[kbuzz3]

But the binding posts look really nice Bill!

 Those are CMC connectors made in Tiawan. They are used on most Usher speakers. I had them on my Usher D2 horns. Big and heavy but very user friendly.

they may be great connectors - i have not tested them-- but for those prices i would expect a wbt  or custom job

[mcullinan]

OK... So you are paying for R&D.. shouldnt that R&D be spread out amongst several hundred units and not 10. What a crazy hobby!
Mike

[Bill Baker]

And I was worried about the cost of our new mono blocs?

[BobM]

And I was worried about the cost of our new mono blocs?

And so you should ... and so should every manufacturer. Do you want to produce something that only a few can enjoy or something that many can experience, enjoy and spread your fame (and fortune by association)?

Audio is a hobby, it shouldn't be an "investment" in the usual sense of that word. Art used to be a hobby for many also, but it has become more of an investment for the wealthy. Cars were a hobby too (do you remember working with your dad on his old Chevy/Ford/Buick/VW etc.?), but now you just about can't change your own oil, let alone any real work.

Bob

[Bill Baker]

And so you should ... and so should every manufacturer. Do you want to produce something that only a few can enjoy or something that many can experience, enjoy and spread your fame (and fortune by association)?

 I agree Bob that manufacturers should consider their target market but it is a very broad market with many target levels. I would like to think our products have always offered good value.

[aerius]

$139,000.......It must be in the iron. They don't look like much under the hood but then again, I have never heard them.

Hmmmm...are those Hammond transformers I see?

[art]

Hmmm......a friend just bought a very nice house for about that price. Wonder who got the better bargain?

Pat

[zacster]

While I don't doubt the time and effort put into developing this, and the quality of the sound, that is still a lot of money relative to other amps of that type.  And you could build one yourself for a lot less than a commercial amp too, even using custom wound transformers. 

In any case, I'd just rather pay off my mortgage.

[bpape]

Let's be real - people who buy things like that do it - because they can.  They don't worry about money or value in most cases.  They want a status symbol to show off - and something that sounds good.

Bryan

[SET Man]

Let's be real - people who buy things like that do it - because they can.  They don't worry about money or value in most cases.  They want a status symbol to show off - and something that sounds good.

Bryan

Hey!

   Yup, I agreed with you.

   Let's face it, the reason you guys are whining about this is because you guys can't afford it.  Yeah, I know I can't afford it too

   But when is come to audio more $ doesn't always mean is will be better for you in your own system. There are many high $ audio.... not that hight but still....  out there that I've heard and just can't stand.

   Anyway, if anyone got the $ and can easily afford this and feel that it sound great in his/her system than go for it! Sadly I'm not one of those people 

Take care,
Buddy

[Imperial]

I find it fascinating that Vladimir Lamm NEVER did a listening test to the ML3 during design.
He built them, hooked them up, and they play like they are worth 140 large, just like that!
Wow!!!

By the way, after hearing the Marten Coltrane Supreme speakers last year, they are like 3 times the price of the ML3's or so...
I was thinking: Well, I've never heard speakers that I could see, but not hear!!
I could see them standing in the room, but I could not hear the sound coming from them!! Could not!!
I had to put my ear like one foot from the tweeter to actually to be able to say:
Yup, it's connected to the amps alright.. but there is no sweet spot!!! There is music!!!

After the show everybody was like: They cannot possibly be worth this amount of money!!!
But then it was like, have we heard better? Nope...
Was it downright scary to hear the music just come alive? Yes!!!

Just like with the Lamm ML3's .. sometimes this is what it actually will take, to get that close to the real thing.
And when you do, your ears testify! They say: Amen!!! The mind? Can't begin to comprehend it!! Just can't!!

And here is the thing, then I went to another room, and in that room, the JBL 6600 Everest speakers made
well use of 4KW of amplification power... and I was thinking:

They cost 20% as much, and by the way this sounds, you can tell! I've heard the Everests before... mind you and was stunned!
But going from the Coltrane supremes back to them...
I went back and forth a couple of times between the rooms, and ... my mind would not accept it!!! It was a crazy difference!!!


Imperial

[Andrikos]

Does an Aston Martin DB9 come with those things? 

OBGYN is the guy who auditioned them for months and couldn't stop talking about them.

I'm sure you can buy them at 95% off and Lamm is still making money on it...

[doug s.]

i suspect that there are literally dozens of amps that are as good or better than these, at 1/10th the price, or less - many amps as good or better are a lot less, i bet.  but, that's not what these amps are about - as others have said, for folks w/the cash, the other amps aren't as desirable cuz they are not as expensive...   

doug s.

[Imperial]

Sure, there is some truth to this as well.
But isn't that a bit of the fun for the normal folks, ehm, living that dream? 

Finding that amp for 1/10 or less?
I'm sure with some speakers, that amp will exist!!

Imperial

[doug s.]

Sure, there is some truth to this as well.
But isn't that a bit of the fun for the normal folks, ehm, living that dream? 

Finding that amp for 1/10 or less?
I'm sure with some speakers, that amp will exist!!

Imperial

"with some speakers" - that's the critical part.  with some speakers, you will find that amp for 1/50th to 1/100the the cost.  and, you will likely find qutie a few of them, too!   

personally, i dream of speakers only, when i think of big-dollar audio.  even then, i don't think i need $140k to whet my speaker dreams...  i could have a world of fun w/$20k for a speaker budget.     as it is now, i think the present speakers i have, with only ~$2k inwested in 'em, are pretty special.   

doug s.

[PhilNYC]

If so, these amps could be for you:




http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/lamm_ml3_signature.htm



Start adding up the system the amps were auditioned in and you really can start to feel woozy!   

George

And to think, that much money won't even get you one of these monoblocks:



http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/704wavac/

[Wind Chaser]

And to think, that much money won't even get you one of these monoblocks:



http://www.stereophile.com/tubepoweramps/704wavac/

Stereophile - what a bunch of wankers... "these $350,000 amplifiers are a bargain."  Yeah, right.  That is so predictable, coming from them.  Does anyone even read that crappy rag anymore??

[art]

Let's be real - people who buy things like that do it - because they can.  They don't worry about money or value in most cases.  They want a status symbol to show off - and something that sounds good.

Bryan

This is a bit o/t, but.........

I actually had a business partner at one time who could afford that sort of stuff. Why he bought very expensive gear that someone else made, instead of investing money into our company so that we could build equally ludicrous (and possibly better) products, pretty much summarises how people like that think.

BTW, it sounded like cr@p. Even his fiancee thought it sounded horrible.

So, make that ex-business partner and ex-fiancee. We both wised up.

[WerTicus]

in high end audio you pay for the price

[ArthurDent]

Don't think anyone has asked, so - does that include sales tax, shipping, & handling ??