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Best Speakers in the world

post #1 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:02pm
Thread Starter 
Hi Guys :

While surfing the web I came across a high end dealer that said they were the biggest and best high end audio dealer in the world. When i went to this site I was VERY impressed to say the least. I looked primarily at speakers but what a line up. I am shure the clientel of this company do not have to worry about price. I wonder if they appreciate what they buy.

regardless I thought that I knew a few high end lines but I probably knew maybe a few at most. The rest of the lines I have never heard of.

Check out this web site WWW.HigherFi.com and tell me what you think. All I can say is WOW.

Norm L
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post #2 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:18pm
I'll take 2 pairs of the Focal Grande Utopia EMs. Gotta have matching surrounds, right?
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post #3 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:18pm
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post #4 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:22pm
Get some Salk SS12's and call it a day. xP

...unless u wanted line array. Swan 2.8
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post #5 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:25pm
Thread Starter 
Hi :

It's funny the Utopia's are one of the few speakers that they sell that i have auditioned. in fact I have 10 focal speakers in my house none of them are Utopia's. On Ebay there is a pair of mini Utopia's used for $2450.00 a steal. i wish I had the money right now. Oh Well

Quite a speaker line up on Higherfi though.

Norm L
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post #6 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:27pm
Their $1,000,000 dollar systems section lists $30K power conditioning. Nuff said.
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post #7 of 81
5/23/12 at 3:54pm
Thread Starter 
Hi :

On that same web site check out the Audio hall of Fame for most astetic best looking speaker design etc. Some very cool entry's

Norm L
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post #8 of 81
5/23/12 at 4:38pm
They should call the site "More money than brains are us".
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post #9 of 81
5/23/12 at 5:14pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Horstkotte View Post

Their $1,000,000 dollar systems section lists $30K power conditioning. Nuff said.

Oh snap! LOL!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice View Post

They should call the site "More money than brains are us".

LOL - another doozie! You guys are killing me tonight!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Khaos View Post

Get some Salk SS12's and call it a day. xP

...unless u wanted line array. Swan 2.8

Word.
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post #10 of 81
5/23/12 at 6:13pm
I just don't understand what purpose these speakers serve other than bragging rights and to say you have them. Surely, a set of $10,000-$20,000 dollar speakers would perform as well as a set of $500,000 dollar speakers. At least perform as well so as to not make the $480,000 dollar price difference worth it.
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post #11 of 81
5/23/12 at 6:17pm
The Evolution Acoustics MM Seven is an interesting design. I'd like to hear it. I'm guessing they were influenced by the Marten Coltrane.
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post #12 of 81
5/23/12 at 7:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrEastSide View Post

I just don't understand what purpose these speakers serve other than bragging rights and to say you have them. Surely, a set of $10,000-$20,000 dollar speakers would perform as well as a set of $500,000 dollar speakers. At least perform as well so as to not make the $480,000 dollar price difference worth it.

That is like saying buy a set at $500 to $1000 and save as much as $19,500.
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post #13 of 81
5/23/12 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Khaos View Post

Get some Salk SS12's and call it a day. xP

...unless u wanted line array. Swan 2.8

Why not DIY a line array using Bose cubes? Should be friggin awesome.
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post #14 of 81
5/23/12 at 7:17pm
The great thing about the highest end is the symbiotic relationship between the obligates. The sharks depend on the sucker fish and the sucker fish depends on the shark.

cheers,

AJ
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post #15 of 81
5/23/12 at 7:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 View Post

That is like saying buy a set at $500 to $1000 and save as much as $19,500.

In terms of what you actually can hear there's no benefit to spending more than $3k. All you get for more than that is bling.
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post #16 of 81
5/23/12 at 8:34pm
Ha! Their still trying to sell of those Linn of New Hampshire speakers. A speaker that no dealer up here has seen or heard. Also an office that no one can find. But you can now get them for just $54,000. At 50% off priced to move.
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post #17 of 81
5/23/12 at 9:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 View Post

That is like saying buy a set at $500 to $1000 and save as much as $19,500.

I was just saying, at some point, there's got to be a limit to how much improvement the next model is going to offer. I'd think a $20,000 dollar speaker would sound as good as any speaker could. Certainly as good as it could VS spending $500,000 dollars. Going from $500 to $1,000 could make more of a noticeable difference, I'd think.
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post #18 of 81
5/23/12 at 10:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brad Horstkotte View Post

Their $1,000,000 dollar systems section lists $30K power conditioning. Nuff said.

and $90000 speaker cable
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post #19 of 81
5/23/12 at 11:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice View Post

In terms of what you actually can hear there's no benefit to spending more than $3k. All you get for more than that is bling.

Just saying $3k is the limit is fairly meaningless though. What speakers are you talking about that are insurmountable for $3k? I don't believe that price dictates performance, but an arbitrary limit of $3k seems a bit presumptuous. When I purchased my Dunlavy SC-III's they were just about $4k, were extremely neutral and accurate and there was really nothing at the time that could match them for the price that actually had the measurements to back it up. They were a relative bargain. However, that was before ID brands became a factor and a great boon for the value conscious, which we should all be to some extent.
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post #20 of 81
5/24/12 at 4:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by MUDCAT45 View Post

That is like saying buy a set at $500 to $1000 and save as much as $19,500.

Not at all. In this business, you run into the law of diminishing returns at a pretty low pricepoint. But it is substantially higher than $1000 though.
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post #21 of 81
5/24/12 at 5:02am
Quote:
Originally Posted by vraxoin View Post


Just saying $3k is the limit is fairly meaningless though. What speakers are you talking about that are insurmountable for $3k? I don't believe that price dictates performance, but an arbitrary limit of $3k seems a bit presumptuous.

Not Bill, but I think he would be referring to DIY and the cost to build the ultimate SQ speaker - ie, best available drivers, materials, etc.

Strictly from a performance perspective it is doable. Custom and/or complicated cabinet designs could bump that number up a bit but wouldn't really impact performance much. That really falls into the bling category.

However, crossover design is key here and tough to put a price tag on what that's worth.
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post #22 of 81
5/24/12 at 5:07am
Title should be most expensive speakers in the world instead of best. Or most sales commission?

1.26M$ for an HT system that doesn't even have a projector and screen included at that price.
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post #23 of 81
5/24/12 at 5:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice View Post

In terms of what you actually can hear there's no benefit to spending more than $3k. All you get for more than that is bling.

Perhaps if you're a DIYer, but otherwise I disagree with that claim. The point of diminishing returns exists, but it will differ among individuals, especially those who don't care to use measurements as part of the purchasing/building process. Pyschoacoustics, biases and cognitive dissonance play a large role in individual purchase choices, and that's difficult to limit at a hard $3k.

Quote:
Originally Posted by vraxoin View Post

Just saying $3k is the limit is fairly meaningless though. What speakers are you talking about that are insurmountable for $3k? I don't believe that price dictates performance, but an arbitrary limit of $3k seems a bit presumptuous. When I purchased my Dunlavy SC-III's they were just about $4k, were extremely neutral and accurate and there was really nothing at the time that could match them for the price that actually had the measurements to back it up. They were a relative bargain. However, that was before ID brands became a factor and a great boon for the value conscious, which we should all be to some extent.

Nice speakers! Dunlavy really knew his stuff, and it's too bad his business wasn't more successful. If he were alive today I wonder what other manufacturers he'd stand behind (Vandersteen perhaps)?
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post #24 of 81
5/24/12 at 5:54am
If someone gave me $100k and said to spend it on the best system I could buy, I would either get the Vandersteen Model 7 ($48k), or the Wison Audio MAXX ($68k).

My Vandersteen Model 3A speakers are hard to beat, for $4300.




Quote:
Originally Posted by norml4721 View Post

Hi Guys :

While surfing the web I came across a high end dealer that said they were the biggest and best high end audio dealer in the world. When i went to this site I was VERY impressed to say the least. I looked primarily at speakers but what a line up. I am shure the clientel of this company do not have to worry about price. I wonder if they appreciate what they buy.

regardless I thought that I knew a few high end lines but I probably knew maybe a few at most. The rest of the lines I have never heard of.

Check out this web site WWW.HigherFi.com and tell me what you think. All I can say is WOW.

Norm L
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post #25 of 81
5/24/12 at 6:15am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gooddoc View Post

Not Bill, but I think he would be referring to DIY and the cost to build the ultimate SQ speaker - ie, best available drivers, materials, etc..

DIY would take that price a lot lower. Don't assume that 'best available drivers, materials, etc.' necessarily translates into better sound quality. True you won't get fabulous results from $20 drivers. But you will from $100 drivers, above which diminishing returns makes more money spent pretty much wasted.
Quote:


Pyschoacoustics, biases and cognitive dissonance play a large role in individual purchase choices, and that's difficult to limit at a hard $3k.

You left out placebo effect, the number one reason for spending more than you should. If you think a more expensive speaker will sound better it will.

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post #26 of 81
5/24/12 at 6:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice View Post

In terms of what you actually can hear there's no benefit to spending more than $3k. All you get for more than that is bling.

Same is said for higher end watches. No watch is worth more than 2k. Anything else is bragging rights, etc
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post #27 of 81
5/24/12 at 6:39am
Quote:
Originally Posted by chikoo View Post

Same is said for higher end watches. No watch is worth more than 2k. Anything else is bragging rights, etc

IME a $50 watch keeps just as good time as a Rolex.
It might not have the same perceived value as jewelry, but the entire notion of decorating myself with stones and metal mainly to impress myself is something I grew out of long ago.
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post #28 of 81
5/24/12 at 7:06am
I had a $20 watch one time. It fell apart like a $2 watch. I don't see the point in $1,000,000 sound systems either. It's not a good financial investment of that kind of $(if you buy a car for that $ it's easier to resell and holds it's value better), at the same time if you had a billion dollars a million wouldn't be much.

I like this under their million dollar prices

"Only the retail price is shown, actual price paid will be hundreds of thousands less, please inquire."

Sounds white van to me. Even more so after reading ClassA's comment. Also don't buy their references. But whatever.
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post #29 of 81
5/24/12 at 8:03am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Fitzmaurice View Post


You left out placebo effect, the number one reason for spending more than you should. If you think a more expensive speaker will sound better it will.

Placebo Effect, Cognitive Dissonance...they're in the same family.
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post #30 of 81
5/24/12 at 8:10am
The moon audio titan weighs 2800 lbs each. Each one weighs as much as a car. If I bought them , the only place I could put them is in the garage.
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