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Audio's Biggest Loser?


This relates to my recent thread for high end on the move, but puts it in a different context.

Before I begin, I am not especially interested in "lifestyle" audio, the "wife approval factor", abandoning the high end, or recommending mid fi components shaped like sleek tiny boxes or balls, or all in one kitchen systems available in a range of colors and finishes.

But as the proud author of two enduring threads devoted to biggest and baddest cables and amplifiers, I have had a contrarian thought in 2011:

what are the smallest, featheriest truly high end components?

Some quick math suggests that my latest system has weighed about 500 pounds - and not even including 5 spare power amplifiers, 3 or 4 sets of spare mini monitors, DACs, cables, tweaks accessories, heavy rack furniture and MYE stands for the Tympanis which could easily double that amount to half a TON or so.

And I am sure some of you can "weigh" in with even more - would love to hear from the Wilson MAX and Pass Labs owners.

But in the spirit of change, experimentation and spring cleaning, I am currently wondering how my life and listening room might feel if I changed to the smallest, lightest, but genuinely high end equipment.

Here are some thoughts:

Lenovo X 201 Computer - 2.5 pounds
Behringer DEQ2496 - 6 pounds
Nuforce Reference Monoblocks - 17 pounds
Silverline Audio Minuet Supremes - 15 pounds

or say, about 40 pounds for the entire system - only a few more than the shipping weight of my Audio Research preamp, my lightest component.

How much does your system weigh? Does this enhance or detract from enjoyment of high end audio.

What might inspire you to be the Biggest Loser on Audiogon?

What smallest, lightest components would you recommend?
cwlondon
tobias
1,534 posts
 
My portable system probly won't challenge your 40-pounder for sound quality, unfortunately. But ha ha, I can take it on planes because it weighs less, has less volume and runs on international voltages. And it plays 24/192 with the Mini-DAC.

--PowerBook laptop with Pure Music
--Apogee Duet with custom breakout cable or (better but a bit bigger) Apogee Mini-DAC FireWire
--Winsome Labs Mouse
--Visonik David 5000i speakers, 7 inches high and 4 inches deep in metal cabinets.
cwlondon OP
1,198 posts
 

Further to the Nagra suggestion, like gold or Beluga caviar, perhaps we can incorporate a most expensive system per pound metric to further analyze audio.

Stanwal, I am with you, but the first step to change is admitting you have a problem.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Bigger is better. Just for the burgler with a smash and grab. They are never gonna steal my stuff. The three guys with a moving van might though. (if I did not shoot them first.)
Your stuff would be gone in twenty seconds. You could just be on a bathroom break and come back out and it's all gone.
The guy with some big ass Pass amps.. not gonna happen.
(Just trying some bad humor.. sorry)
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Bose Wave radio???
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
Think about it, would you be happy with a Minicopper, or BMW 740li. But then again, as Elizabeth remarks, the copper would go first.
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