Are any speakers really worth $180,000...?

I suppose it depends on how much $180,000 is worth to you. I mean, if they sound really good, then surely they must be worth at least that much chump change--it's only a single day's pay for some people.

Compared to some other speakers, $180,000 is chump-change.

I have heard Diablo/Scala Utopia's and they were extremely good, I can only imagine how great the Grande EM's sound.

I think after a certain point you are mainly paying for quality and craftsmanship.

It's always interesting to me how beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I have a pair of "fugly horns" in my room so I'm not afraid to have an ugly speaker in my room. (my wife however, detests them )

That said.... these don't find a shred of asthetic interest to me at all. In fact, their profile sort of makes me think of a loaf of sliced bread with the cuts in the back.

I have yet, ever bought a pair of speakers based on looks. These might sound fantastic.... but I'd rather pay for sound first and worry less about the looks.

Others disagree as for them, the visual is part of the package. I get that too.

Good grief I thought this died 6 pages back http://www.avsforum.com/t/1412577/why-pay-5000-for-speakers

Don't embarrass us, okay... that was only for cheap-ass $5K speakers.

I think a good measure of how much you should spend on speakers is 10% of what you spent for your car. So yes, if you're driving a 1.8 million dollar car then by all means $180k speakers aren't out of the question. But do they sound better than something 1/20th the price? No.

A concave speaker cabinet?
Talk about convergence, interference, et al

That is a house and wouldn't pay that for speakers even if I had the money!! But I would pay that money for a Ferrari!!!

Jeff

Why is that a good measure? What does the price of your car, have to do with audio gear? I know plenty of people who own speakers that cost more than their car. In fact, I know one person, who's speakers cost more than BOTH his wife's car, and his car put together (of course, if you add in the price of his third car, then it's about even).

There are a lot of seriously EXCELLENT-sounding speakers in the $2000-7000 price range, and I can't imagine any characteristics that any more expensive speakers might have that would make me part with over $100,000 for a set.

On the other hand, I am a retired college professor, and anything over 10 grand would be a financial stretch anyway...lol.

For some guys, though, 200 grand is chump change, so what the heck?

Although speakers don't have a practical purpose like a car does, they're a better 'investment' as they will not depreciate nearly as much as a car would.

Cars of the million dollar and up ilk don't depreciate, they appreciate, for no other reason other than there are so few of them made. Even classic run of the mill models can command prices ten to a hundred times that of when they were new, so long as they are in such perfect condition that it also makes them a very rare commodity. Everyone has their priorities, I guess. But IMHO someone who puts that much priority on something that all you do is listen to should really consider getting a life. Either that or said cars are vintage Yugos.

There's something about listening to a pair of 180K speakers with two top shelf porn stars (15K each for the night) or so Charlie Sheen tells me.

It has nothing to do with priorities. He simply has the disposable income.

I have heard these speakers, and they sound wonderful (easily making it into a top-ten list of speakers that I've heard). The angles are adjustable, depending on height and distance of the primary listening position. I believe the photo, is showing the extreme end of those adjustments.

IMO he's disposing of it in the wrong places. But that's just me.

Well, that's not really any of your concern, now is it? I'm sure you have interest that uses up your disposable income that others would find frivolous as well.


If you think high-end audio can be an expensive hobby, you might try looking into boats, cars, watch collecting...

I haven't read it yet, but it's my understanding that nationally syndicated, radio talk-show host, Dennis Prager (who has a very nice high-end system composing of MBL, and YG Acoustics gear), wrote an article in the current issue of 'The Absolute Sound', defending spending money for premium audio gear.

Might be an interesting read to some.

Why don't you spend a few minutes reading up on the design concepts in play here before assuming you know more about speaker design than the Focal engineers?

Good post. I heard the little brother of the Grande Utopia EM, the Stella Utopia EM, just today at Overture AV in Wilmington DE. At $90,000, these are only half the price of the Grande's:



They had a show featuring these speakers mated with Spectral electronics. These were definitely in the top 5 of all speakers I've ever heard. Breathtaking. They threw a huge, 3-Dimensional image with instruments placed in space and seemingly unrelated to the physical speakers. I'm not a "2-Channel" guy, but these could definitely change my mind.

They had a factory rep there who spent considerable time explaining the design considerations, including the inverted dome tweeters, the light weight beryllium tweeter drivers, the magnet and cone structures of the midrange drivers, the unique electro-magnetic woofer, the overbuilt construction techniques of the individual cabinets for each driver, the aiming system for the cabinets, etc., etc. Clearly the Focal engineers know what they're doing. There is absolutely ZERO "convergenge, interference, et al."

And BTW, Chikoo, "et al" refers to a group of people, not a group of loudspeaker characteristics.

Craig
Edited by craig john - 6/16/12 at 3:58pm

I would like to have a friend who would invite me over on occsion so I could listen to the system. Being offered a few adult beverages would also be nice.

They were serving adult beverages at the show today. I didn't indulge as I had an hour long drive home, but others were definitely "enjoying" more than the show.

Craig

I know some people, who would ask..."Why would you spend $100 on a pair of speakers at BestBuy, when you can get a CD/Clock Radio for less than that at Bed Bath and Beyond?" This is a Hobby, and those with more means, can afford more expensive toys, and will spend more for them, period.