If you had insane amount of cash, what would be your personal HiFi Choice for 2024?

[podknocker]

I'd start with having a room built specifically for sound reproduction. The room is always the limiting factor, and many people end up with an unsuitable system for the room it is going in. The right system in the right room doesn't necessarily have to be mega bucks, because it's all working harmoniously.

Spot on. A bespoke listening room is essential, if you want to appreciate expensive HIFI components. Much cheaper devices will also sound incredible, within a room designed entirely for music. Not too many reflective surfaces etc. Not even windows and really quiet aircon would be needed. You also want some nice comfy leather seating, but not too many soft items to absorb that lovely treble you've paid a fortune for!

 

[davidf]

One of the main issues in many rooms can be background noise from outside.

 

[GSV Ethics Gradient]

When I looked at the RS website earlier, there were some 146" OLEDs at startling prices - gone now for some reason. But given the cash I'd be tempted. Can't get my head around projectors, though a suitable demo might well see me eat those words. Existing room is probably big enough at roughly 7m sq, so I'd go all out in terms of a great set of HC speakers and amps to really get closer to the cinema experience. Just without the inconvenience and irritation of having others there...

 

[Fandango Andy]

Anyone watch the TV show Bosch? I have always loved the look of that system:

McIntosh MX110 pre-amp
McIntosh MC-240 power amplifier
Marantz 6300 turntable
Ohm Walsh loudspeakers

Especially those Ohm's (although one of them seemed to disappear in the last season).

Obviously, on top of thr system I would need a couple of million to buy the house that goes with it even, even though all that glass could be a problem for the sound!

 

[nopiano]

I was disappointed when I heard the Michi set-up at Bristol, with Spendor speakers, but that may have been down to the room and set-up.

So was I! They were searingly bright when I went in, so spent barely a minute hoping it would be ok after all, before I left for the sake of my ears.

Unfortunately that larger room didn’t sound as good as the regular rooms, and I recall the Cadence set up at Ascot wasn’t very pleasant either. A mystery when the individual components are favourably reviewed.

 

[Gray]

...all that glass could be a problem for the sound!

Yes.
Just as well the marketing department are not the designers.
More often than not, fancy / expensive speakers are pictured in the worst possible acoustic environments 🤨

 

[matthewpianist]

What were your thoughts....?

To my ears, it was both flat sounding and a bit edgy too. It just didn't engage me somehow, whereas some other systems at the show did.

As I said already, I don't think the room helped, but my experience with owning Spendors (A1) in the past didn't warm me to the brand. Out of the two, I'd take Harbeth every time.

 

[manicm]

One of the main issues in many rooms can be background noise from outside.

That can be mitigated to an extent. Double glazed windows, make sure door gaps are minimised, curtains, etc.

 

[davidf]

That can be mitigated to an extent. Double glazed windows, make sure door gaps are minimised, curtains, etc.

That's what I mean - everyone seems to try and buy the best equipment they can, but no one really addresses unwanted ambient noise. A lot of people might think they've got none, but everyone has. It goes beyond a bit of furnishing.

 

[matthewpianist]

That's what I mean - everyone seems to try and buy the best equipment they can, but no one really addresses unwanted ambient noise. A lot of people might think they've got none, but everyone has. It goes beyond a bit of furnishing.

There's little most of us can do. Sharing the house with the rest of the family and the demands of a busy household mean that eradicating ambient noise is pretty much impossible on most occasions.

I think this is where we can dream about the exotic kit, but keep feet planted in the real world, where compromises have to be made.

 

[JDL]

To my ears, it was both flat sounding and a bit edgy too. It just didn't engage me somehow, whereas some other systems at the show did.

As I said already, I don't think the room helped, but my experience with owning Spendors (A1) in the past didn't warm me to the brand. Out of the two, I'd take Harbeth every time.

Ah...well, I ain't gonna buy one because there's no need. I'm perfectly happy with my Model 30, which imparts to the speakers an amazing multi-layered sound. Not easy to describe. The music shimmers with a lovely weight, depth and sparkle. The silence is beautifully black. Very rarely fatigueing. Far too risky an undertaking to change it. If it ain't broke and all that. Occams razor-the simplest approach, is usually the right one - ie, for me..... if it's alright, change nothing.
And the speakers. Old but pretty decent 805 Matrix. Among What Hi-Fi's 25 "best speakers of all time".

 

[Jasonovich]

There's little most of us can do. Sharing the house with the rest of the family and the demands of a busy household mean that eradicating ambient noise is pretty much impossible on most occasions.

I think this is where we can dream about the exotic kit, but keep feet planted in the real world, where compromises have to be made.

This is very true.
The ultimate Hifi upgrade for me, would be to annexe my house or in two years when I decide to sell up, I'll find a nice property that has an annexed dwellings like the one in the photo, preferably brick and mortar.
I'll name it my WACNA (Wife and Children Not Allowed)

Jenny Haughton - iHUS

We recently visited the Haughton Family to see how garden annexe living was working out for them. It's safe to say they feel like it was the perfect choice. Watch the video below to hear their experience of this ever-growing lifestyle.

ihusannexe.com

 

[ultraminiature]

If you had insane amount of cash, what would be your personal HiFi Choice for 2024?

View: https://youtu.be/f_0fE9T78YM?si=UdJ76Xzj4N98zibc

A newly built house with rooms designed for audio particularly a good layout for a surround sound system where doors and windows are not where I want the speakers to be placed.

Upgrade my 4K 65" touch panel to the 98" one ( 8k?).

Smarts would suggest ceiling speakers and in wall speakers as offered by the likes of Meridian and B&O. Some would suggest the £125k Beolab 90 or even their cheap Beolab 50 for front and rears. Maybe if I had the hearing that measured to over 15kHz and not barely above 11kHz.

I would fuss about getting Meridian A9, DSP7200SE or just adding a B&O Theatre to the Beolab 28, 17, 19 ; the slightly more modest route. Beolab 8 for the dinning room/kitchen

 

[A-Line]

Those who read regularly certain glossy mags(Stereophile/The Absolute Sound) are always complaining about the cost of the components reviewed in these journals and rightfully so.
According to these mags a modest system is priced around £100,000.00 - £125,000.00.
The vast majority of average music lovers, even musicians ( lest they're a big time pop/rock star) can't afford these components.

This hobby is in decline for many reasons: voodoo science , snobbish manufacturers, greed driven policies, ultra elitism, ECT. Most brick and mortar hifi shops have closed and have moved to a online store or have gone out of business. Some good companies have folded in the process as well.

The destination of this runaway train can't be a good one. So unless one becomes a multi-millionaire there's little chance for new people to take advantage of good sound. I would suggest buying good used vintage pieces this day and age. At least it would afford those seeking real hifi to experience it without going bankrupt.

Just my thoughts and opinions.

 

[davidf]

Converting barns into rooms won't be good for hi-fi use.

With an "insane amount of cash", have the room built for hi-fi use. If you build the ideal room that helps avoid the main issues you will have with existing rooms, it'll make it all the more easy to get the best sound out of whatever you choose to put in there. But of course, choosing the right speakers is still important to get the best on and off axis response.

 

[davidf]

McIntosh monoblocks?

Do you want a headache while listening to your music?

 

[jjbomber]

Do you want a headache while listening to your music?

Absolutely! And I give the neighbours a headache as well.

 

[A-Line]

Absolutely! And I give the neighbours a headache as well.

😁

Cost: About £80,000.00 per pair

MC2.1KW 1-Channel Solid State Amplifier​

​

NEW

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• 2,000 Watt Quad Balanced Monoblock
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• Autoformer™, Power Guard®, Sentry Monitor™, Monogrammed Heatsinks™, Solid Cinch™ speaker binding posts
• Multiple speaker terminals for bi- and tri-wiring

 

[chebby]

I'm intrigued by the selection of the best HiFi for 2024, as per Steve Huffs video below. £13K for the Daniel Hertz's Maria Class D integrated amp, 350watts into 8ohms, is an interesting choice and it's made from perplex plastic!
Controversially, I also note, he won't be doing vinyl because his Rose DAC Streamer is shoulders above anything analogue can offer. I know many people on this forum will beg to differ.

If you had insane amount of cash, what would be your personal HiFi Choice for 2024?

View: https://youtu.be/f_0fE9T78YM?si=UdJ76Xzj4N98zibc

An oak panelled library/study with old floorboards and thick Axminster rugs. Loads of books (obvs) and stone mullioned windows. Beautiful and comfy winged, leather armchairs. Klipsch Heritage Cornwall speakers and a nice - class A - Luxman L-550AXII or similar rated class A Accuphase (with DAC 60 board fitted) or Sugden A 21.

Something reasonably compact, with suitable build quality, as a front end for streaming and/wireless purposes.

A big old 1970s Hacker / Roberts / Grundig refurbished portable radio for a little VHF nostalgia. (Or an old Clarke and Smith 835!)

Not too fussed about vinyl but maybe a professionally refurbished (but not modernised) Thorens TD-165 belt drive with suitable cartridge. More as a working ornament/historical artifact than ‘ultimate’ hifi obviously.

 

[Jasonovich]

An oak panelled library/study with old floorboards and thick Axminster rugs. Loads of books (obvs) and stone mullioned windows. Beautiful and comfy winged, leather armchairs. Klipsch Heritage Cornwall speakers and a nice - class A - Luxman L-550AXII or similar rated class A Accuphase (with DAC 60 board fitted) or Sugden A 21.

Something reasonably compact, with suitable build quality, as a front end for streaming and/wireless purposes.

A big old 1970s Hacker / Roberts / Grundig refurbished portable radio for a little VHF nostalgia. (Or an old Clarke and Smith 835!)

Not too fussed about vinyl but maybe a professionally refurbished (but not modernised) Thorens TD-165 belt drive with suitable cartridge. More as a working ornament/historical artifact than ‘ultimate’ hifi obviously.

Perfect 😃

 

[Noddy]

If I had an insane amount of cash, I’d do like the nobs do, and invite the band or orchestra round so they can perform to a group of friends.

But as someone else said, I don’t think I’d care about a posh system. I believe that a lot of hifi strays into the veblen goods territory, alongside watches, posh cars and other stuff we don’t need. I’d like a second home in the French countryside, maybe near the German border.