Your "World's Best Audio System" . . . 2012 Edition

[Steve williams]

Jeff

with all of these suggestions from members, are you keeping them as valid options or do you have some preconceived ideas as to what you want to use.

Perhaps a basic suggestion from you and then see what membership might offer up

All I have been reading is countless suggestions from members and not sure on whose ears they are falling.

BTW, there are many manufacturers here who, I bet if asked, would lend their gear for such a project

I also feel based on recent posts that there is a strong desire to see a TWBAS analog/tube setup

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Jeff

with all of these suggestions from members, are you keeping them as valid options or do you have some preconceived ideas as to what you want to use.

Perhaps a basic suggestion from you and then see what membership might offer up

All I have been reading is countless suggestions from members and not sure on whose ears they are falling.

BTW, there are many manufacturers here who, I bet if asked, would lend their gear for such a project

I also feel based on recent posts that there is a strong desire to see a TWBAS analog/tube setup

Fair enough: I feel strongly that the system should be accurate, be full range (see previous post), and each and every component should have some legitimate argument for SOTA performance. As well, the components have to work together as a system. Big and impressive is NOT the goal -- that's easy.
I also think that high-resolution music has to have a place. Does that preclude vinyl?

I am keeping an open mind. I love the idea of the ARC 750W monos, the Spectral gear, looking into pro-sound options for digital, the ML No.53s, etc. There are some components that I think are very expensive, but not SOTA, like the big Sonus Fabers and some of the other speakers suggested. As Frantz would say, big and expensive does not automatically equal SOTA sound.

After the success of the last TWBAS, I have no doubt this one will gain wide support.

 

[Steve williams]

Hopefully you will see fit to include a TT in your TWBAS and give equal consideration to tube as well as SS. I was most serious when I suggested a TWBAS SS and a TWBAS analog/tubes. Judging from member responses here, I think they feel the same.

I also agree that more expensive does not always equal SOTA.

Is there a way that once you have the field narrowed down to 2-3 choices of speakers, preamp, etc, etc that you could post those and then put up a poll here as to which would garner the most votes ? This would then be truly a decision of the majority of the membership

 

[microstrip]

(...) There are some components that I think are very expensive, but not SOTA, like the big Sonus Fabers and some of the other speakers suggested. As Frantz would say, big and expensive does not automatically equal SOTA sound.
After the success of the last TWBAS, I have no doubt this one will gain wide support.

I am sure we will have a lot of fun in this thread, but having heard a fantastic demo of the The Sonus Faber with the ARC 610 , Anniversary preamp and Metronome Kalista setup I think they really deserve the classification of SOTA. Even Alexandria X2 onwers that were present were impressed.

 

[Steve williams]

Jeff, you had mentioned JL Audio Gotham subs as a possibility. With your request that the chosen speaker be full range is there need therefore to include subs (BTW, I feel there is a need).

Also you had already reviewed the Gotham subs several years ago. Will you therefore be including past reviewed gear or are you looking for something completely new

 

[ack]

If it matters, personally I have not suggested anything as I feel I am unqualified to come up with the world's best system; but I will be in a position to do so when I hear every component out there, in about 70-100 years from now. So I have to ask - where are we going with this thread?

 

[Steve williams]

Precisely the reason I asked Jeff if he has some preconceived speakers and gear otherwise the thread is nothing more than a list of names

 

[FrantzM]

If it matters, personally I have not suggested anything as I feel I am unqualified to come up with the world's best system; but I will be in a position to do so when I hear every component out there, in about 70-100 years from now. So I have to ask - where are we going with this thread?

We all know it is rhetorical .. A fun exercise! There are gear we like and would like to knwo how they would sound together ..

I would for example like to hear a system with the

1. Berkeley or Playback Design DACs
2. PC-based Server, if the professional DAW 9Digital Audio Workstations) make a clear and repeatable difference so be it, I still would like ease of use
3. Evolution Acoustic MM7 (maybe just maybe without their dedicated subs) since I would in any case go with ...
4. 3 (!) Yes! THREE JL Audio Gotham subs
5. Burmester 808 MKV
6. Pair of Burmester 909 or Spectral 360
7. Cables? Cables?!?
8. APC Dual Conversion 15 KW UPS

Does that mean this would be the best system for everyone here? We know the answer but it is fun to speculate .. By the way I wouldn't mind such a system at all.. Years of immense pleasure ...

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Precisely the reason I asked Jeff if he has some preconceived speakers and gear otherwise the thread is nothing more than a list of names

I don't have preconceived notions other than what I said were requirements earlier.

And hey, some won't see any point to this thread, which is fine; others will see it as simply an interesting/fun exercise, and that's OK with me.

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Jeff, you had mentioned JL Audio Gotham subs as a possibility. With your request that the chosen speaker be full range is there need therefore to include subs (BTW, I feel there is a need).

Also you had already reviewed the Gotham subs several years ago. Will you therefore be including past reviewed gear or are you looking for something completely new

Subs could be part of it, and the Gothams are SOTA along with the Paradigm Sub2 (for reasonably sized, commercially available subs). Although I had someone suggest privately that using all brand-new, introduced-at-CES products would lend some excitement to it. Though I'm not sure the stars would align to make that possible.

 

[KeithR]

Jeff- can you define what you believe SOTA is/means? that would be helpful.

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Jeff- can you define what you believe SOTA is/means? that would be helpful.

I typed out two responses and deleted them because they were not technically comprehensive enough to cover even a starting point for one product genre (and I don't think I could do it justice anyway, as I'm not an engineer).

So: I think SOTA means the ability to reproduce the recording as accurately as anything can. We could discuss what each individual component needs to be to achieve that. Like for speakers, we know we want flat FR, smooth dispersion, wide bandwidth, low distortion, etc. But then lots of speakers meet that criteria. The best would do it better than others and then go beyond those criteria in some way -- they would break new ground, perhaps outside of established performance categories.

Ultimately, I think the SOTA system should let through the recording completely unhindered: no coloration, no distortion, no nonlinearities . . . just the signal. We're not there yet, but I guess that's the journey.

 

[LL21]

Ultimately, I think the SOTA system should let through the recording completely unhindered: no coloration, no distortion, no nonlinearities . . . just the signal. We're not there yet, but I guess that's the journey.

Makes sense to me. BTW, when you say "no nonlinearities", does that mean unlimited dynamics? i think that is a big one in my mind particularly in light of your comment about "full range"...realistic reproduction of a piccolo is one thing...a 110-piece symphony orchestra at close to realistic volumes is another...

 

[microstrip]

Jeff- can you define what you believe SOTA is/means? that would be helpful.

Defining the SOTA in audio is a dangerous game. If you use the usual definition found in many dictionaries such as "most technologically advanced existing device" you are reducing it to a mere technological challenge. If you want to appreciate the sound quality you are just opening a can of worms ...

 

[ack]

We all know it is rhetorical .. A fun exercise! There are gear we like and would like to knwo how they would sound together ..

I would for example like to hear a system with the

1. Berkeley or Playback Design DACs
2. PC-based Server, if the professional DAW 9Digital Audio Workstations) make a clear and repeatable difference so be it, I still would like ease of use
3. Evolution Acoustic MM7 (maybe just maybe without their dedicated subs) since I would in any case go with ...
4. 3 (!) Yes! THREE JL Audio Gotham subs
5. Burmester 808 MKV
6. Pair of Burmester 909 or Spectral 360
7. Cables? Cables?!?
8. APC Dual Conversion 15 KW UPS

Does that mean this would be the best system for everyone here? We know the answer but it is fun to speculate .. By the way I wouldn't mind such a system at all.. Years of immense pleasure ...

Perhaps it is rhetorical, but - for example - given no budget, I can easily list *all* known upper-end components (all the way to the $1mil Transmission Audio) and claim that different combos of them will suit all tastes and music types.

Anyway, don't let me throw you off, my question was also rhetorical - but when I look at how we bash reviewers with deleterious comments - more accurately, we claim they don't know what they are talking about, in most cases - then I am tempted to ask, Does anyone here know exactly what the best system is??? Personally, I think the survey should be on one's dream system.

Carry on, it's entertaining to read the thread.

 

[LL21]

Yes, the basic 8 track Sonoma will do. I think Pyramix will go up to 256 tracks.

Just connect either the Pyramix or Sonoma to your DAC of choice and then to your pre via XLR.

thanks!

 

[LL21]

speaking for myself, i guess i look at SOTA as the never-ending goal to be able to walk into a room, listen and say: "Smokes! i close my eyes and i actually cannot tell if i am in my living room or in the original recording venue listening to the players as if they are right here."

we are faaarrr away from this...so of course then it becomes what elements of sound reproduction do you focus on most to generate that illusion? that clearly is a personal preference...but by definition, ANY review is personal.

But because the reviewer does this more often than most...and often with more access to equipment than most...and because they often spend much more time than most of us in evaluating any piece of equipment, then i generally find it useful to read several reviews...and then listen for myself and make up my own mind about how to get closest to that illusion.

So on that basis, I am really looking forward to reading about the next TWBAS, just as i have enjoyed reading all the ones that came before this up and coming one!!!!!

 

[docvale]

...

So: I think SOTA means the ability to reproduce the recording as accurately as anything can. We could discuss what each individual component needs to be to achieve that. Like for speakers, we know we want flat FR, smooth dispersion, wide bandwidth, low distortion, etc. But then lots of speakers meet that criteria. The best would do it better than others and then go beyond those criteria in some way -- they would break new ground, perhaps outside of established performance categories.

...

Are measurements the first parameter for the selection of the component? This is not a polemic or sarcastic question...

 

[Steve williams]

I think it is a fair question.

Jeff has made known his parameters so the answer should be obvious. Nonetheless, let's keep the thread on topic

 

[Jeff Fritz]

Are measurements the first parameter for the selection of the component? This is not a polemic or sarcastic question...

It is part of the equation. Real companies, advanced engineering, great measurements, wonderful sound . . . they are all part of it for me. For what these companies charge, we should expect no less IMO.