THE MOST EXPENSIVE AUDIO SYSTEM IN THE PLANET

John Ashman · « **Reply #20 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 11:40 pm »

I'm with Nathan. Notice that the Wilsons are too far apart and jammed into the corner. Further, they are too close to the front wall given their bass heavy design. And that is *Wilson Audio* setting them up. It's like they don't even understand basic speaker set up!

You could easily set up a more modest system and blow it away in imaging, soundstaging, accuracy (Wilsons suck at accuracy).

What passes for "best" these days is simply "most impressive". If it sounds like it could deafen you or toss your body through the big window behind you, then it's "the best!!!" BS. It's just the most excessive. The "high-end" has been jacked by stupid rich people who buy into all this nonsense. Oh well, at least it trickles the money down eventually.

bhobba · « **Reply #21 on:** 23 Mar 2006, 11:46 pm »

Quote from: Response Audio

You are absolutely correct Nathanm. The room is the first and foremost important factor in any system. The best system (okay, most expensive) in the world set up in a less than ideal application could be taken to the cleaners by a much more affordable system properly set up in a well treated room.

Yes, if you are spending that type of money you would think it would include some room correction software like a DEQX. And that would only be the start of what is possible.

Thanks
Bill

MrCool78 · « **Reply #22 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 12:16 am »

If home theater is part of this, check out this study in excess!

http://theater.stevejenkins.com/gallery/complete/

Hi Russel thanks for that link, yes that's really impressive room and must be really expensive set up, but it hardly can't tell what components they use, if the room's set up like that I reckon, if they're using budget gears it'll sound good though

Tweaker · « **Reply #23 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 12:21 am »

The most expensive does not equate to the best. It is simply the most expensive. And since it's all rather subjective anyway it does not make sense to me to say that any stereo, no matter whose it is or how much it costs, is the best. And I'm sorry but Wilson Speakers have to be one of the most over rated speakers in existence. I have heard them in a local showroom and they did not float my boat. For that kind of money it should be like listening to God. It wasn't. If money were no object I would probably work with a speaker manufacterer like VMPS (if I could talk him into it) or Jim Salk and have something custom built.
Here's a link to some incredible stereos from around the world. Fun to look at and realize that people in countries you might not expect share the same passion. It is from the Audiophile Club Of Athens:
http://aca.gr/system.htm
Here's one of my favorite over the top systems:
http://aca.gr/pop_burwen.htm

MrCool78 · « **Reply #24 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 12:40 am »

Looks like lots of money playing inside an untreated space, I just don't think the gear is living up to its potential with all the hard walls around. I don't doubt it was impressive, just not as impressive as it could be.

There's people that have spent far less on their dreams systems and are probably getting better results because they built the ultimate room. Think of it this way, if you have the ultimate room then EVERYTHING sounds better even if it doesn't have a zillion zeroes in the price. How much value can you possibly get out of an $85,000 preamp when two resistors is the next step up in quality? I don't get it. If you're that loaded then you can hire architects and acousticians to design a golden ratio dream room from scratch.

Hi, Nathanm
I'm 100% agree with ya, if your see their set up on the pic it's pretty ordinary and nothing special, I don't think it was impressive. but for him the best I don't think for our taste is the best it all depends on our taste too. For Preamp $85.000 still I can't believe it what do they put in, even you're using all the best parts still $85.000 far too expensive.

bhobba · « **Reply #25 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 12:47 am »

The mind boggles; but I suppose if we are having flights of fancy I can detail my cost is no object system. It would be

Speakers: SP Revelations
Amplification: 4 Empirical Audio modified Parasound JC-1 Monoblocks biamping the revletaions via a DEQX. Would need to discuss with SP Tech
what is best done by the DEQX and what is best done in passive crossover.
Source: Empirical Audio Off Ramp I2S feeding an Empirical Audio modded DEQX modded to accept I2S.
Hell since money is no object I would use all Empirical audio cables even though they look really expensive.

One mighty hard to beat system at any price - but still much less than 6 figures.

Thanks
Bill

raov1 · « **Reply #26 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 01:01 am »

A swiss manufacturer with hi-end prices
2 speakers 300,00
Amp upto 150,000 a piece
CDP 85,000
Preamp ? 50,000
The setup I listened to was about 600,000

The good thing is that the preamp has 32 channels compared to 7.1 now
State of the art, but few can afford it like the ferraris

MrCool78 · « **Reply #27 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 01:07 am »

Hi guys

Check this out:
http://www.sonicflare.com/archives/vegas-swedish-statement.php

have a look on that link for $450.000 still not perfectly good.

John Ashman · « **Reply #28 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 01:24 am »

As one of my friends says "does it have breasts?!?"

bhobba · « **Reply #29 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 01:57 am »

Kinda reminds me of what someone said about Grange Hermitage the great Australian shiraz. Every time he tasted it it made the earth move - but at the price you wanted it to rock and roll.

Thanks
Bill

Folsom · « **Reply #30 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 02:29 am »

Quote from: acresm22

Quote from: Destroyer of Smiles.
Where in Montana is he, and you? I am in Montana as well. I am pretty sure we are far and few here.

I am in Bozeman. The Wilson/Krell system is somewhere in Paradise Valley.
And where under the Big Sky are you?

D.

Missoula! We actually have a shop here too called db. Weird name I know but all the people there are cool. They carry a number of things, mostly stuff not avalible on the internet. A guy from some where out of town bought some Gallos rev. 3 just the other day while I was there.

I want to listen to the Wilson/Krell

.

acresm22 · « **Reply #31 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 03:33 am »

I have heard lots of Wilson/Krell systems here over the years. I know the guys over at Thirsty Ear (the local high-end shop) very well. In fact, they just had a big show on March 17 where they unveiled a 200" Runco screen along with a host of other Runco products. Mr. Sam Runco was there himself. TE no longer sells Wilson...its mainly Krell and Martin Logan speakers now, along with Genelec and ATC in the powered-speaker realm.

There's another interesting hi-fi retailer in this neck-o-the-woods...Todd the Vinyl Junkie is over in Three Forks. He had a show last year that was a lot of fun....heard a number of impressive turntables and some montrous self-powered speakers by Pass that were phenomenal.

D.

Folsom · « **Reply #32 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 06:02 am »

Quote from: acresm22

I have heard lots of Wilson/Krell systems here over the years. I know the guys over at Thirsty Ear (the local high-end shop) very well. In fact, they just had a big show on March 17 where they unveiled a 200" Runco screen along with a host of other Runco products. Mr. Sam Runco was there himself. TE no longer sells Wilson...its mainly Krell and Martin Logan speakers now, along with Genelec and ATC in the powered-speaker realm.

There's another interesting hi-fi retailer in this neck-o-the-woods...Todd the ...

More audiophile in Montana! Sweet.

If I am ever in Bozeman again.... I will have to search.

JLM · « **Reply #33 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 11:04 am »

Think of the room as the second, bigger speaker cabinet (one cabinet, the room, is on one side of the driver and the "real" cabinet is on the other). So if cabinet design is important to you, so much so the room. And if you have open baffles, the room is really the only cabinet.

IMO more drivers is a sign of bad things. Just take multiple midrange drivers for instance. Sound waves emminating from multiple sources can't be good for imaging. And no two drivers will behave or sound exactly the same. Except for some small extended range drivers any driver should be able to handle realistic playback levels in "normal" sized rooms. Same to be said of the performance of multiple amps.

I agree with above, I'm much more interested with 95% solutions at 5% of the cost of the "ultimate" (whatever that is) and that many of the high end stuff doesn't float my boat. Its ridiculous how poor of rooms nearly all retailers use to show off their wares. My listening room (without treatments yet) cost less than $500 above typical construction. Insulated double stud walls, mineral wool drop ceiling with insulation above, flexible/insulated ductwork, exterior fiberglass door, dedicated circuits, cryo'd hospital grade receptacles, and of course the room dimensions in the correct proportions. IMO worth 100 times more than investing the same money into upgraded interconnects for instance. I can listen when I want, at the volume I want, to what I want, without hearing the TV, dishwasher, etc. (or the family hearing me).

Russell Dawkins · « **Reply #34 on:** 24 Mar 2006, 06:02 pm »

JLM, I strongly agreee with what you are saying about the importance of the room, especially the sound proof aspect.

I think most people choose playback level based on ambient noise level. Below the level chosen, the fridge or furnace or traffic noise would start to become audible during the quiet parts.

Many of us have been conditioned to accept a low level of hum or buzz, often centred around 120Hz, to the extent that it has to be pointed out that it exists.

Every 3dB reduction in ambient noise level results in 3dB less playback level requirement from our playback system.

This is equivalent to doubling either the amplifier power available or doubling the efficiency of the speakers.

This is also one of the benefits of living deep in the country - you can meet these requirements and have the windows open!

raov1 · « **Reply #35 on:** 25 Mar 2006, 12:41 am »

Goldmund folks, the audiosystem of the rich and famous
Goldmund.
300,000 for a pair of speakers..things can't get more expensive than this.
Interesting enough, this systen has never been reviewed

http://www.goldmund.com/

nathanm · « **Reply #36 on:** 25 Mar 2006, 01:14 am »

Geez, great marketing scheme: really expensive gear that doesn't even LOOK expensive. Who the heck are you going to impress with that stuff? You'd have to leave the invoice laying on top of it. "Hey baby, check out my...uh, stack of beer coolers bolted to square tubing!?" I think you might get more wow factor from a pair of B&W Nautilus (the one with the big spikes and shell), Tannoy Westminsters, or AvantGarde Trios and still have money left over for the sports car. I can only hope that the Goldmund gear sounds better than it looks! Maybe it looks better in person.

raov1 · « **Reply #37 on:** 25 Mar 2006, 01:15 pm »

Oh boy it does look like a marketing hype. Too much to drink last night when I was browsing through and decided to write again.

bhd812 · « **Reply #38 on:** 26 Mar 2006, 05:13 am »

Quote from: acresm22

There's another interesting hi-fi retailer in this neck-o-the-woods...Todd the Vinyl Junkie is over in Three Forks. He had a show last year that was a lot of fun....heard a number of impressive turntables and some montrous self-powered speakers by Pass that were phenomenal .

I was at that show also..

Todd is probably the best dealer I ever met (IMO Of course) he has alot of new lines he is doing and most of them are for the speaker guys..

If I were out by you boys I would be at Todd's everyday of the week..of course I would not have a wallet shortly after starting though..haha

dave_c · « **Reply #39 on:** 26 Mar 2006, 07:48 am »

Quote from: nathanm

Looks like lots of money playing inside an untreated space, I just don't think the gear is living up to its potential with all the hard walls around. I don't doubt it was impressive, just not as impressive as it could be.

There's people that have spent far less on their dreams systems and are probably getting better results because they built the ultimate room. Think of it this way, if you have the ultimate room then EVERYTHING sounds better even if it doesn't have a zillion zeroes in the price. How m ...

Jeff wrote three articles about renovating his room to optimize it for his system. Pretty good read.

Part 1: http://www.ultraaudio.com/twbas/twbas_20050915.htm
Part 2: http://www.ultraaudio.com/twbas/twbas_20051215.htm
Part 3: http://www.ultraaudio.com/twbas/twbas_20060215.htm