Cost of your setup?

[MajorFubar]

Rightly or wrongly I've formed the opinion over many years of swapping boxes that one has to double the price of something to achive anything more than a sideways move or modest improvement that often isn't great value for money.

I have also arrived at that same conclusion (all things being equal)....and said so many times on here.

And even then, there are no guarantees. Care and judgment are still needed. And with each doubling, the improvement diminishes in my experience.

Quite. The only exception might be emerging-technologies which tend to get cheaper as they mature and become more mainstream. So what £3000 buys you this year could easily be <£1500 next year. But with traditional passive speakers I think we can rule that out.

 

[BigH]

Good to hear you're still holding on to the EB2's, just wish I had the foresight to have kept mine.

Indeed. Rightly or wrongly I've formed the opinion over many years of swapping boxes that one has to double the price of something to achive anything more than a sideways move or modest improvement that often isn't great value for money. So it's likely I'll be keeping them for the foreseeable future until something now £2k-£3k finds itself in my price backet. When the EB2s were initially reviewed, WHF all but said they gave other speakers under a grand a good schooling, and I think they only missed out on a Best Speaker <£1,000 Award because of doubts surrounding supply-demand, which were apparent even then.

Those speakers were bought direct from the manufacturer I believe? That is an advantage pricewise but then auditioning and waiting time were disadvatages.

 

[Nos]

Forgot to mention, out here in France the speakers are priced as one unit, who buys just one speaker? Nos

 

[bigfish786]

Under £3k is what I paid. And worth every penny.

Doesnt stop me looking for my next investment though.

Once ive paid the car off, I'll be upgrading again. It will be for my 50th, so probably my final setup. And hopefully the one I get more use of.

 

[Gazzip]

Current setup £40K. Previous £75K. Current better in every way. Both would defecate from a great height on any £3K system.

Gazzip, can you please remind us what your current £40k system is and what your £75k system was?

And do you really mean ANY £3k system?

Current - Devialet 800 - PMC Fact 12's - Bel Canto CD2 + external PS - Moon MiND streamer - Project Xtension with Cadenza Black, external PS and SUT.

Previous - ARC Ref5SE - Bryston 28BSST2's - ARC Ref9CD/DAC - PMC BB5SE's

Yes, any £3K system. £3K speakers will not get close to Fact 12's or BB5SE's. Different world of sound. Simple as that.

 

[Al ears]

Good to hear you're still holding on to the EB2's, just wish I had the foresight to have kept mine.

Indeed. Rightly or wrongly I've formed the opinion over many years of swapping boxes that one has to double the price of something to achive anything more than a sideways move or modest improvement that often isn't great value for money. So it's likely I'll be keeping them for the foreseeable future until something now £2k-£3k finds itself in my price backet. When the EB2s were initially reviewed, WHF all but said they gave other speakers under a grand a good schooling, and I think they only missed out on a Best Speaker <£1,000 Award because of doubts surrounding supply-demand, which were apparent even then.

Those speakers were bought direct from the manufacturer I believe? That is an advantage pricewise but then auditioning and waiting time were disadvatages.

I guess they may be disadvantages but reading the various write ups and specifications of these speakers I bought them unauditioned. The wait meant nothing really as I got in the queue early and was quite happy to use my 685's until they turned up.

The savings were quite considerable when you consider what dealers mark ups can be so I would consider you're going to have to spend three times the amount to better them if buying new through a dealer.

 

[hybridauth_Facebook_100004211376004]

Can I have your system please Gazzip.lol.Although the fact 12's might just be a bit much for my room.those bb5's are ugly looking brutes of things if the pictures are anything to be judged by.But I'm sure they are function over form and would have sounded amazing,I'm guessing that's why you changed over to the fact 12's.

 

[Gazzip]

Can I have your system please Gazzip.lol.Although the fact 12's might just be a bit much for my room.those bb5's are ugly looking brutes of things if the pictures are anything to be judged by.But I'm sure they are function over form and would have sounded amazing,I'm guessing that's why you changed over to the fact 12's.

I changed the whole system when our second child was born. Listening room became a nursery... Grrrrrrr...

I actually prefer the general sound of the Fact 12's. I do however miss the effortless low end of the BB5SE's.

 

[DIB]

Not counting cables, my system cost me £2250.00, a mixture of new, end of line and 2nd hand. If I'd bought everything as new then the cost would have been about £3500. My best deal was for my Creek amp which was retailing for £1200 and then when it was discontinued I picked up a brand new one from Lintone Audio for £650.

I bought the Caiman back in December last year, but other than that I've not bought anything serious for getting on 4 years now.

I've bought a few pairs of old (70's/80's era) speakers over the last couple of years off the likes of Gumtree and other forums just to see what they were like, and then sold them all on either at cost or at a small profit.

Should I ever be in the market for a new amp anytime soon (not likely to be honest) I think I'd go for a NVA pre/power combo. I heard a set a few months ago with my speakers and they are fantastic value for money, though I'm not sure I could live without a remote control.

.

 

[lindsayt]

Current - Devialet 800 - PMC Fact 12's - Bel Canto CD2 + external PS - Moon MiND streamer - Project Xtension with Cadenza Black, external PS and SUT.

Previous - ARC Ref5SE - Bryston 28BSST2's - ARC Ref9CD/DAC - PMC BB5SE's

Yes, any £3K system. £3K speakers will not get close to Fact 12's or BB5SE's. Different world of sound. Simple as that.

What if we're talking about a pre 1983 recording, and I have the 2 track master tapes (in good condition) or master tape copies? And we're playing them on an Studer (bought for £800)?

And what if the speakers are one of those once in a lifetime finds? Such as Woodog (AKA Forrest's) $75 EV Patrician 800's?

But we could also include those lovely DIY open baffles that were at Scalford this year. The ones with 12", 15" and 18" drivers in them.

Or a 2nd hand pair of Klipschorns or Altec Model 19's, or Quad Electrostatics etc etc etc.

Would you still be confident that your systems would sound better than that sort of a £3k system?

OK I know I've sort of, kind of, cheated a little bit with my proposed £3k systems, but you did say ANY £3k system.

 

[Gazzip]

Current - Devialet 800 - PMC Fact 12's - Bel Canto CD2 + external PS - Moon MiND streamer - Project Xtension with Cadenza Black, external PS and SUT.

Previous - ARC Ref5SE - Bryston 28BSST2's - ARC Ref9CD/DAC - PMC BB5SE's

Yes, any £3K system. £3K speakers will not get close to Fact 12's or BB5SE's. Different world of sound. Simple as that.

What if we're talking about a pre 1983 recording, and I have the 2 track master tapes (in good condition) or master tape copies? And we're playing them on an Studer (bought for £800)?

And what if the speakers are one of those once in a lifetime finds? Such as Woodog (AKA Forrest's) $75 EV Patrician 800's?

But we could also include those lovely DIY open baffles that were at Scalford this year. The ones with 12", 15" and 18" drivers in them.

Or a 2nd hand pair of Klipschorns or Altec Model 19's, or Quad Electrostatics etc etc etc.

Would you still be confident that your systems would sound better than that sort of a £3k system?

OK I know I've sort of, kind of, cheated a little bit with my proposed £3k systems, but you did say ANY £3k system.

Klipschorns would be resoundly beaten due to a limited FR.

Altec Model 19's, see above.

Quad Electrostatics, see above.

The others are outside of my sphere of knowledge I'm afraid, but you know your Hifi sir!

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

 

[Gazzip]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

...but you list yours in your signature?

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

...but you list yours in your signature?

Not the price, I don't.

 

[CnoEvil]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs!  Quite frankly it's none of your business.  

Are you feeling as grumpy as I am today? *sad*

 

[Gazzip]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

Are you feeling as grumpy as I am today? *sad*

I am. Most of my work is with UK mass house builders. Anybody wanna buy a hifi? *pardon*

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

Are you feeling as grumpy as I am today? *sad*

Yep. I am pissed off with my new doctor as well. I don't mind people I know asking personal questions but complete strangers don't sit well with me for some reason.

No offence meant though.

 

[lindsayt]

Klipschorns would be resoundly beaten due to a limited FR.

Altec Model 19's, see above.

Quad Electrostatics, see above.

The others are outside of my sphere of knowledge I'm afraid, but you know your Hifi sir!

Klipschorns have a specified frequency response of 35hz to 17.5 khz +/- 3 dbs.

What are the 3 db figures for PMC Fact 12's?

Edit: found the answer to my question. Fact 12's have a FR of 40 hz to 12 khz +/- 3 dbs.

So PMC Fact 12's would actually be beaten, due to a limited FR!!!!

 

[Macspur]

At the end of the day who cares about the cost! as long as the listener is happy with their system.

Mac

www.macsmusic.blogbubble.net

 

[lindsayt]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

Are you feeling as grumpy as I am today? *sad*

Yep. I am pissed off with my new doctor as well. I don't mind people I know asking personal questions but complete strangers don't sit well with me for some reason.

No offence meant though.

Viz Top Tip.

We should provide our addresses in this thread so that anyone interested would know where to come for a listen.

And we should also say what times we normally work so that they will know when's a good time to catch us in.

And where we hide the spare key, so they can pop in for a listen in case we get held up in traffic on the way home...

 

[tino]

I set a notional £500 for each component in my system(s) -

CD Transport, DAC, Streamer, Tuner, Turntable, Tone Arm, Cartridge, Phono Stage, Pre Amp, Power Amp, NAS Drive, Cassette deck, Docking Station, Headphone Amp, Headphones, Stereo Speakers, AV Amp, Rear Speakers, Centre Speaker, Subwoofer, Free Sat recorder, DVD Player, TV, Rack, cables.

That £12K

Streamer + Amp + Speakers + accesories < £1500

Don't need all the other gubbins.

 

[Nos]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

I did except at least one to take it the wrong way! Thanks for listing your setup, when I have time I will work the cost out.

 

[Philim]

Rrp is about £20k =o

Paid nowhere near that but taking into account all the money spent on "upgrades" over the years it probably is not far from that. Dont tell the wife but then I don't smoke or drink lol.

 

[Deleted member 2457]

Bit rude asking a bunch of strangers how much their system costs! Quite frankly it's none of your business.

I did except at least one to take it the wrong way! Thanks for listing your setup, when I have time I will work the cost out.

Now we are not strangers about 12K - it's my only hobby and I don't own much else. Had my home cinema system for over 8 years now and plan to keep my TV for the same period.

 

[busb]

Far too much but under £8k - it's down to having a personality disorder & pretending its just a means to play music