What is the most bizarre piece of HiFi you've come across?

[Jasonovich]

This is purely for entertainment purposes, and I need to ask the question; what do you think is the most bizarre piece of hifi you'd come across?
Bizarre and expensive do appear to go hand in hand it seems.

To start off, I think these Marten Duke 2 speakers remind me of something you might need to combat mosquitos or use as a strainer to make soft cheese from goat milk.
These are probably pedestrian compared to some of the stuff I've seen over the years.

Eccentricity or different = Good HiFi or great marketing BS to feed the hapless sheeples?

Marten Duke 2 (EX-DEMO/USED) loudspeakers in Piano Walnut Finish

Marten Duke 2 stand-mount loudspeakers. Ex-demo with slight damage (see pics). High Gloss, Piano Walnut Finish. See the Marten website here for details about these fantastic speakers: https://www.marten.se/products/heritage/heritage-duke-2/ Review here on The Ear too...

www.kronosav.com

 

[WayneKerr]

Cables

 

[Dom]

Cables

Fuses

 

[Al ears]

Unfortunately any Martens speakers are anything other than bizarre to my mind...

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

Blocks of wood to raise cables off the floor.

 

[Friesiansam]

Anything from the extreme, excess is everything, high-end of HiFi. In particular, those power amps, speakers and turntables, that need access to a forklift in order to move them.

 

[Jasonovich]

Cables

Nice 😂

 

[plastic penguin]

B&W 805 Maserati edition. I'm a big petrol head but no way would I would buy them. Not sure who they are aimed at, especially at nearly twice the retail price of the standard 805. To me, that's weird.

 

[Jasonovich]

Unfortunately any Martens speakers are anything other than bizarre to my mind...

Bro beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
One mans meat is another mans... 😉

 

[Jasonovich]

B&W 805 Maserati edition. I'm a big petrol head but no way would I would buy them. Not sure who they are aimed at, especially at nearly twice the retail price of the standard 805. To me, that's weird.

Actually I kind of like them, now you need to find the missus or girlfriend or (woke interpretation), gender fluid person or someone from the rainbow community with a faux leopard skin coat to create the right ambience and tone, then raise the stylus from Del Boys fluffy dice turntable and slowly release it into the groove.
Yep that should do it. 😁

 

[daytona600]

Million bucks / Euros for a cartridge
Dartzel NFS 00 Founder Series
( CHF 1'000'000.01 swiss francs ) for a moving coil cartidge
£892,000 to you sir
Limited lifetime warranty.
Dedicated custom installation by Hervé Delétraz himself.

Experience an unprecedented sensation that has never been heard before, brought directly to your home: a cantilever gem crafted from exquisite diamond or ruby. These exceptional cartridges have the ability to unveil the minute acoustic harmonic distinctions, allowing you to rediscover your beloved music in all its intricate complexity

NFS 00 | Cartridge Founders Series

neverheardbefore.com

 

[plastic penguin]

Actually I kind of like them, now you need to find the missus or girlfriend or (woke interpretation), gender fluid person or someone from the rainbow community with a faux leopard skin coat to create the right ambience and tone, when you play your record on Del Boys fluffy dice turntable.
Yep that should do it. 😁

Monopulse speakers. They are covered in cloth (some horrible colours), so no good if you have young toddlers or pets. Ideally you need to be a childless singleton with no interest in domestic pets. A complete saddo.

I have heard these and they sounded really impressive.

 

[Jasonovich]

Monopulse speakers. They are covered in cloth (some horrible colours), so no good if you have young toddlers or pets. Ideally you need to be a childless singleton with no interest in domestic pets. A complete saddo.

I have heard these and they sounded really impressive.

Oh my gawd, they're like massive chimneys.

 

[Friesiansam]

Million bucks / Euros for a cartridge
Dartzel NFS 00 Founder Series
( CHF 1'000'000.01 swiss francs ) for a moving coil cartidge
£892,000 to you sir
Limited lifetime warranty.
Dedicated custom installation by Hervé Delétraz himself.

Experience an unprecedented sensation that has never been heard before, brought directly to your home: a cantilever gem crafted from exquisite diamond or ruby. These exceptional cartridges have the ability to unveil the minute acoustic harmonic distinctions, allowing you to rediscover your beloved music in all its intricate complexity

NFS 00 | Cartridge Founders Series

neverheardbefore.com

View attachment 5100

The perfect product to show-off to your Nordost cable owning friends, then accuse them of being cheap, skinflint, bar stewards...

 

[Al ears]

I've just come across an advert for the most amazing invention. It's a mains fuse for £4,200. Is this some kind of joke I ask myself. It's called the "Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Silver Extreme Level Mains Fuse." They've even got a cheap one for £2400. At the point in reading their blurb about this amazing invention when I came across the words "Quantum Physics", I thought to my self, "..... that's enough,I can't be bothered to read any more of this."
Is this for audiophiles or audiofools I wonder.

Not the fuse thread again......

 

[JDL]

Not the fuse thread again......

Sorry. I didn't realise you'd already discussed it. I'll delete it forthwith.

 

[podknocker]

But I want to hear about bottle neck distortion and how I need an 8 grand 13A fuse for my kettle.

I'm sure the water will boil quicker and make my cups of tea taste better.

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop are very excited to introduce Quantum Science Audio, the undisputed heavyweights in the audiophile fuse space. With more than 22 years of research into what they call 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA products can enhance your enjoyment of your system in a way that is remarkable for such...

www.futureshop.co.uk

I challenge anyone on this forum, or planet, to explain why this thing costs 8 grand.

 

[plastic penguin]

Oh my gawd, they're like massive chimneys.

They are actually quite compact floorstanders. Designed for low wattage amps, sounded great with my old Arcam A65+.

 

[plastic penguin]

But I want to hear about bottle neck distortion and how I need an 8 grand 13A fuse for my kettle.

I'm sure the water will boil quicker and make my cups of tea taste better.

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop are very excited to introduce Quantum Science Audio, the undisputed heavyweights in the audiophile fuse space. With more than 22 years of research into what they call 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA products can enhance your enjoyment of your system in a way that is remarkable for such...

www.futureshop.co.uk

I challenge anyone on this forum, or planet, to explain why this thing costs 8 grand.

Can't give you an explanation, it's pure lunacy.

 

[Gray]

I challenge anyone on this forum, or planet, to explain why this thing costs 8 grand.

You're reaping the benefit of 22 years research into bottleneck distortion.

 

[daveh75]

Turntables!

 

[jjbomber]

iphone.

 

[Jasonovich]

iphone.

CrApple, totally agree.

 

[Jasonovich]

But I want to hear about bottle neck distortion and how I need an 8 grand 13A fuse for my kettle.

I'm sure the water will boil quicker and make my cups of tea taste better.

Quantum Science Audio (QSA) Gold Extreme Level UK Mains Fuse (13A)

Future Shop are very excited to introduce Quantum Science Audio, the undisputed heavyweights in the audiophile fuse space. With more than 22 years of research into what they call 'Bottle Neck Distortion', QSA products can enhance your enjoyment of your system in a way that is remarkable for such...

www.futureshop.co.uk

I challenge anyone on this forum, or planet, to explain why this thing costs 8 grand.

I agree, an exercise of absurd marketing and deception.
You literally blown the £8k when the fuse blows or do these things, last forever (which kind of defeats the object of being a fuse) ?

 

[Jasonovich]

Turntables!

I guess nostalgia is fashionable these days. There's something to be said about the ownership of vinyl and that's pretty cool but, the sonic superiority over the highest quality digital is a myth.
On my JF MX Pro digital transport (Chinese call it digital turntable), I have all my albums artwork beautifully presented on 6 inch digital touch screen and storage isn't a problem. 👌😊