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Is High-End Gear really worth the Money?
( Re-writing a massive post from aweek ago when my browser crashed...but have not had the spiritbefore..and this time it will be shorter)
Anyway as you can see my headline...Iam honestly questioning if High-End gear really is that good.
To start with I want to clarify that Iactually do now what good sound is as I have worked as a professionalSound Engineer as well as DJ'n, built my first stereo from scrapparts at the age of 12.
I have owned High-End gear ...but hadto put them in storage as I got kids and I could not listen anymorein my former listening room that have turned into what it probablywas supposed to be form the beginning a living room...LOL
anyway during these years I used myBang & Olufsen mutliroom system, something I had all the timewith integrated AV system and other bling.
Two years ago, we re-furbished ourwinter garden / conservatory, and suddenly I realized that i couldget a Music Room again, as it was sound proof ( family , neighbours)Lucky me.
Anyway at the same time I had gottenmore interested in trading the B&O multi-room system for Sonos,especially due to the Spotify integration that B&O did not haveat that time.
So, out with all the B&O stuffexcept the BeoLab speakers as they are active and a perfect fit toSonos ( BeoLab 8000's, BeoLab 3's and some subs) got a new life.
I have been pretty happy with my soundin my Music room , however you know how it is...you always want a bitmore, so I started to read on different forums like this, AVS,Computer Audiophile, and thought that I had got some good tips onwhat to buy.
I went for Anthony Gallo reference3.5's as they are now a massive price reduction, and needed apowerful Amp to drive the powerhungry Gallo's.
Through another forum I found out thethe hottest ticket that got the High-End community to go GaGa...wasthe “Goldmund-Light” JOB 225.
so finally I was able to get everythinghooked-up ( and the speakers had 40 hours on them) .
OK, I don't have a perfect listeningroom as the surfaces are hard and yada yada...I am right now working together with an acoustic engineer to solve this.
However cut to the chase...
I cannot say that this quite exclusive set-up is NOT that much better than my BeoLab 3's and a Sub ( notB&O)
to put a number to it ...10% better
Yes, I have not connected the DSPeakeras a Pre-Amp, DAC, DSP, EQ yet as it bricked during FW up-date. Butcomparing the Analog out from the Sonos ( also tweaked) because thatis what the BL3's where fed with I cannot say that I am far frombeing blown away by this “Up-Grade”
so my question ...is my BeoLabs 3's( with Sub) better than I thought that even though I got myself some very fine gear 10% improvement is what to expect ?
Right now my re-entry to the High-Endscene is a fiasco IMO
GUYS…I don't want to start an angry argument or flame war…I'm just a bit disappointed of the lack of WOW Factor
( Re-writing a massive post from aweek ago when my browser crashed...but have not had the spiritbefore..and this time it will be shorter)
Anyway as you can see my headline...Iam honestly questioning if High-End gear really is that good.
To start with I want to clarify that Iactually do now what good sound is as I have worked as a professionalSound Engineer as well as DJ'n, built my first stereo from scrapparts at the age of 12.
I have owned High-End gear ...but hadto put them in storage as I got kids and I could not listen anymorein my former listening room that have turned into what it probablywas supposed to be form the beginning a living room...LOL
anyway during these years I used myBang & Olufsen mutliroom system, something I had all the timewith integrated AV system and other bling.
Two years ago, we re-furbished ourwinter garden / conservatory, and suddenly I realized that i couldget a Music Room again, as it was sound proof ( family , neighbours)Lucky me.
Anyway at the same time I had gottenmore interested in trading the B&O multi-room system for Sonos,especially due to the Spotify integration that B&O did not haveat that time.
So, out with all the B&O stuffexcept the BeoLab speakers as they are active and a perfect fit toSonos ( BeoLab 8000's, BeoLab 3's and some subs) got a new life.
I have been pretty happy with my soundin my Music room , however you know how it is...you always want a bitmore, so I started to read on different forums like this, AVS,Computer Audiophile, and thought that I had got some good tips onwhat to buy.
I went for Anthony Gallo reference3.5's as they are now a massive price reduction, and needed apowerful Amp to drive the powerhungry Gallo's.
Through another forum I found out thethe hottest ticket that got the High-End community to go GaGa...wasthe “Goldmund-Light” JOB 225.
so finally I was able to get everythinghooked-up ( and the speakers had 40 hours on them) .
- AG 3.5's with their exclusive speaker cables
- JOB 225
- Digitally tweaked Sonos
- ( DSPeaker 2.0 NOT IN USE YET)
OK, I don't have a perfect listeningroom as the surfaces are hard and yada yada...I am right now working together with an acoustic engineer to solve this.
However cut to the chase...
I cannot say that this quite exclusive set-up is NOT that much better than my BeoLab 3's and a Sub ( notB&O)
to put a number to it ...10% better
Yes, I have not connected the DSPeakeras a Pre-Amp, DAC, DSP, EQ yet as it bricked during FW up-date. Butcomparing the Analog out from the Sonos ( also tweaked) because thatis what the BL3's where fed with I cannot say that I am far frombeing blown away by this “Up-Grade”
so my question ...is my BeoLabs 3's( with Sub) better than I thought that even though I got myself some very fine gear 10% improvement is what to expect ?
Right now my re-entry to the High-Endscene is a fiasco IMO
GUYS…I don't want to start an angry argument or flame war…I'm just a bit disappointed of the lack of WOW Factor