The system you can be happy with... what does it take?

JohnR · « **on:** 4 Mar 2003, 06:43 am »

I'm sure we've all walked into a dealer at some point and listened to a high-dollar system and not exactly been impressed. I was wondering what people think is needed to make a system that they can be *happy* with. Take, erm, for example, le system du Pez http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?action=systems;system=26">here (because a. he's happy with it and b. I can't have it

). I'm guessing about 10k there. What, in your view, does it take $-wize to get a system you would be *happy* with?

Answers have to be a system that you have actually heard, or at least components that you have heard. In other words you have to have a reason to believe you would be happy with this system, no "fantasy" systems that cost an arm and a leg but you know have no idea how it would actually sound

Please post the system if you feel so inclined.

bubba966 · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 07:52 am »

Where's the $500K+ option in this poll?

Hell, just the projector alone in my favorite setup clocks in over $100K...

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 08:03 am »

I could likely never be satisfied. If I ever could get just what I want, the bastards always just make something new!

PJ · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 08:57 am »

I said $US5k.

My realistically (although not for me at the moment being a poor uni student) priced setup I would be really happy with would consist of..

A two way bookshelf setup on dual subs with an active xover and six channel of SS amplification, a tubed pre and a decent CD player.

Given the fact the amps etc could be AKSA's etc, I think that would be attainable for $5k. The bookshelves would likely be from a factory direct vendor (nOrh, VMPS etc). Subs would be DIY.

Having said that, my standards are likely lower than many who visit this site...

Ferdi · « **Reply #4 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 10:04 am »

Well, the equipment would not be too bad. Upgrade my Stratos to Xtreme Mono's, get a different pre, some other speakers... Let's say $15k all in all. The problem is to get the house around it! I have arbitrarily assigned the remainder of the $100k to a listening room in a new, larger house.

I'll have that someday but not right now...

MaxCast · « **Reply #5 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 12:32 pm »

I voted for 10K so I could include the baddest looking cables for the system. Here is what I would do. I would audition used gear in my own home. I would probably go through no less than three pieces of each link in the cain (pres, amps, etc). Probably more speakers. I am pretty sure I could be happy with these results, however, the temptation of cool looking gear is like a bad ex-girlfriend that still looks hot.

I wish I could re cast my vote because I would also like to have a near perfect room to set this stuff up in too.

Rocket · « **Reply #6 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 12:48 pm »

hello,

10k us would do it for me.

pioneer transport modded by modwright
perpetual tech p3a dac signature modwright
aksa gk1
aksa 100 nirvana
war audio reference 1's (raven 1 tweeter, 3.5 inch accuton midrange & 8inch cabasse bass driver speaker cabinet lined with black hole5) $8500 au

speaker cables/ic's not sure about what i would buy.

regards

rod

JohnR · « **Reply #7 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 01:11 pm »

OK, 100k projectors and 85k rooms, eh

Thinking about my reply to my own question, I'm going to go for the modest end of things. Much is stuff I already have, or similar... lessee

Cal Alpha/Delta -- long in tooth but still does it in the mids -- 800
AKSA -- currently 55W but let's splurge and make a 100W Nirvana -- 900
Preamp -- DACT but let's replace it with a GK-1 -- say 900 too
Analog -- Teres, not done but I have faith (!) -- 1500
Speakers -- some variation of my current -- 1200 for drivers
Subs -- my sealed DPL12 subs -- 350
Sub amp -- QSC -- 450
Let's say 200 for cables and 300 for balanced power for the front end

Ahm... that's 6500. That's DIY money which is of course counted differently to regular money

Add 1k for acoustic treatment: 7500. So if I remove the turntable I'm in the 5k bracket, but that will never do, so suppose I bi-amped, added more acoustic treatment, and did balanced power on the amps as well, that's 10k.

Cool

nathanm · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 02:27 pm »

$100,000+ for land and a house! House+SPL=Happy

Why is dirt more expensive than gear? That's what I wanna know! A finite amount of it I suppose. If anyone here is involved with real estate I just wanna say

Thanks for making it practically impossible for a working guy to own a home.

bob82274 · « **Reply #9 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 02:31 pm »

I'm happy just as long as the tunes keep flowing.

JoshK · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 02:48 pm »

I with Nathan that I most desire a good room in a house where I can crank my music. I am pretty happy with my system as it is, but I could use a good AC conditioner, lets say the BPT or something like that. I haven't added up the price of everything I have now for some time but I think I need another $2,000 or so to finish it off if I could just get the room I want.

ABEX · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Mar 2003, 08:22 pm »

There is always room for improvement,but seeing that your speaker's and room are the things that sound is most dependant on with the equiptment behind it being secondary.

I have to laugh at people who cannot possibly use Maggies or panel's in a small room,but they absolutely have to have them!I found Box speaker's that give me that kind of clarity ,but even better with deep bass.If you like that type of sound there are alot of folks that have to sell them because of that exact reason.A dealer's dream I call them!

My dream speaker's are being made at present and the last 2 things I have to upgrade amps and a center channel,maybe another SS processor

Don't forget music.I have over $30K I think of music.Is that part of the equation?Alot of people buy equiptment to listen to the Beatles.WOW!Just not worth it for that reason.Would just get a $200 Boom Box for that.My system is modest compared to SOTA stuff,but is truely musical to my ears.

http://cgi.audioasylum.com/systems/3684.html

Poll

I could have a system I KNOW I would be very very happy with for: