So, the truth is out.

[alwaysbeblue1]

If, as suggested there is no or very little difference between cheap and expensive hifi.

Would I be right in thinking that a well put together cd,amp and speakers costing all in say £800 would perform as well as a system of say £5000

 

[nopiano]

If, as suggested there is no or very little difference between cheap and expensive hifi.

Would I be right in thinking that a well put together cd,amp and speakers costing all in say £800 would perform as well as a system of say £5000

I wish!

There is quite a lot of foo and mythology in hifi, but I'm afraid there is no way these would be remotely similar.

 

[muljao]

It seems that generally one gets what they pay for, I can't see to many paying 5000 for something if an 800 unit would be as good.

I would think though that the improvement are not linear, and a 5000 set up wouldn't be 6 times better, but then there are some who may think it is that much better.

All opinions are valid

 

[RobinKidderminster]

The truth is IMO, if the title of a post is vague then the replies may be equally obscure.

 

[bluedroog]

The short answer is no.

Another answer would be it depends, which of course requires exspansion...

An overall system for £800 (assuming we're talking equivelent prcies new vs. new ect) is never going to beat a £5k system, that said a very well put together £800 system may run an extroinarly bad £5k system close.

Now there are exceptions but I would argue these only comes in to play when we're talking about specific conponenets used in very particular context. For example I used to own a Mini-T (£60) digital amp which when used within certain conditions, low volume and very effcient speakers it didn't sound a million miles off my Quad 909 Croft 25 combination which was more like £1.5+ rrp. Most speakers and any sort of volume and then a gulf of qulality becomes apparent.

Some passive budget pre-amps can outperform much more expensive active pre-amps, but again when they are appopiate for the system.

When you're talking about like-for-like componenets and you typically get what you pay for, of course there is good and bad value.

 

[Al ears]

If, as suggested there is no or very little difference between cheap and expensive hifi.

Would I be right in thinking that a well put together cd,amp and speakers costing all in say £800 would perform as well as a system of say £5000

The simple answer is no.

Suggested where by the way?

The initial supposition is decidedly flawed.

 

[lindsayt]

If, as suggested there is no or very little difference between cheap and expensive hifi.

Would I be right in thinking that a well put together cd,amp and speakers costing all in say £800 would perform as well as a system of say £5000

If that includes ALL the hi-fi equipment that we can buy with the click of a few buttons then I would say that an £800 system could outperform other systems costing £5000 or £50,000.

If we want to make this an academic exercise and go by brand new retail prices adjusted for inflation, it's possible that some ultra budget systems might sound as good as some mid to high budget systems.

 

[Dom]

The short answer is yes, but the 5k system would have some serious flaws for that to happen. Maybe ancient wiring in a glass house, end of the world stuff.

I don't really know. *biggrin*

 

[thewinelake.]

Of course a pair of AVI DM5 with a Chromecast Audio (which would come to about £814) would be better than many systems up to £20,000...

 

[rainsoothe]

Of course a pair of AVI DM5 with a Chromecast Audio (which would come to about £814) would be better than many systems up to £20,000...

Ye, I bet. Only Wilson speakers, MAYBE, sound better ))

 

[Infiniteloop]

Of course a pair of AVI DM5 with a Chromecast Audio (which would come to about £814) would be better than many systems up to £20,000...

I think you missed a 0.

Surely you meant £200,000?

 

[alwaysbeblue1]

I say this is because of blind tests where people cannot discern differences between cheap and expensive.
Plus the fact that a Cd player is a Cd player, how can one be better than another as they do the exact same thing

Although amps may have different power outputs and speaker size may alter the sound.

If the blind test is a reality then surly there can be no or very little difference between systems

 

[Al ears]

Of course a pair of AVI DM5 with a Chromecast Audio (which would come to about £814) would be better than many systems up to £20,000...

I think you missed a 0.

Surely you meant £200,000?

 

[Alberich]

..

 

[nopiano]

I say this is because of blind tests where people cannot discern differences between cheap and expensive. Plus the fact that a Cd player is a Cd player, how can one be better than another as they do the exact same thing

Although amps may have different power outputs and speaker size may alter the sound.

If the blind test is a reality then surly there can be no or very little difference between systems

And amplifiers all sound the same as long as they aren't clipping. Turntables all go round at 33 1/3rd rpm. Only speakers make a difference. Simples!

 

[NS496]

What gives you that idea? Take your mobile phone and play a song via its speakers... Not very enjoyably with a screechy sound and very little bass, next stream the same song to a generic bluetooth speaker, a bit better but still not that great. Then stream to a properly set-up hifi (say around 800 pounds) and the music can be REALLY enjoyable and possibly 'good enough' for most people. But you will hear a definate progression here...

However, enthusiasts will demand even more and a great system (at say 5000 pounds) should handily outperform a cheaper system, especially if care was taken with speaker selection specifically. If the difference is 'worth it', only you can decide. There are "deminishing returns" as you go up, but improvements nontheless as I see it.

 

[MajorFubar]

Plus the fact that a Cd player is a Cd player, how can one be better than another as they do the exact same thing

Because there's a huge opportunity for variance after the bits have actually been read from the disc. Lift the lid off especially an 80s and 90s player and you'll see the DAC section is a mass of components, less so these days where they can pack just about everything onto a chip the size of thumb nail, as demonstrated by any number of cheap or not so cheap 'USB-stick' computer DACs.

 

[Al ears]

Plus the fact that a Cd player is a Cd player, how can one be better than another as they do the exact same thing

Because there's a huge opportunity for variance after the bits have actually been read from the disc. Lift the lid off especially an 80s and 90s player and you'll see the DAC section is a mass of components, less so these days where they can pack just about everything onto a chip the size of thumb nail, as demonstrated by any number of cheap or not so cheap 'USB-stick' computer DACs.

A CD player is a CD player?

There speaks a man that has never heard a decent one well integrated into a decent system.

Unfortunately this is the usual chant of those that don't have the financial ability to put together a really good system.

Dream on guys!

 

[iceman16]

No

 

[Snooker]

In my opinion, there is definetely allot of hype associated with hi-fi regarding cost and sound quality, and would say that a very well matched system costing around £800 or so, can sound as good or better than probably most systems costing much more, and that the improvements are small after this point from a mid range system, and that blind tests would probably prove it *smile*

 

[Al ears]

In my opinion, there is definetely allot of hype associated with hi-fi regarding cost and sound quality, and would say that a very well matched system costing around £800 or so, can sound as good or better than probably most systems costing much more, and that the improvements are small after this point of a mid range system, and that blind tests would probably prove it *smile*

Oh dear.

I doubt every much that in a large listening room that £800 would even buy a decent pair of speakers that would provide a sound even edging on hifi. Let alone buy a decent source.

There's always headphones I guess.

 

[ID.]

If, as suggested there is no or very little difference between cheap and expensive hifi.

Would I be right in thinking that a well put together cd,amp and speakers costing all in say £800 would perform as well as a system of say £5000

Not including speakers? I've never heard the argument made that competent cheap speakers are hard to tell apart from competent expensive speakers, so that's one issue with your proposition, unless you take the lindsayt path, in which case perhaps 800 pounds 2nd hand buys you better sound quality than 5000 pounds new perhaps.

Theres also the discussion of at what price point you can get a competent amplifier capable of driving any speakers to decent levels. I suspect it won't creep in under your budget.

 

[Snooker]

A Marantz MCR611 or Denon Ceol N9 with say Dyaudio Emit M10 Speakers etc costing £900 as one example

Honestly some people who have expensive stuff try and kid themselves sometimes, to justify the cost of their system *smile*

 

[MajorFubar]

Maybe there comes a point when you're spending so much money that you're buying the best electronics and build available and beyond that point it's much of a muchness and all about subjective preference. But it's certainly a lot more than £800. As Al said, that doesn't even nearly buy you the best pair of speakers, let alone anything further up the chain

 

[MajorFubar]

A Marantz MCR611 or Denon Ceol N9 with say Dyaudio Emit M10 Speakers etc costing £900 as one example

Honestly some people who have expensive stuff try and kid themselves sometimes, to justify the cost of their system *smile*

So presumably you've compared some really expensive systems in a blind test against a £400 micro system and £500 speakers and can confirm from personal experience that they don't sound any better?