I have been reading a few issues of Stereophile magazine and it's prompted me to wonder if American equipment are truly Hi-Fi while British equipment generally operate at the Low/Mid-Fi level? In Stereophile, US$20k to US$60k pre/power combinations, US$20k to US$50k speakers, US$100k turntables, and US$10k cables seem to be the order of the day. Even in their Awards issue, they just have one category for "Budget Components", while the rest of the Award categories organised by component type is represented by models in the price ranges mentioned above.
British equipment generally Low/Mid-Fi compared to American equipment?
- Thread starter hifikrazy
- Start date
warning - poor man moaning (me, i mean). Answer - no. theyre just exclusivist(?) snobs. im sure you can get lots of stuff that expensive here. it could be a particularly exclusive mag? maybe everyone with a stereo over there has what paupers like me would describe as a decent enough separates system (doubtful, i grant), and the stuff in that mag is what people who want the next level buy.
[quote user="hifikrazy"]I have been reading a few issues of Stereophile magazine and it's prompted me to wonder if American equipment are truly Hi-Fi while British equipment generally operate at the Low/Mid-Fi level? In Stereophile, US$20k to US$60k pre/power combinations, US$20k to US$50k speakers, US$100k turntables, and US$10k cables seem to be the order of the day. Even in their Awards issue, they just have one category for "Budget Components", while the rest of the Award categories organised by component type is represented by models in the price ranges mentioned above.[/quote]
Don't make me laugh. Most Americans think Bose is Hi-Fi.
Don't make me laugh. Most Americans think Bose is Hi-Fi.
[quote user="Nigel Proctor"]Don't make me laugh. Most Americans think Bose is Hi-Fi.[/quote]
And a lot of Americans know that they are not
Its like a lot of people do buy B&O gear, isn't it.
Hi-fi is a different ball-game. What I have realized is - Something that costs more need not sound better. Know your sound and look for it with a blind eye (for the brand name). Americans do produce (and Canadians), some great audio gear, which of course cost a lot.
American, Japanese or English gear, be wise with your money.
And a lot of Americans know that they are not
Hi-fi is a different ball-game. What I have realized is - Something that costs more need not sound better. Know your sound and look for it with a blind eye (for the brand name). Americans do produce (and Canadians), some great audio gear, which of course cost a lot.
American, Japanese or English gear, be wise with your money.
[quote user="hifikrazy"]I have been reading a few issues of Stereophile magazine and it's prompted me to wonder if American equipment are truly Hi-Fi while British equipment generally operate at the Low/Mid-Fi level? In Stereophile, US$20k to US$60k pre/power combinations, US$20k to US$50k speakers, US$100k turntables, and US$10k cables seem to be the order of the day. Even in their Awards issue, they just have one category for "Budget Components", while the rest of the Award categories organised by component type is represented by models in the price ranges mentioned above.[/quote]
ROFL, they are probably so expensive because they wasted so much build cost forming a 24 carat gold eagle into the speaker wall and stars and stripes on the speaker cones. I work with a lot of yanks and their concern is volume and not a great deal else. The only one who actually considers himself a 'man of his hifi' owns... you guessed it... a complete bose system that kicks butt man!
While I am sure they are more than capable of producing excellent sounding speakers, it is not their primary focus. Most buyers looking to spend a lot on hifi are looking for something..
well....
"Badass"
For me and I'm sure a lot of others here, so long as it's not UGLY, I don't care what my speakers look like. I listen to them, if I find myself staring at them it's because I am aware they are there and they are obviously insufficiently transparant for my liking. Now don't get me wrong, build quality is extremely important because it has a significant affect on the sound, but looking like something from 2067 and coming with a cigar holder and hamburger dispenser built in is not.
Lol, hamburger dispenser in your speakers, I make myself laugh sometimes, any yanks here wanna throw in their 2 cents?
ROFL, they are probably so expensive because they wasted so much build cost forming a 24 carat gold eagle into the speaker wall and stars and stripes on the speaker cones. I work with a lot of yanks and their concern is volume and not a great deal else. The only one who actually considers himself a 'man of his hifi' owns... you guessed it... a complete bose system that kicks butt man!
While I am sure they are more than capable of producing excellent sounding speakers, it is not their primary focus. Most buyers looking to spend a lot on hifi are looking for something..
well....
"Badass"
For me and I'm sure a lot of others here, so long as it's not UGLY, I don't care what my speakers look like. I listen to them, if I find myself staring at them it's because I am aware they are there and they are obviously insufficiently transparant for my liking. Now don't get me wrong, build quality is extremely important because it has a significant affect on the sound, but looking like something from 2067 and coming with a cigar holder and hamburger dispenser built in is not.
Lol, hamburger dispenser in your speakers, I make myself laugh sometimes, any yanks here wanna throw in their 2 cents?
I can't believe the Americans produce mostly high end equipment!
I've read the sterophile mag and it would seem to be biased towards the upper end of things. I don't believe that it truly represents the complete spectrum of hifi equipment available there.
I've read the sterophile mag and it would seem to be biased towards the upper end of things. I don't believe that it truly represents the complete spectrum of hifi equipment available there.
There are other magazines in the UK that concentrate on the hi end, Stereophile just happens to do that across the pond.
Mr Poletski, I salute you. Thankfully it's a very big pond.
As regards their love of power, you only have to look at their cars to realise that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is what they are all about, I, myself prefer a bit of subtlety and sound quality is what's important to me. There's no point having a **** off amp that's louder than Concorde if you live in a Georgian flat in Stoke Newington, whereas if you can just shut your eyes and imagine the band playing in your front room after a few glasses of vino....
Mr Poletski, I salute you. Thankfully it's a very big pond.
As regards their love of power, you only have to look at their cars to realise that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is what they are all about, I, myself prefer a bit of subtlety and sound quality is what's important to me. There's no point having a **** off amp that's louder than Concorde if you live in a Georgian flat in Stoke Newington, whereas if you can just shut your eyes and imagine the band playing in your front room after a few glasses of vino....
it's simply because yanks have to have everything bigger regardless of wot they lose in quality if it's big n brash it gud lol they treat hifi like personalities and always regard our english products as sounding "polite and refined" which can be compared to the stereotype of an englishmen , where as all americans are "loud and brash" I agree with joel on the fact that there no point in having the loudness if u cant hear wot your actually listening to 
and lets not forget the price of the dollar aginst our GBP a 20k system over there is only just about 10k here which doesnt make it as high end as it initially sounds
and lets not forget the price of the dollar aginst our GBP a 20k system over there is only just about 10k here which doesnt make it as high end as it initially sounds [quote user="m0172uk"]where as all americans are "loud and brash" [/quote]
???????
Krell and Conrad Johnson I had was everything but Brash! Subtlety are second to none and wonderfully engineer! As for they have to build every bigger?? Have you ever compare Krell and Musical Fidelity by size? not much in it my friend.
???????
Krell and Conrad Johnson I had was everything but Brash! Subtlety are second to none and wonderfully engineer! As for they have to build every bigger?? Have you ever compare Krell and Musical Fidelity by size? not much in it my friend.
Ok i must apologise slightly as i havent heard them or really compared them , i was just generally having a rant against how most american write ups of english gear usually ends up with it being slated for being too polite and reserved !!! sugden also do big gear but size isnt evrything all the time
From personal experience as a long-time reader Stereophile seems to quite like some British brands, such as Creek, Cambridge Audio and so on. Note also the rave from Sam Tellig on the current Quad ESL ad running in WHFSV, and the fact that Stereophile is edited by an ex-Brit, John Atkinson, formerly of Hi-Fi News & Record Review.
There was a time recently when you couldn't pick up an issue without reading an enthusiastic review for something new from Musical Fidelity.
But agreed, Stereophile is more high-end than mass-market, and to generalise from that magazine is rather like making a judgement about what we Brits drive based on Classic and Sportscar rather than What Car? As I look out of the window now to where the C&S staff's cars are parked, I can see a MkI Mini, a Citroen Traction Avant and a Jensen Interceptor - hardly usual transport for most of us!
The nearest thing to a US equivalent of WHFSV is probably Sound and Vision magazine.
There was a time recently when you couldn't pick up an issue without reading an enthusiastic review for something new from Musical Fidelity.
But agreed, Stereophile is more high-end than mass-market, and to generalise from that magazine is rather like making a judgement about what we Brits drive based on Classic and Sportscar rather than What Car? As I look out of the window now to where the C&S staff's cars are parked, I can see a MkI Mini, a Citroen Traction Avant and a Jensen Interceptor - hardly usual transport for most of us!
The nearest thing to a US equivalent of WHFSV is probably Sound and Vision magazine.
Gerrardasnails
Well-known member
- Sep 6, 2007
- 295
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I read this a few weeks ago and it confirmed my choice of speakers. I did not find the article patronising towards budget (well in their eyes, in mine, expensive!) equipment, on the contrary. I am of course hoping that I am not wrong in saying that MA is English (Essex even!).
http://stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/306monitor/
http://stereophile.com/floorloudspeakers/306monitor/
[quote user="Gerrardasnails"]I am of course hoping that I am not wrong in saying that MA is English (Essex even!)[/quote]
As Essex as Ford Cortinas, white stilettos and Clare News-- oops, yes MA is still based in Essex
As Essex as Ford Cortinas, white stilettos and Clare News-- oops, yes MA is still based in Essex
[quote user="hifikrazy"]I have been reading a few issues of Stereophile magazine and it's prompted me to wonder if American equipment are truly Hi-Fi while British equipment generally operate at the Low/Mid-Fi level? In Stereophile, US$20k to US$60k pre/power combinations, US$20k to US$50k speakers, US$100k turntables, and US$10k cables seem to be the order of the day. Even in their Awards issue, they just have one category for "Budget Components", while the rest of the Award categories organised by component type is represented by models in the price ranges mentioned above.[/quote]
All it means is that particular magazine is targeted at the high end market. Why would you possibly think that because one american magazine is full of high end kit that it means british hi fi is low/mid level? What a bizarre assumption to make.
All it means is that particular magazine is targeted at the high end market. Why would you possibly think that because one american magazine is full of high end kit that it means british hi fi is low/mid level? What a bizarre assumption to make.
[quote user="Fraziel"][quote user="hifikrazy"]I have been reading a few issues of Stereophile magazine and it's prompted me to wonder if American equipment are truly Hi-Fi while British equipment generally operate at the Low/Mid-Fi level? In Stereophile, US$20k to US$60k pre/power combinations, US$20k to US$50k speakers, US$100k turntables, and US$10k cables seem to be the order of the day. Even in their Awards issue, they just have one category for "Budget Components", while the rest of the Award categories organised by component type is represented by models in the price ranges mentioned above.[/quote] All it means is that particular magazine is targeted at the high end market. Why would you possibly think that because one american magazine is full of high end kit that it means british hi fi is low/mid level? What a bizarre assumption to make.[/quote]
I apologise for making the wrong conclusion... but then again, it wasn't a conclusion.... Take note of the question marks and the words "I wonder". It's just that in my part of the world, Stereophile is the most common American hi-fi publication, as is WHF among the British publications. But comparing the two, I see a huge price gap between what is categorised as high-end in WHF (like the GBP1700 ClearAudio Performance turntable which won the award in the highest price category) and the award winners in Stereophile. It just made me wonder whether every second American household had the Stereophile award winning turntable from Continuum Audio Labs (costing a mere US$90,000) in their service. No no, I'm really not that foolish to think that would be the case, but it was just food for thought.
I apologise for making the wrong conclusion... but then again, it wasn't a conclusion.... Take note of the question marks and the words "I wonder". It's just that in my part of the world, Stereophile is the most common American hi-fi publication, as is WHF among the British publications. But comparing the two, I see a huge price gap between what is categorised as high-end in WHF (like the GBP1700 ClearAudio Performance turntable which won the award in the highest price category) and the award winners in Stereophile. It just made me wonder whether every second American household had the Stereophile award winning turntable from Continuum Audio Labs (costing a mere US$90,000) in their service. No no, I'm really not that foolish to think that would be the case, but it was just food for thought.
[quote user="Mr_Poletski"]
For me and I'm sure a lot of others here, so long as it's not UGLY, I don't care what my speakers look like. I listen to them, if I find myself staring at them it's because I am aware they are there and they are obviously insufficiently transparant for my liking. Now don't get me wrong, build quality is extremely important because it has a significant affect on the sound, but looking like something from 2067 and coming with a cigar holder and hamburger dispenser built in is not.
[/quote]
So is this top of the range speaker from high end American manufacturer Wilson Audio ugly or not? Not sure about you, but I think it looks like a Transformer.
http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/gallery.php
For me and I'm sure a lot of others here, so long as it's not UGLY, I don't care what my speakers look like. I listen to them, if I find myself staring at them it's because I am aware they are there and they are obviously insufficiently transparant for my liking. Now don't get me wrong, build quality is extremely important because it has a significant affect on the sound, but looking like something from 2067 and coming with a cigar holder and hamburger dispenser built in is not.
[/quote]
So is this top of the range speaker from high end American manufacturer Wilson Audio ugly or not? Not sure about you, but I think it looks like a Transformer.
http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/gallery.php
[quote user="JoelSim"]There are other magazines in the UK that concentrate on the hi end, Stereophile just happens to do that across the pond.
Mr Poletski, I salute you. Thankfully it's a very big pond.
As regards their love of power, you only have to look at their cars to realise that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is what they are all about, I, myself prefer a bit of subtlety and sound quality is what's important to me. There's no point having a **** off amp that's louder than Concorde if you live in a Georgian flat in Stoke Newington, whereas if you can just shut your eyes and imagine the band playing in your front room after a few glasses of vino....[/quote]
Hehe, exactly, did you deliberately use the russian word for wine?
Mr Poletski, I salute you. Thankfully it's a very big pond.
As regards their love of power, you only have to look at their cars to realise that using a sledgehammer to crack a nut is what they are all about, I, myself prefer a bit of subtlety and sound quality is what's important to me. There's no point having a **** off amp that's louder than Concorde if you live in a Georgian flat in Stoke Newington, whereas if you can just shut your eyes and imagine the band playing in your front room after a few glasses of vino....[/quote]
Hehe, exactly, did you deliberately use the russian word for wine?
[quote user="hifikrazy"]
So is this top of the range speaker from high end American manufacturer Wilson Audio ugly or not? Not sure about you, but I think it looks like a Transformer.
http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/gallery.php[/quote]
OMG, do they have trolley wheels on the bottom lol! how much do they cost? If they are really expensive then I'd expect a better frequency range than 19.5-25Khz!
So is this top of the range speaker from high end American manufacturer Wilson Audio ugly or not? Not sure about you, but I think it looks like a Transformer.
http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/gallery.php[/quote]
OMG, do they have trolley wheels on the bottom lol! how much do they cost? If they are really expensive then I'd expect a better frequency range than 19.5-25Khz!
[quote user="Mr_Poletski"][quote user="hifikrazy"] So is this top of the range speaker from high end American manufacturer Wilson Audio ugly or not? Not sure about you, but I think it looks like a Transformer. http://www.wilsonaudio.com/product/alexandria/gallery.php[/quote] OMG, do they have trolley wheels on the bottom lol! how much do they cost? If they are really expensive then I'd expect a better frequency range than 19.5-25Khz![/quote]
Only US$125,000 per pair. And don't worry, the trolley wheels are included in the price!
Only US$125,000 per pair. And don't worry, the trolley wheels are included in the price!
bah, for that money I'd rather get 7 pairs of tannoy kingdoms and have TWO ultimate surround setups with a response of 18-44Khz!
A design like that does not look robust to me, but the tannoys weigh over 250 kilos each... all that bass energy is going into the air!
A design like that does not look robust to me, but the tannoys weigh over 250 kilos each... all that bass energy is going into the air!
But the Tannoy Kingdom looks rather ugly, no?.... Like grandma speakers on steroids. You'll need a grand ballroom sized listening room to fit 7 pairs of those inside.
hehe, if I can afford to spend $125,000 on just the speakers of my hifi, then I can afford to have a 2 living rooms large enough to put a 7.0 surround system in, using the kingdoms.
I always thought they looked like warddrobes with the grilles on. They're so damn big that if you left them on people would probably think they are some kind of cupboard or something when they came in... Until you threw 300 WRMS out of them
I always thought they looked like warddrobes with the grilles on. They're so damn big that if you left them on people would probably think they are some kind of cupboard or something when they came in... Until you threw 300 WRMS out of them
I bought a copy of Stereophile and am busy searching for the Hamburger dispenser right now. The closest I have come is one which fries Donuts so far, having said that it's very very good as every 15 minutes it stops for a 3 minute break and all these cheerleaders come bursting into my room
Well well....
What do you all think about these babies?
http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm
Now who wants to buy the Kharma Grand Enigmas?!
What do you all think about these babies?
http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm
Now who wants to buy the Kharma Grand Enigmas?!
[quote user="unleash_me"]
Well well....
What do you all think about these babies?
http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm
Now who wants to buy the Kharma Grand Enigmas?!
[/quote]
Hardly any British makes on the list, which goes back to my original thoughts.... If this is true high end hi-fi, then British makes must then be operating predominantly at the low/mid level. But I must correct my earlier impression that American makes dominate high-end. In the Top 10 of this list are 1 Dutch, 3 Americans, 3 Germans, 1 Swiss and 2 Swedish.
Well well....
What do you all think about these babies?
http://www.higherfi.com/spkrlist/speakerlist.htm
Now who wants to buy the Kharma Grand Enigmas?!
[/quote]
Hardly any British makes on the list, which goes back to my original thoughts.... If this is true high end hi-fi, then British makes must then be operating predominantly at the low/mid level. But I must correct my earlier impression that American makes dominate high-end. In the Top 10 of this list are 1 Dutch, 3 Americans, 3 Germans, 1 Swiss and 2 Swedish.
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