How much does it cost to be an audiophile?

[Nordkapp]

I found this article today and had a good time reading it. Just thought I'd share it. Thoughts? Sadly, i can relate.

https://priceonomics.com/speakers/

[Nordkapp]

What would be considered in today's monies to gain entry into audiophiledom? Do you need amps with giant transformers? Is vinyl a must? Is SS finally accepted as audiophile?

[Nordkapp]

Well, I guess I started it off wondering about the old guard's thoughts. Back in the early 90s when I was a young lad starting out, I would frequent the local audio shops. One in particular in Providence was always stocked with big Martin Logans, VPI tables, super massive Krell and ARC amps, etc. Anyway, the owner was a real audio snob and highly opinionated. He had no problem telling you your kit sucked if it wasn't of a certain brand or size. High end audio seems to be so much different know, I think the definition of a proper "audiophile" has had to change. 

[Nordkapp]

I do not believe there is a problem being an audiophile per se. I think we can all agree we love music and enjoy hearing it played back in higher quality. The problems with audiophiles......Well that is widely known and commonly on display.

[Nordkapp]

15 minutes ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

It's become a term of derision. Not by me I hasten to add.

Buy that's only because the maniacs with the half million dollar systems get all the press. That's what the public sees.

[Nordkapp]

59 minutes ago, GUTB said:

Yeah, the Emotiva speakers are probably awful. Notice how they will have a room at audio shows but somehow not manage to have a system set up.

I hate to trash stuff, but if one is going to go entry level, emotiva is not the way to start off. Rotel/NAD and entry level B&W loudspeakers is where I'd start and actually did. The cost/quality ratio is really favorable with these brands. I am generally wary of products manufactured in China, with the exception of only a very few Chinese high end brands.

[Nordkapp]

21 minutes ago, mansr said:

B&W, with the exception of the 800 series, is manufactured in China. They probably keep a close watch over the production facilities, though. The troublesome Chinese stuff usually comes from unsupervised contract manufacturers that no reputable company would use.

In that case I rescind my B&W recommendation. Although NAD and Rotel are probably the same.......

[Nordkapp]

1 hour ago, gmgraves said:

 in a double-blind tests he couldn't pick out an Emotiva preamp/amp setup from a similar Parasound setup or a Bryston setup, or any other mid-level high-end amp/preamp combo. 

This is ridiculous George. You are actually going on record saying that Emotiva is no different sonically than Parasound/Bryston?  My God. Are those JC1 Parasound monos garbage too? 

[Nordkapp]

Emotiva is basically equivalent to Pioneer. Not exactly high end. 

[Nordkapp]

Actually, Emotiva is more akin to old Panasonic stuff. Crap.

[Nordkapp]

19 minutes ago, gmgraves said:

Now you sound like GUTB. I'd say that it sounds more like the high-end Marantz SS stuff than the old Panasonic stuff. 

At least the Marantz stuff is built better. For the budding audio enthusiast on an incredibly short budget, then fine-go buy all the Emotiva you want. 

[Nordkapp]

I brought this thread into existence-can I take it out too?...I'm out. Cockamamie.

[Nordkapp]

7 minutes ago, esldude said:

Should we try for a middle ground and compare Emotiva to JVC of the 80's/90's?

 

Actually I'm not sure Emotiva is quite equal to Adcom gear from those days, but some of it is.  By equal I mean in its relative place in the spectrum of quality and performance for the time. Some of the Adcom gear was surprisingly good, and some was just okay.  Build was good for price I would say.  That is somewhat how I look at Emotiva.  A couple things I think are over-achievers and others okay for the price.  

I owned a few Adcom pieces before. The venerable GFP-750 preamp and GCD-750 disc spinner. Both pieces were out of this world sonically. I still regret selling them. Other than that, I thought their amps were very veiled.

[Nordkapp]

2 minutes ago, davide256 said:

My spouse hates it when I'm auditioning new gear because she hears the same  tracks over and over as  I change cables, PS and anything I can think of to A/B test  changes and gear. Its a hobbyist's way of life. Color me odd, but I find it fun.

You're not odd. It's a fun and healthy hobby. Extrapolating every last ounce of sound from any given system is a noble endeavor in my book. 

[Nordkapp]

10 minutes ago, mansr said:

Sure, but a lot of equipment has inflated prices due to pointless expensive add-ons like casework in solid silver or whatnot. In some cases (pardon the pun), the case alone allegedly accounts for half the production cost, which translates to half the retail price.

A la Dan D'Agostino products. My God. 

[Nordkapp]

1 hour ago, GUTB said:

Listened to the extremely high-end Dan D’Agostino room. Bi-amping a pair of YGs with a total of 4 Momentum monoblocks. The cool thing about this room was the use of the Stromtank, a massive panzer-sized German battery AC supply which they claim could run a system for 6 hours and completely isolate the system from the mains network. Probably has a high end anaolog AC waveform generator.

 

Sound through an Innous -> Aqua ladder DAC / AR Ref 10 is extremely transparent. Not the slightest hint of grain, digital or fatigue. Center image is completely separate from the speakers, so during vocals the speakers disappear completely. I couldn’t get much depth in what I heard though. It’s warm...perhaps too warm for my tastes. Bass is way too much...its cool being able to hear the synthetic bass cycling, but its too much and detracts from the presentation IMO.

Awesome. Wish I could experience everything. Too busy working to pay off all my crap. Whaa.....

[Nordkapp]

Hey, if you have the disposable income, then why the hell not go all in on the esoteric stuff. It's a free country. Would I do it? No. But I'm also an educated, 20+ year enthusiast, not to mention a working class shlub. Notice I did not refer to myself as an audiophile. 

[Nordkapp]

16 minutes ago, Audiophile Neuroscience said:

 

me too, 20 + ...42 ?

48. Go Gen Xr's!!

[Nordkapp]

13 minutes ago, Jud said:

 

If you count from when I bought my first “stereo system” and got really interested in music reproduction, 50.

Damn. That's some time served!

[Nordkapp]

8 minutes ago, Solstice380 said:

 

CA is like the pub for computer audiophiles.  And we all know that things can get a little heated in barroom conversations, occasionally.   Even amongst friends.  Cheers! ?  

Haha. Well said!

[Nordkapp]

5 hours ago, Richard Dale said:

I agree with that. One thing I like about the Head Fi forum is that they keep the threads focused on practical discussions about equipment reviews and good combinations to try, and the moderators intervene pretty quickly when an off-topic 'cables don't matter' or similar discussion starts.

 

If the thread is in the middle of a 'cables don't matter' argument, it makes it very difficult to recommend specific cables. On this particular thread entitled 'How much does it cost to be an audiophile' you would expect that the main contents of the thread would be recommendations for entry level systems, including cable recommendations, as even if you believe they all sound the same, you still need cables to actually make the system work.

 

In my opinion, Head-fi is way to militant in their policing of threads. It's gotten so bad over there that I hardly post anymore. At the first sign of any heated debates, they shut it down. Personally, I don't mind guys settling it themselves. There's just too much sponsor money there dictating discussions. God forbid anyone trashes Schiit. I've seen guys get shut down immediately at that point. Too P.C. for me. My 2 cents......

[Nordkapp]

Wrong. My system sounds awesome, I did all the leg work and cables kinda matter-to a point. 

[Nordkapp]

It cost this guy $6 mil. to be an audiophile. 30-Mcintosh MC2102s in case you were wondering.

 

[Nordkapp]

6 hours ago, gmgraves said:

Let's get back on topic, shall we?

I tried several hours ago. I come here to escape the world only to find these f'n worthless debates break out all the time. Why do so many people here always have to be right. Get over yourselves. Sorry, had to let that out. 

[Nordkapp]

4 hours ago, Skirmash said:

For me, the title of this thread equates to asking the question ... how much money do you need to spend before you are emotionally invested in something?

 

It's a daft question and has nothing to do with financial means.

 

If you identify as an audiophile, then you probably are one.

Did you bother to read the opening article referencing the the title? The author hits on various ideas, not just financial.