If Cost Is No Object

earlmarc · « **on:** 21 Feb 2004, 05:50 pm »

If cost was no object to audio nirvana, how far would you go and what system would you have? I've thought about this for some time. I have put together systems in my head always wandering if such exotic systems are worth the outrageous layout. Are $100,000 plus sytems that much better than $30,000 systems? Does cost more often than not equate to better sound? It seems to me that audio companies would put more R&D into products that appeal to the true audiophile rather than to millionares. Is the experience of exotic systems so overwhelming that lesser systems are a let-down? Most of us build systems around what are budgets allow. Even if cost was no object, we would not buy the most expensive products on the market! As an audiophile I believe we all take pride in being able to build a system for the least amount of money. That is part of the fun of this hobby. How far would you go if cost was no object?

Marbles · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Feb 2004, 06:55 pm »

First I would get the folks at say Dolby Labs to design my ROOM.

After that I would worry about the equipment.

nathanm · « **Reply #2 on:** 21 Feb 2004, 07:42 pm »

I would build a rammed earth house in the most remote and beautiful location I could find. I would have at least two stereo rooms - one very dark and dungeon-like and then another with a light, woodsy feel. Probably hire some acoustic consultants to come up with dimensions\shape that provided the most flat and even bass response.

If I had seemingly limitless funds I would travel around and figure out what I really wanted. I would really like to visit Gateway Mastering for example. There's an example of a seemingly cost-no-object design. Price points are mostly meaningless. If they weren't nobody would ever say a disparaging word about those million dollar system they bodge into hotel rooms at those shows. Everyone would agree that X-amount of dough gets you unquestionably killer sound, but that is not the case.

They should stop putting the price tags on this gear and let people decide what is truly good and what isn't without dollar signs swimming in their heads, totally biasing the evaluation unfairly.

DVV · « **Reply #3 on:** 21 Feb 2004, 08:17 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

First I would get the folks at say Dolby Labs to design my ROOM.

After that I would worry about the equipment.

Before or after hitting the local fun spots to celebrate the event?

I don't know Rob if that would make you happy. My first time in an anechoic room was such a letdown - everything is perfectly neutral and linear, yet dead as a doornail.

I agree any room can stand improvements, real improvements, but I think you can do that yourself with fairly cheap instruments.

Then go on to buying the ultimate audio gear.

Cheers,
DVV

beat · « **Reply #4 on:** 21 Feb 2004, 08:51 pm »

I think that music fulfills a part in life that is essential yet not the bottom line. Therefore I'm with Nathan on the idea the house comes first and it's location. I would probably start with designing the house around a sunken ampitheatre kinda deal where other rooms split off of that yet have all the right reflection and absorption that would recreate a perfect concert. For instance the kitchen would be like hanging out in the balcony seats, etc. Then have other rooms for more specific type of listening. As far as gear goes, I would have to go diy for power and speakers..after all, if I'm so stinkin rich I must have alot of time on my hands, right? My first attempt would probably be a variation on this type of speaker. Never heard em but I like the idea of their massiveness.
http://www.swanspeaker.com/speaker/htm/d2.2.htm
amps would maybe be some kind of classA tube or hybrid design Lamm Industries M2.1 possibly (I'd have to buy a couple to take apart I guess), Everything else I'd swap around so much I don't know where to start

rosconey · « **Reply #5 on:** 21 Feb 2004, 08:54 pm »

puuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhh leeeeeese-
you buy a country and make all the good musicians stay at the castle -so you can have live tunes anytime -duuuuhh

JohnR · « **Reply #6 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 12:43 am »

I would fly Danny Richie and/or Rick Craig over here for a "vacation" and ask them to design one line array and one humungous dipole speaker specifically for my living room. Then I would pick the one I liked best and sell the other.

JLM · « **Reply #7 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 01:49 am »

Good suggestions.

Yes, design/build the "ideal" room. The bigger the better to reduce early reflections and allow the bass to open up. Wifey and I are building a house that will have a well designed listening room (but only 1/10th of size that an ideal room would probably be).

Live music would be the ideal, except that all the money in the world couldn't get of the top performers to be chained to one venue and without their freedom they soon wouldn't be top performers. And they would age eventually. And would you want a 3,000 seat auditorium sound room for symphonic music?

The system probably wouldn't be much different than what I am working towards now, except I'd be trying new equipment every month. I could also pay to have someone else to have most of the "fun" (do the research and set it all up) for me.

Hantra · « **Reply #8 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 02:17 am »

I would first get a room designed, and i would be a large one. Treat it, and then order a pair of Wilson Alexandria's in BMW Laguna Seca Blue. My front end would be a PC used as a transport, and I'd commission Scott Nixon to build a "balls to the wall" non-oversampling tubed DAC with some VERY expensive transformers to couple it.

I'd run that into probably a Halcro preamp, and positively the Halcro monoblocks in gunmetal blue for amplifiers. Cabling is a tough one, and I'd be hard pressed to change from Audience. I'd want to generate my own power of course in an underground room in the backyard to minimize noise.

Add a nice chair, and I think I could probably hang in there once in a while.

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 02:19 am »

Quote from: Hantra

I would first get a room designed, and i would be a large one. Treat it, and then order a pair of Wilson Alexandria's in BMW Laguna Seca Blue. My front end would be a PC used as a transport, and I'd commission Scott Nixon to build a "balls to the wall" non-oversampling tubed DAC with some VERY expensive transformers to couple it.

I'd run that into probably a Halcro preamp, and positively the Halcro monoblocks in gunmetal blue for amplifiers. Cabling is a tough one, and I'd be hard pressed to change fr ...

Well, you did forget the wet bar and dancing girls, but other than that you have some good ideas......

Hantra · « **Reply #10 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 02:22 am »

Man. . I knew there was something I forgot. . .

Freelapdance

Al Garay · « **Reply #11 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 05:27 am »

I would hire the best minds in the world to build me a Holodeck that can be activated anywhere in my dream house.

Closer to reality, I would buy the following headphones:
* Grado RS1 (or the less expensive SR325) with Grado RA1 amp
* Stax SRS-4040 Signature system which includes a Stax amp
* Sennheiser HD600 with best OTL headphone amp

These would provide me the benchmark to compare the best loudspeakers available. Even with a computer as the source, it is hard for loudspeakers to sound as good as the best headphones.

Had I won the Mega Lotto, I would be looking closely at the Soundlab U1 powered by Atma-Sphere electronics (too see if it sounds as good as the Stax). And I would also like to hear the Avalon Acoustics Eidolon Diamond powered by Ayre Acoustics electronics (to see if sounds as good as the Grado's).

Sweet dreams,

Al

Christof · « **Reply #12 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 09:01 am »

If money was no object I would spend my life traveling the world listening to it live rather than siting in a chair and listening to it through a system. BUT money is a object for me so I DIY. Sorry I'm a smart a$$ by nature
c.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #13 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 09:49 am »

No matter how rich you get, you can't travel back in time...for that you need audio gear! So many greats, rock and classical, are dead now. The only way to hear them is in their recordings.

NealH · « **Reply #14 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 12:14 pm »

For me it would be Magnepan 20.1s with a sub to cover the subterranean region. I would audition a few such as the new Revel or REL Studio, or their new Stampede, etc. Then I would audition some high quality amps such as the new Rowland monobloc digital amplifiers, Edge, Atmashpere with auto-transformer, etc to feed the Maggies. On the front end, I would would go for the new Ed Meitner DCC2 or 6 Dac or, perhaps the Exemplar modded Denon since my primary music format is CD (just don't think the others will make it). Now the listening room, this will be somewhat conservative. Just a rectangle, about 15'X25' will do fine.

PhilNYC · « **Reply #15 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 01:13 pm »

Quote from: JLM

Live music would be the ideal, except that all the money in the world couldn't get of the top performers to be chained to one venue and without their freedom they soon wouldn't be top performers. And they would age eventually ...

Yeah, but wouldn't it be a hoot to ask them to "pause" while you went to answer the phone...?

wshuff · « **Reply #16 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 03:28 pm »

I agree that the room is the place to start. And if price is no object, then I assume I'm rich enough to stop working. So...

House in Hawaii where I can hear the sea. After that, I'd probably be satisfied with a Bose 3-2-1 system.

_scotty_ · « **Reply #17 on:** 22 Feb 2004, 05:38 pm »

Unlimited money would allow for a better located house with possibly
a correct design from a listening standpoint but it wouldn't necessarily produce the best possible stereo system. Money won't solve the problem
of how to acquire the best sounding system. That solution requires intelligence applied to producing a closer approach to recreating reality in the listening room. There are a couple of people I would bankroll to further their research. This is probably the best way to help them make progress towards this goal.
For now though I will have to be content with the results of their
current labors to this end with which I am well satisfied.

Jon L · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 Feb 2004, 09:30 pm »

If cost was no object, I would devote my money and offer "bonuses" to recording engineers at large for producing good-sounding recordings. Say, $10K for a job well done.

Forget about SACD, DVD-A, etc. A well-recorded, well-mastered redbook CD sounds PLENTY good. It's just that less than 5-10% of current redbook CD's are produced this way. If the source is great, even a modest system would sound very good indeed.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #19 on:** 23 Feb 2004, 10:17 pm »

Quote from: Jon L

...Forget about SACD, DVD-A, etc. A well-recorded, well-mastered redbook CD sounds PLENTY good. It's just that less than 5-10% of current redbook CD's are produced this way. If the source is great, even a modest system would sound very good indeed.

JonL,

you are so RIGHT ON with this post...