How close are you to Highend? True highend sound

[LuSh]

I've come to met a few people here that share a real passion for music and ensuring that one day they'll get a rig that truely makes them happy without compromise. What have people upgraded to recently? What's left? Where do you think you'll settle? Have you had a taste of true highend?

With my DAC, Transport, Wiring all set for the long haul. Next will be the speakers. I have mentioned in the past my desire for Reference 3a's abut Gallo Nucleas Reference 3's also look interesting. My intergrated amp (simaudio moon) will get me through the next couple years, but ideally I think a Jeff Rowland, Y B A or i-5 Simaudio is where I want to be. I think by this time I will have a sense of what true high end music reproduction will entail without spending several 10's of thousands of dollars on my hobby.

Where do you see your system developing to down the road? Where do you feel you'll draw the line?

[Early B.]

I draw the line where most people do -- with money. At some point you'll reach the plateau of diminishing returns where you'll have to spend 100% more money for a 1% "improvement." Just depends on how fat your wallet is. I'm already there, so you can kinda guess that my wallet's been on the Slim Fast diet for quite some time. Yes, I'd like to "try" some more expensive speakers, but I ain't gonna buy 'em. I heard a $14K pair of speakers that sounded like shit, so that's what convinced me about the value of upgrading. Besides, I can't afford for my system to sound like shit.:p

[Joey_V]

For me, I'm in between the beginning stage and the achievement stage. I'm been on a journey that has taken me beyond what I expected my system to be at this point in time... however, there is always something to improve upon. The funds arent there - so I will have to make do with what I have for the most part. Not like there is anything wrong with what I have, IMO.

The only thing I see in my immediate future is a center - that's all for the upgrading aspect.

Not until I make some actual disposable income will I move up towards true high-end. I am very content with what I have and my knocking on the high-end door.... or atleast in the driveway. :D

[steveinaz]

Define "true high-end." I think any system that meets the minimum requirements to be considered "high-fidelity" IS high-end.

The important thing is that the listener has the sound they're looking for. Having said that, aside from an up-coming speaker cable change, I'm done for a long, long time....I'm enjoying the music.

[faster100]

hIGH END, or High fidelity.. did i spell that right? LOL

I don't care nor can afford High end.. some of my gear is "higher end" then the typical non audio nut but no where near "HIGH END"

I echo steve, if it sounds good and meets your requirements and taste for sound... Its "your" high end.. But i have a feeling this thread isnt about that... no agenda intended with that comment either.. :) I know you run alot of high dollar gear and cables so do you mean according to the user or price tag? just curious..

as for my system, I don't nit pick it and love the sound right now. Just wanna roll tubes and sit back and listen.

[LuSh]

By True High end, I mean having listened to a cost no object system, and trying to acheive that sound through any means possible. Money doesn't always dictate performance.

[danger boy]

I am so far from high end it's not even funny.

but i guess if it's high end to you and you enjoy the sound and have put some effort into getting components that sound good do you..then i would be satisfied in calling it "hi fi".

[Spawndn72]

I have never listened to a "cost is no object" system before and I am kinda glad that I haven't.

I see a new pre-amp in my future, new speaker wires and I want to get my TT refurbished but past that I am very happy with my low to mid-fi stereo.

Just for refrence I have:

Adcom GA-545 amp
Adcom GTP-400 pre
Pioneer DVD/Multi-format player
Dual 704 TT
Pioneer RT-707 R2R
Polk Monitor 7 speakers
Acoustic Research cables
14Ga lampcord speaker wire.

[steveinaz]

Spawn
Your equipment is niether low or mid-fi in my book. You've got a very fine system from what I see.

The term "high-end" was developed so audio snobs* with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.

High Fidelity is high fidelity. If your system is capable of reproducing the frequency spectrum applicable to humans, while keeping distortion and noise to a minimum, and doing so in a realistic fashion; you're there.

*EDITED: Replaced "small-dicked audiophiles" with "audio snobs."

[ND13]

"DITTO"

[Early B.]

The term "high-end" was developed so small-dicked audiophiles with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.

That about sums it up.

If I may use an analogy, let's take restaurants. Now there's fast food restaurants and on the other end of the spectrum there's four star restaurants. Both have delicious meals, but just because the four star restaurant costs 20 times more doesn't mean the food tastes any better. The taste of food is just as subjective as the taste for sound in music. Sure, the food might look nicer, you may get better service, etc., at the finer restaurant, but in the end, it all turns to shit.:p

[PolkThug]

I'll never get there, I'm stuck with grunt Polk and Onkyo gear, but I won't enjoy my system any less. :)

[steveinaz]

It's not a contest, it's about enjoying music.

[Spawndn72]

It's not a contest, it's about enjoying music.

I have always thought that the kid listening to his favorite band on a cheap boom box is alot happier than the guy trying to decided which $5,000 set of interconnects sound better.

[marker]

I've got high end, BOSE! Top that beoythches!

[faster100]

Originally posted by marker
I've got high end, BOSE! Top that beoythches!

and about 4 to many rigs in your sig :D

[Early B.]

I have always thought that the kid listening to his favorite band on a cheap boom box is alot happier than the guy trying to decided which $5,000 set of interconnects sound better.

AMEN.

[RuSsMaN]

I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

[steveinaz]

THAT is awesome, I swear I can almost smell Sandalwood incense....

[RuSsMaN]

No Steve, that smell would be weed.

[madmax]

I consider my equipment at the low side of high end. It has always been my experience that to move to a higher level you must spend more. I understand that some people can spend way too much for no gain but I'm not talking about that group. I'm talking about people who know what they are doing. There is a reason one amp costs $500 and another costs $5000. I'm not saying you cannot be happy with either one, just that there are differences if set up properly. Of course within any given cost range you will find pieces of equipment which cost more but deliver less.

madmax

[ND13]

Russ,

Ihad one of those systems when I was 11 years old. Played alot of KISS, QUEEN, and DOOBIES on it, too.

[Skynut]

Right now I am pretty happy with what I have, My future plan involves a new amp and acoustic treatments. I have got to get my sound deflection under control.

[Zero]

Sure, there is a large appeal to the big names and the fancy looks.

Who wouldn’t want a speaker crafted in Steinway piano gloss that is made by some family in Sweden. The design would be perfect, full range, each driver and square inch of cab tuned to the purist possible perfection by the original founder of the company. A speaker that arrives in a lavish steel crate that comes with hand woven velvet clothes for removing if from its teak protective enclosures. All my neighbors will be jealous and it will sound fine to be sure!

I used to believe that achieving sonic bliss entailed dropping lots of cash. If you wish to play in the rat-trap, then it is a truth you will have to come to realize. There is a way out of the rabbit hole, and its more affordable than you may think.

High-end? I could care less. Give me the music, baby.

[dragon1952]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

I'm assuming that was placed out in the road on purpose in the hopes someone would run over it :rolleyes:

[Skynut]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
I 'am' high end.

My newest reference rig below.

That is one pimped out rig you got there. Do I see 8 track?

[RuSsMaN]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5777362880

[dragon1952]

(WE DO NOT HAVE THE BUBBLE TOP that goes over the receiver )

Well I don't know about you guys but that's a show stopper for me right there :rolleyes:

BTW, they don't mention the chair.

[amulford]

If you like it what it does, it's high end. Or should I say it is to you.

Now, if that doesn't meet someone elses "standard", so be it. I am not into this to keep up with the Jones. I'm in this for me, eff the friggin Jones.

I have heard some pretty good rigs. Would I like to emulate that sound? Not really. I want to acheive what I want. Do I have to spend a fortune? Maybe, maybe not.

I am still building. It won't ever stop. But I'm not trying to reach "audio nirvana". If that's your aim, then hey, whatever blows your skirt up. My priorities may differ.

Just my .02.

[aaharvel]

MCINTOSH from what I hear from others would be "high-end"

I've SEEN (not heard) their gear in Magazines and was absolutely floored. Gorgeous. I'm wondering how much better they are then Adcom...?

Could you imagine hooking their stuff up to a simple pair of rti-4's? hehehe...

until then i'll keep on dreaming. =(

[ND13]

Kudos to Zero and amulford!!!!!!!!!!


Couldn't have said it better myself.

[LuSh]

Somewhere this thread got derailed into "its not about highend its about what people like" arguement. I really don't care about those comments I was more interested in what people like F1nut wanted to do down the road and a few others I enjoy talking to from time to time.

[Skynut]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5777362880


Whaaaaat no one has even bid?:confused:

[Skynut]

My bad.:(

I am thinking about getting the Sherbourn 7/2100 amp I was asking people about a few weeks ago.
The thing seems to be built well and since I can not find too many of them I figure people who buy them like to hang onto them.

I just bought new power cords for my subs and I really want to put some sound panels and tube traps in my room and on the walls to help with sound management.

That is my plan for now.......more to come.

[mantis]

I'm at the bottom of true high end but

My system is sounding better then ever. I'm happy and I think thats what matters most. Your system makes you feel good, emotional, then you have reached the level.

High end is a term and it's insane how HIGH END it goes.

Dan

[Early B.]

No more purchases for me are planned. I'm thinking of modding the crossovers in my speakers, but it sounds great right now IMO, so I may come to my senses and decide not to do it.

High end, low end -- how about Early's end? Yeah, that's where I'm at.

The end.

[amulford]

You are trying to find out what with this question?

That's just it. Define "High End" sound. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, but when you listen to a recording, you are hearing what the someone else thinks sounds best. Now you might like it, you might not.

IMO, a rig reflects what you want it to do. just as the musician tries to convey their feelings in the music.

Now there are some purists who think that a perfect reproduction of the recording is the idea of "high end". Everything has it's own colorization, and all will reflect it in the reproduction. Every thing, wires, power, transport, DAC, pre, amp, speaker.....

What you are asking for is opinions, but you choose to think some are not what you are asking for. How's that???

[F1nut]

Originally posted by steveinaz

The term "high-end" was developed so small-dicked audiophiles with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.

That's a silly statement.


High Fidelity is high fidelity. If your system is capable of reproducing the frequency spectrum applicable to humans, while keeping distortion and noise to a minimum, and doing so in a realistic fashion; you're there.

I disagree, I think it's about the musicality and tone.

Having said that, I'm not planning any major changes to my main rig as I'm pretty happy with it and don't think I could improve upon it without a really large cash outlay. I do want to add another PS Audio UPC-200 and upgrade the crossovers in the SDA's. After that, I'll see where things stand. The shop rig still needs a tube pre amp and power amp...I'm thinking BAT. I'm also toying with the idea of a small all tube set up in the bedroom.

BTW, Jeff Rowland gear is without question true high end, IMO.


Russ, I could see you owning that rig. :D

[Joey_V]

Originally posted by steveinaz
The term "high-end" was developed so small-dicked audiophiles with deep pockets can somehow justify spending unbelievable amounts of money on equipment that performs marginally better than something a tenth of the price found with careful research.


Riiiight.... I think high end exists because there is always improvement to be made - although the price may not always reflect these "improvements". Improvements that exist, if not only in the minds of the makers.

There is no question that the law of diminishing returns plagues higher-end speakers (as it does for everything materialistic in life), but it still doesnt take away from the fact that high-end is generally better than low-end. The gap may not be as wide as you would like it to be, considering the price, but it *is* there (unless this type of high end is a shady one.... like bose),

I think comments like those made above show how ignorant some people can be. Just because this type of high-end definition doesnt fit you, doesnt mean you have the right to make a statement as naive and silly as that.

[W WALDECKER]

i think highend means different things to different people it does not have to mean buffy and skip buying boutique audio jewelry to impress thier yuppy friends .to me it means the quality of the build and the sound. cost and sound are not exclusive to each other. some so called statement audio gear is for people with more money than brains. if you get caught up in worrying about if the brands you use are impressive enough are you really doing this hobby for the music?

[steveinaz]

Originally posted by Joey_V
I think comments like those made above show how ignorant some people can be. Just because this type of high-end definition doesnt fit you, doesnt mean you have the right to make a statement as naive and silly as that.

Paying $2200 for an interconnect is about as naive as it gets. It's just simply my opinion, in my experience. No matter what you buy, there will always be something "higher-end" so where does it end? If your equipment is truly hi-fi, anything beyond that is fancy materials, exotic woods, and immaculate workmanship---all wonderful things, but what do they do for the music? You can have an aluminum row boat, or one made out of solid Mahogany, they both still float, right?

I stand by my comment, it's called an opinion.

The "small dicked audiophiles" comment was a stupid thing to say, please replace it with "audio snobs."

[ND13]

If you have to use meters, scopes, or gauges to measure the difference between equipment, then IMO you've got some serious priority issues. But, I guess if I won the powerball, I could see myself spending gaudy amounts of cash on some exclusive pieces that only a few privileged people can afford. But for now I'll have to make do with my high-low end gear, which sounds pretty damn good to my 37 year old ears.

[HBombToo]

I am pleased that I am the only member of the Polk forum who owns a truely HIGH END system and hope that each and everybody here is jealous of me.

Just ask the Rooster and he'll tell ya!!!!

HBomb:D

[RuSsMaN]

Yeah, where would you be Henry, without me? Drunk, and listening to bad sound, thats where.

Remember, your next kid gets named after me.

[ND13]

My system sits on the low end of my entertainment center.

[cfrizz]

And so long as you stay your nice friendly self & don't start putting down the rest of us for our low-end rigs, it's cool.

You become a high-end snob, WATCH OUT!!!:D

Wait a minute, we both have RTA-8T's, I guess I'm in the high-end with you!:p :cool: :D

[Jstas]

Originally posted by amulford

I am still building. It won't ever stop. But I'm not trying to reach "audio nirvana". If that's your aim, then hey, whatever blows your skirt up. My priorities may differ.



Well ok then! If you ever get rid of those Soundstream amps in your truck then I want first dibs!

[Crazed]

Short-term I've got the Gallo SA amp and center reference speaker in my sights. Mid-term, a better amp for my mains. After that, who knows? DAC? Tube pre? Blu Ray?

The short-term additions are to get me to a place where I won't feel like I have to upgrade (yea, like that's gonna happen). ;)

[polkatese]

Is there really a "true high-end sound"? How do you define it?

To me, a perceived true high-end sound is more of a State of Mind, relative to reality. It is directly influenced by emotional and psychological NEEDS to justify spending more money into upgrade, and it changes with priority of the day/week/month with the rest of discretionary spending budget, and last but not least, spending too much time on this board! ;)

over and out..

[RuSsMaN]

Originally posted by cfrizz
Wait a minute, we both have RTA-8T's, I guess I'm in the high-end with you!:p :cool: :D

Cathy, you're close, you just need to get your hands on some big tubes.

Cheers,
Russ

[cfrizz]

Wow thanks Russ!

But tubes make me nervous, what happens when one blows? Is it as easy as changing a light bulb?

That and the fact that is sounds like it's so old fashioned.

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by cfrizz


Is it as easy as changing a light bulb?

That and the fact that is sounds like it's so old fashioned.

Yes
and
Thats is another part of the lure.....
HBomb

[dragon1952]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
Cathy, you're close, you just need to get your hands on some big tubes.
Cheers,
Russ

Originally posted by cfrizz
Wow thanks Russ! But tubes make me nervous, what happens when one blows?


:eek:

[ND13]

Dirty minds.

[Skynut]

dragon1952


I agree, that sound kinda kinky.

[ND13]

Hands around blowing tubes sounds like it could get sticky.

[Crazed]

Good to know I wasn't the only one going down that road...

[McLoki]

Originally posted by cfrizz
That and the fact that is sounds like it's so old fashioned.

Cathy,

Anyone who lists their tape deck and turntable in their sig line has no reason to worry about sounding old-fashioned because of tubes. :D

Michael

[cfrizz]

dragon1952, ND13, Skynut, & Crazed. :rolleyes: Do try to get your minds out of the gutter!:rolleyes:

McLoki, :D :D :D Until you pointed it out, I never thought of it!
Touche':D

[ND13]

Yes ma'am.

[madmax]

In the future I plan on upgrading my xovers in the 1.2's and then maybe work on the CT. (Car Theater). Right now I'm working on the new computer. I just got an audiophile quality sound card I want to use to record some LP's just to see if I can pull more out of them than the CD recorder I have. Actually, the HT could use some work right now too.
madmax

[dragon1952]

Originally posted by RuSsMaN
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5777362880

Yo Russ......your system went for $249.99 :eek: Un-be-freakin-lievable :confused:

And I've evidently been reported to Ebay Safe Harbor (whatever the f**k that is) along with some other psychotic nutcase :cool: All I did was ask a simple freakin' question :confused:

[Skynut]

I'm putin it in my retro room along with my "pimp cane" and the platforms with the goldfish in em.