If you had $20K to spend, what would you buy in audio?

[bonzo75]

Audionec is a very good sounding speaker in my opinion. I had to listen it longer in Tokyo to understand its qualities.

It works very well with slightly powerful sets. So it will work well with Lamm, Kondo Kagura, Gakuoh 2, KR audio, etc

 

[Amir]

If it has to take Stirling 20 days, that's got to be one complicated listening room...

Yes my room is complicated

 

[Lee]

$20k -> Calling Stirling Trayle and asking him to spend 20 days for speaker placement.

He charges $2,250 per day I believe so maybe you get 9 days with a slight discount.

 

[bonzo75]

I guess Amir will only be able to get him to set up one speaker then in ten days.

 

[Charles S]

If you all were installing a streaming system from scratch, how much money would you spend before reaching diminishing returns? Is 20K a reasonable amount? If you had a DAC as I do with digital inputs (AES/USB/optical/coaxial) would your streamer be a transport or contain a DAC? My audiophile buddy who has great ears and works for Emotiva (based in Franklin, TN about 25 miles away) came over and listened for about 3 hours. He was very impressed with my streaming system. I debated the Wel Signature AES IC because of the expense. It costs more than the 130RS but I love the sound of it. After listening to the USB for awhile, I haven't gone back to it. The AES is slightly warmer and fuller sonically. The bass is incredible. He has a daughter in a private college (finances you understand) and listeners to the internet with it essentially plugged into his DAC, i.e., just a computer or phone, no streamer.

So, in you 'all's opinion did I waste my 20K and could it be much better spent?

Charles

Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest

Amps: McIntosh: MC3500MKII (2); MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW Anniversary
Preamp: C-12000 Anniversary
Sources: MCD12000 Anniversary; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; Lenovo Yoga laptop
Speakers: Wilson Chronosonic XVX
Sub-Woofer: Wilson Thor’s Hammer; Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover
Cables Main System AQ: WEL Signature speaker cables; 24’ balanced IC; balanced 1-meter Dragon IC ; WEL Signature digital, Coffee digital coaxial cables; Diamond optical (2); Diamond USB; Dragon (5 HC, 3 source cords); Thunder & Monsoon power cords
Cables Subwoofer System AQ: Redwood speaker cable; Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC to ActivXO; Hurricane HC; Firebird HC; Firebird Source; Dragon HC, power cords
Power Conditioners: AQ Niagara 7000; Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines.
Streaming System: Hi Fi Rose 130RS Network Transport; Samsung internal SSD; Audioquest Wel Signature digital balanced 1-meter IC; Audioquest Diamond 1.5-meter USB cable; Audioquest Dragon 2-meter source power cord; HDMI cable 24’ for music videos
Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth
Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD)
Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes

 

[No Regrets]

Hi Don, this is interesting. If you could, can you please record the Lola Bobesco you have for me - start, the cadenza at the end of the first movement, some of the third? Take your time. If you don't want to post online I will PM you me whatsapp.

Hi,
Absolutely, I’d be happy to try and capture a little bit from Lola’s recording for you. However, I might not find the time until possibly later this weekend.
Again, I really don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to doing these recordings…. I’m just kinda winging it
Best wishes,
Don

 

[No Regrets]

Hi,

Yes, I have replaced the very simplistic steel screw speaker connectors with very high end and robust Cardas Copper binding post connectors. I also replaced the crossover capacitors with very high end boutique caps of like values. The cost of these upgrades was more than what I paid for these speakers, lol

In regards to the tenor sax sounding a little nasally, I think it may partly have something to do with Archie being so closely mic’d on this recording.

I haven’t really paid close attention to my simple and very amateur recording here. I had a long distance friend that was interested in how these speakers might sound so I thought I’d try and make a little recording. To be honest, I was just excited that I finally figured out how to post it,

I’d have to compare the YouTube video to me listening live to these speakers in my music room to see if there is much difference. I would imagine when using the cheap built in mic’s of my iPhone and any compression from YouTube, etc that there may be degradation or artifacts molesting the sound.

However, I can say when listening to these speakers, they tend to really pull at my emotions. They have an immediate presence about them that connects with you in a profound way and I am just honestly surprised at how much enjoyment I have every time I listen to them.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[MarkusBarkus]

In regards to the tenor sax sounding a little nasally, I think it may partly have something to do with Archie being so closely mic’d on this recording.

...that is how it sounds here too. It's a very nice recording. The nuance is quite good. Perhaps that instrument, or mic placement? It never seemed an aberration to me, rather how it sounded, given other details (mouth-piece, vibration of spittle, etc.). Sorry if TMI.

BTW: I mean that album played on my system...not this video on WBF.

 

[hopkins]

Hi,

Yes, I have replaced the very simplistic steel screw speaker connectors with very high end and robust Cardas Copper binding post connectors. I also replaced the crossover capacitors with very high end boutique caps of like values. The cost of these upgrades was more than what I paid for these speakers, lol

Same here (upgrading components on my speakers) and I found it made a significant difference.

In regards to the tenor sax sounding a little nasally, I think it may partly have something to do with Archie being so closely mic’d on this recording.

I haven’t really paid close attention to my simple and very amateur recording here. I had a long distance friend that was interested in how these speakers might sound so I thought I’d try and make a little recording. To be honest, I was just excited that I finally figured out how to post it,

I’d have to compare the YouTube video to me listening live to these speakers in my music room to see if there is much difference. I would imagine when using the cheap built in mic’s of my iPhone and any compression from YouTube, etc that there may be degradation or artifacts molesting the sound.

Don't sweat it...

However, I can say when listening to these speakers, they tend to really pull at my emotions. They have an immediate presence about them that connects with you in a profound way and I am just honestly surprised at how much enjoyment I have every time I listen to them.

Best wishes,
Don

That's all that counts.

 

[No Regrets]

...that is how it sounds here too. It's a very nice recording. The nuance is quite good. Perhaps that instrument, or mic placement? It never seemed an aberration to me, rather how it sounded, given other details (mouth-piece, vibration of spittle, etc.). Sorry if TMI.

BTW: I mean that album played on my system...not this video on WBF.

Thank you for your post.
I think I’d have to agree with you…. Your comments align with what I’m thinking too.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[No Regrets]

Hi Don, this is interesting. If you could, can you please record the Lola Bobesco you have for me - start, the cadenza at the end of the first movement, some of the third? Take your time. If you don't want to post online I will PM you me whatsapp.

Hi Kedar,

I recorded a snippet of the Lola cadenza being played thru my vintage Wharfedale W60's that you had requested. Again, this was just recorded via my iPhone held horizontally, with no external mic's, etc. I will try and remember how to attach it here. I hope it works okay.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[bonzo75]

Hi Kedar,

I recorded a snippet of the Lola cadenza being played thru my vintage Wharfedale W60's that you had requested. Again, this was just recorded via my iPhone held horizontally, with no external mic's, etc. I will try and remember how to attach it here. I hope it works okay.

Best wishes,
Don

Wow this is brilliant. This will humble many way more expensive systems.

I never heard the Wharfdales before. Can you please show if these play larger orchestra?

You can play some of the 3rd movement, start of the first movement. I know you have some DGG ToS. If you have the Kleiber Beethoven 7 from ToS, then the second movement please.

Any good piano?

Sorry for the requests but the above video is really good so would like to explore more.

 

[PeterA]

Hi Kedar,

I recorded a snippet of the Lola cadenza being played thru my vintage Wharfedale W60's that you had requested. Again, this was just recorded via my iPhone held horizontally, with no external mic's, etc. I will try and remember how to attach it here. I hope it works okay.

Best wishes,
Don

Thank you, Don. This sounds excellent. I hear a very good tonal balance and timbre. Also good dynamics and expression. Very open. Really nice YouTube presentation.

The modest iPhone seems just fine for these kinds of system introductions. Do you feel that the video is representative of what you hear in the room? Great audio does not need to be expensive, just well chosen and set up.

 

[andromedaaudio]

If i had 20 K i would buy a " natural sound "detector .

 

[PeterA]

If i had 20 K i would buy a " natural sound "detector .

We are all born with one and then we choose the approach we want to follow in this hobby.

 

[Rensselaer]

Hi,

Yes, I have replaced the very simplistic steel screw speaker connectors with very high end and robust Cardas Copper binding post connectors. I also replaced the crossover capacitors with very high end boutique caps of like values. The cost of these upgrades was more than what I paid for these speakers, lol

In regards to the tenor sax sounding a little nasally, I think it may partly have something to do with Archie being so closely mic’d on this recording.

I haven’t really paid close attention to my simple and very amateur recording here. I had a long distance friend that was interested in how these speakers might sound so I thought I’d try and make a little recording. To be honest, I was just excited that I finally figured out how to post it,

I’d have to compare the YouTube video to me listening live to these speakers in my music room to see if there is much difference. I would imagine when using the cheap built in mic’s of my iPhone and any compression from YouTube, etc that there may be degradation or artifacts molesting the sound.

However, I can say when listening to these speakers, they tend to really pull at my emotions. They have an immediate presence about them that connects with you in a profound way and I am just honestly surprised at how much enjoyment I have every time I listen to them.

Best wishes,
Don

All the caps in your crossovers? Were they Duelund Cast? What about the resistors? What cables? What wire from crossovers to the Cardas coppers?

 

[Al M.]

Thank you, Don. This sounds excellent. I hear a very good tonal balance and timbre. Also good dynamics and expression. Very open. Really nice YouTube presentation.

Yes, this sounds very good, considering that it's just an iPhone recording. Sounds considerably better than most system videos.

 

[Rexp]

Yes, this sounds very good, considering that it's just an iPhone recording. Sounds considerably better than most system videos.

Really, how so?

 

[Al M.]

Really, how so?

No tipped up treble, some weight in the midrange, sone sense of a wooden tone. Sure, it sounds a bit blurry and with some (room) resonance that I don't like -- interestingly, less blurry over phone speakers than over headphones and laptop. Yet I attribute this more to being an iPhone video than to the system itself. I may be mistaken.

 

[Argonaut]

Thank you, Don. This sounds excellent. I hear a very good tonal balance and timbre. Also good dynamics and expression. Very open. Really nice YouTube presentation.

The modest iPhone seems just fine for these kinds of system introductions. Do you feel that the video is representative of what you hear in the room? Great audio does not need to be expensive, just well chosen and set up.

Having spent some time , in the past, with both the Wharfdale W60 and Vitavox CN-191 transducers … For my part I would recommend that the W60’s would perform notably more cohesively within your personal listening space , and with less compromises . Whilst projecting a more ‘Natural’, balanced and organic reproduction of your recorded media as illustrated by Don’s audio clip .