Prudent financial allocation for audio hardware?

[caesar]

Hi,

...

My simple goal is to close my eyes and have Jerry Garcia and his guitar in the same room with me. It’s been waaaaaay too long since that happened last!

I am also a big fan of the dead; listen to them pretty much everyday. But everyone has different subjective criteria for what's great. I happen to enjoy a BIG SOUND - big horns, big omnis, huge panels... with a big foundation, huge bite of the guitar and dynamics as close as I can get to live... you may not...

 

[caesar]

Than you have to get THE ORANGUTAN O/Reference - four piece speaker system to help spending your budget.

The UK distributor strongly recommends a top Devore system using the Jadis SE300b mono block amplifiers. See:

https://www.hifinews.com/content/jadis-jpl-mkiise300b-devore-fidelity-o96-tube-ampspeaker-system

Excellent choice! Jadis 300b are excellent; heck everything by Jadis is! The Jadis 845s have even more balls and will likely get even more dynamics, if that is a priority for Grateful

 

[thedudeabides]

So, there’s not a large marginal improvement in sound going from a $200k system to a $400k system? I like money, I’m certainly not trying to waste it!

Certainly but it "depends" on your biases and what you are looking for. PM?

 

[Ron Resnick]

So, there’s not a large marginal improvement in sound going from a $200k system to a $400k system?

My serious answer is: not necessarily; there might be, but there might not be.

 

[Ron Resnick]

In this hobby it's easy not to know what you don't know -- until you hear it.

 

[treitz3]

....or don't hear it.

Tom

 

[Ron Resnick]

....or don't hear it.

Tom

Well, if one doesn't hear it, then one doesn't have to worry about it.

 

[bonzo75]

Well, it’s not my fault the victim kept running into my fist and getting blood on me!

So, there’s not a large marginal improvement in sound going from a $200k system to a $400k system? I like money, I’m certainly not trying to waste it!

No there is not. Use it for records.

That said it depends what your 100k or 200k system is like in the first place, many people might have an improvement going from a 400k system to Devore orangutans with NAF 2a3 or airtight/Jadis 300b

The O96 are not final speakers but they are very good, and since you like that sound you might investigate horns but that will take time as there are many bad apples

 

[treitz3]

Well, if one doesn't hear it, then one doesn't have to worry about it.

Like a 747 overhead....

Tom

 

[Grateful]

Certainly but it "depends" on your biases and what you are looking for. PM?

I don’t blame you for moving this to PMs. You don’t want the truth to be told! The truth is I was in the downstair’s closet with a hatchet hiding from you. I was afraid you would come for me after you killed the victim!

On a serious note, heck yes, please PM me.

 

[Grateful]

Like a 747 overhead....

Tom

Like a steam locomotive, rollin' down the track…

 

[caesar]

So, there’s not a large marginal improvement in sound going from a $200k system to a $400k system? I like money, I’m certainly not trying to waste it!

Of course, there is. The real question is whether it will make a difference to you

 

[Grateful]

No there is not. Use it for records.

That said it depends what your 100k or 200k system is like in the first place, many people might have an improvement going from a 400k system to Devore orangutans with NAF 2a3 or airtight/Jadis 300b

The O96 are not final speakers but they are very good, and since you like that sound you might investigate horns but that will take time as there are many bad apples

Thanks, you’re starting to finally get through my thick skull!

I’m running out of track, in my early 60’s. If O96 are not final speakers, then what are in that arena?

 

[Grateful]

What 3-5 systems have you heard in your life that brought you bliss and put you in a state of flow?

IIRC, The Grateful Dead owned all of them. JGB frequently bummed some of the gear. Saw Garcia over 300 times.

Never had such a good time in my life before
I'd like to have it one time more
One good ride from start to end
I'd like to take that ride again!

 

[Grateful]

Hi,

Much thanks and gratitude to everyone offering me advice and insight! I’m truly Grateful!

 

[Grateful]

Whatever you guys suggest! We’re building our dream house, next year, and I’m going to have a deadicated listening room. I have one now which is ~ 13’ x 17’ and was designed by Rives Audio.

So, what size room should I build? IIRC, Rives gave my current room a 7 out of 10 mostly because he considered it too small.

 

[caesar]

IIRC, The Grateful Dead owned all of them. JGB frequently bummed some of the gear. Saw Garcia over 300 times.

Never had such a good time in my life before
I'd like to have it one time more
One good ride from start to end
I'd like to take that ride again!

That is wonderful! I totally understand where you are coming from!

My 2 cents is that stereo is not reality - we all represent the live event experiences we have heard in our mind in different ways, so different systems speak to us differently. Put another way, this is a subjective endeavor.

To get a bit more philosophical, it's also an empirical and experiential endeavor - you have to listen and try different things. Other people can give you some options to start your journey, but to be truly happy, one has to find their own way. But knowledge - and your bliss - will only come from an exploratory process, not from other guys who have different subjective tastes, different incentives, measure their egos by others preferring what they like, etc...

My suggestion is to go to a big audio show or two. Axpona, and Munich, if you can swing it, are 2 good options (Munich will have many more horn options. Horn speakers, per my taste are best able to capture dynamics of real music and get proper tonality when used with low powered tube amps. In case horns are not your thing, you will also be able to hear large panels, large omnis, and pretty much everything else...)

Most of the show sound sucks, so don't expect any magical experiences, due to hotel room setups. Nevertheless, as you go from room to room, if something appeals to you, ask the room operator to play Your music on their system.

Once you get a short list of what like, you can pay a visit to a dealer for a more rigorous audition.

 

[caesar]

So, what size room should I build? IIRC, Rives gave my current room a 7 out of 10 mostly because he considered it too small.

For a BIG SOUND, 700-1000 square feet, with 10 or 12 foot ceilings, if you can swing it. Use the golden ratio for dimensions

 

[bonzo75]

Thanks, you’re starting to finally get through my thick skull!

I have a lot of experience doing random discourses on this forum

I’m running out of track, in my early 60’s. If O96 are not final speakers, then what are in that arena?

That requires research rather than spoon feeding, like mtemur correctly said.

You can start with visits. Also to help in the shortlist, search on the forum for the word “videos” in thread titles. There are lots of speakers showing male vocals, female vocals, violin, piano, large orchestra, cello, rock, and jazz.

Ignoring prices, see what you continually get drawn towards.

 

[Grateful]

Most of the show sound sucks, so don't expect any magical experiences, due to hotel room setups. Nevertheless, as you go from room to room, if something appeals to you, ask the room operator to play Your music on their system.

Once you get a short list of what like, you can pay a visit to a dealer for a more rigorous audition.

Much thanks!

Is it truly possible to hear the gear’s capability in a really crappy hotel room? I’m concerned that the identical gear Dan Healy used to create total bliss at Red Rocks may sound like crap in a crappy hotel room. OTOH, I suspect a small part of The Wall of Sound may sound great in a well engineered 1,000 square foot room.

I greatly appreciate you showing me behind the curtain! I have a rather strong financial game and fully understand the incentive, ego, etc. side of most players. Please PM me if you ever desire free financial advice. Again, thanks!