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The High End for Under a Grand?


I love the way Doug Schneider (an experienced hard bitten high end reviewer) seems genuinely shocked about the high sound quality of a system coming in for under $1000.

https://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/opinion/1213-a-feature-rich-fully-modern-hi-fi-system-you-c...

Here’s a quick taster of Doug article or you can simply use the link above to read it in its entirety.

"In the last few years I’ve reviewed some very expensive hi-fi gear (all prices in USD): Constellation Audio’s Revelation Taurus Mono amps ($40,000/pair) and Revelation Pictor preamplifier with optional DC filter ($23,000); EMM Labs’ DA2 Reference digital-to-analog converter ($25,000); Muraudio’s SP1 speakers ($14,700/pair) -- and, still to come EMM Labs’ Pre preamplifier ($25,000) and MTRX2 monoblock ($85,000/pair).

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In short, no audiophile of average income is going to spend $25,000 on a preamp -- but they’re happy to be entertained by reading a review of that preamp. More likely, they’ll be looking for something that costs a lot less -- something for way under $10,000, and perhaps under $2000 or even $1000. It’s reviews of affordable products like these that get read much more often than reviews of most expensive items, as is seen in our statistics. And the average music lover would rather go even lower -- say, an entire system for less than $1000. This is what “normal” folks can actually afford and are willing to spend on hi-fi gear.

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But you might be wondering if it’s even possible, in this era of accelerating price increases for high-end audio, to assemble a good hi-fi system for under a grand.

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I was able to assemble a surprisingly complete, feature-rich, expandable, shockingly good-sounding hi-fi rig with a total US retail price of only $926.95. Its sound is good enough that I think many people would enjoy it -- not only plain ol’ music lovers who just want something that sounds great, but budget-conscious audiophiles as well"


My only concern with this system would be that it’s not full bandwith. As Doug says, it only goes down to about 50Hz.

For me it goes without saying that its almost crying out for better loudspeakers but this article certainly does make me question the relationship between high priced and high end audio.

For music lovers it’s just got to be a great thing to know that high end (near state of the art) sound is well within the reach of almost anyone!

cd318

Showing 2 responses by jfuquay

jfuquay
15 posts
 
First, I auditioned Atoms a few years ago and really liked them. I expect the NAD amp drives them fine.

But I bet my living room setup sounds better and still makes budget: Teac AH01 integrated amp with built-in DAC; Magnepan MMGW speakers, Martin Logan Dynamo 300 subwoofer, Apple TV for streaming, TOSLINK cable, standard speaker wire.  It’s been three or four years, but as I recall the total paid was around $950, all new but only the Magnepans and ATV for list retail price. 

I think Class D amplification has significantly changed the value equation, small speakers are improved, while streaming and DACs get better and better. High end? Hard to say.  But yeah, I think the OP makes a good point.
jfuquay
15 posts
 
wtf, I’ve got the Musical Fidelity V90 DAC in my listening room setup (Rogue Sphinx and Magnepan 0.7s). I like it but assumed it was the weakest link in the group and just auditioned it against a Simaudio Moon 230 HAD, using the same amp and speakers at my dealer. A little better, but not for $1,500 vs. $300 for the MF. I think the source is gaining in importance with digital streaming.

which is kind of the OP’s point. You can always fine some piece of kit that does something a little better, but at what price? I’ll keep auditioning DACs.
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