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In a perfect world I wouldn’t change a thing about the model as far as audio boutiques go and how things used to be. I have many great memories of the late 80’s and up. It was a great time to be an enthusiastic audiophile. Sadly that’s not exactly the reality of things anymore. Nothing lasts forever. I still have fond memories of you Bill setting up those killer Sonus Faber demos at my local dealer. Of course Peter was also setting up killer Wilson demos too later on and his selection of music was top notch. But as far as my own attitude , it has also changed and I am no longer chasing some perfection or the elusive audio nirvana I once was. I am simply happy with my current system. It plays music and that’s all that matters to me anymore. Good enough has really become “good enough” for a change. I really hope this blows over and people can get back to their lives with minimal damage to their well-being and the economy in general but we all know it won’t be exactly easy. The world changes and this will certainly shake things up and put many to the test. Anyways, now I’m just rambling, quarantine will do that |
#32
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#33
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Haha. After traveling to NY, Switzerland, and Seattle in early March, I returned to Utah only to be banished from the factory by Daryl on March 13. No old guys allowed!! I've been working from home since then. I can relate to the stir crazy of quarantine.
Be safe Serge! |
#34
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#35
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As for your claim that I'd be ridiculed after such an excercise, that's impossible: No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. Eleanor Roosevelt
__________________
Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines. Last edited by cleeds; 04-07-2020 at 09:14 AM. |
#36
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Double blind tests have always proved our “weakness” as audiophiles. It is 95% illusion created by all our senses combined together. Isolate the one sense we need (our hearing) while others are out of the game (keeping everything else unknown) and everything falls apart. If someone puts you in a car but it is under camouflage with no identifying marks and you cannot hear the exhaust or see any other identifying characteristics, you will not be able to tell if it is a Ferrari or a Corvette. It’s fast you will say, it handles great, must be a Ferrari or... it could be a Corvette.. or it could be a Lamborghini, maybe it is a Dodge with a Hemi? At this point you would say it was a fantastic experience without prejudice. Repeat the experiment. Technically whatever it is it is great but the moment the covers are lifted, a Ferrari will still be the object of desire even-though it is 4x the price of a Corvette. It’s no different for blind wine tasting among the experts. It’s no different among professional violin players that could not tell a $5M Stradivarius from a cheap violin. Now take 3 DAC’s including your favorite and do a blind test. What are the odds you will be able to pick yours out blind every time? Almost nonexistent. Please don’t tell me an aging audiophile has better hearing than a younger professional violinist who could not tell the difference with neither the violin nor with our audio toys. It’s been tried and proven. So a $1200 DAC from Schiit audio for example obviously has a profit built in and so does a $60k DAC. Raw material cost? Please.. let’s not go there. So what is it? R&D cost? Manufacturing cost? Sure, manufacturing of a nice CNC machined case is not cheap but a Lexus builds you a whole car for $60k and manages to stay in business. Why do I even bring this up which has been obvious from day 1 of this hobby? Well, let’s say that the way I see it, the younger generations, unlike baby boomers and Gen X’ers are not perceiving these things the way we are. Sure, disposable income is a factor but I believe they are more performance and perceived value driven and are much less intrigued by the allure of high ticket items that bring diminished returns on investment among other factors. As an experiment, some years back, I asked both of my sons who grew up around my ever changing systems and constant music in the house, what would be their dream systems, cost no object. While they both were quite familiar with my gear and what’s out there, the answer made me pause and think. They both picked a very humble and value oriented system. $100k turntables were definitely NOT mentioned. They both added that exuberant cost would not bring any “more” enjoyment out of listening to music... A simple and elegant integrated system would suffice. In fact later on I had these types of conversations with the 20 and 30 year olds who are into headphones. Very few even mentioned they had desires to build a system. That’s not to say they didn’t spend money on the rather expensive headphones, amps and dacs. It is already quite noticeable that the newer generations clearly have different priorities in life as well. As I already mentioned before, going forward, would be wise for high end audio manufactures to somehow adjust to the Millennial mentality, the “baby boomer” models are not going to be the answer forever. Schiit Audio for example, very much appeals to the younger generations. No nonsense products and a solid value. is there a future for those (hypothetical) selling $60k DACs and $100k turntables? Yes, the profit margins from each piece make it easier for them to survive, at least for now. Cable manufactures especially. Last edited by PHC1; 04-07-2020 at 12:28 PM. |
#37
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__________________
Main System: Amati Futura Mains Amati Homage VOX Center, Proac Response 1sc Rears, Three MC2301's for L,C,R MC 602 for the rears C 1100, MX 151, MCD 1100, MR 80 Nottingham Dais with Wave Mechanic Sumiko Palo Santos Presentation SurfacePro 3, RPi 4, ROON, WW Starlight Platinum USB, Schiit Yggdrasil, Benchmark DAC3 HGC MX 151, OppO BDP-95, JVC RS-500 DILA projector, 106" diagonal Stewart Luxus Screenwall Deluxe with Studiotek 130 G3 material. Lake House: Ohm F, MC 275V, C2300, MR 77, Rega P3 OnDeck: McIntosh MAC 4300v |
#38
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I agree completely. But that isn't likely to include DBTs. |
#39
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Personally, my primary consideration when purchasing a high quality audio product is reliability and local support. If the manufacturer can't stand behind their product for a decade or more (i.e. service and stock parts for repair) then I won't even consider them.
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#40
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I think that - much, much more often than not - you get what you pay for. Those who respond with objections to things like $60,000 cables commit the logical fallacy of the excluded middle.
__________________
Primary sources: VPI TNT III/SDS turntable, SME-V arm; Bryston BDP-3 digital player; Bryston BDA-3 DAC; McIntosh MVP-881 disc player; McIntosh MR-80 tuner. Preamplifier Audio Research Ref 5SE; Audio Research Ref Phono 2SE; Moon 430 HA. Amplifiers Conrad Johnson Premier 1B; Audio Research D-300; Bryston 4B. Speakers Infinity IRS Beta. Recorders Tandberg TD20A; Crown SX-822; Nakamichi 670ZX; Alesis Masterlink ML-9600. Power Tice Power Block/Titan (x2); McIntosh MPC1500; API Ultra II-20; multiple 20A derated dedicated lines. |
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