I must bring up Beats headphones. I'm not a fan of them, but their design is iconic. If Samsung would've at least attempted to make the system along the styling lines of Beats headphones, I might not object so strongly to it. 14 year olds want Beats headphones as much as anyone else does. What can I say? I mean, at least they look great, have a tactile quality to them, and have some semblance to true high quality sound.

[Vapor Audio]

You guys are complete buzz kills 

They don't get how the STL rollz 

(where's my gold toothed smiley)

[Pete Schumacher]

It is better to look good than to sound good my dahlings . . .

[WireNut]

Makes me want to pull out my Wild Cherry album, undo the top few buttons on my shirt and put on my platform shoes !!

Ya baby    I had some of those shoes