Is High-End Gear Really that Superior…I doubt it

Mike, on another note, IYO, how does the Magico S5 compare to say the Tidal Piano Diacera or the Contriva Cera...in price and SQ?
 
wisnon said:
No Mike,

Linkwitz Orion speakers are open baffle DIPOLE with analog signal processing (latest design).

Emerald Physics is an open baffle, electronic X-over, controlled directivity (wave guided), bi/tri-amped, DSP freq. equalized and time domain aligned , speaker system. Phew, I said a mouthful, but basically Clayton Shaw and now Underwood Wally whas thrown every speaker tech including the bathroom sink into this design. Kidding they left out Dipole, ribbons, transmission lines, but you get my point.

I spent hours on the phone with Wally and got a sale for him of the 6Moons review unit in Switz (it went for a steal compared to what they can do). I also got a Boston Pal to move from tubes/Horns to an EP2.7 (Beyma m/HF drivers and Cullen modded Behringer DSP), as he is a dynamics junkie and nothing I have heard are as dynamic as the EPs! He is still toying with the idea of junking the Behringer and going full Clayton Show Spatial computing system, but is hesitant as he still does spinning disk and vinyl.

The room setup in EP is based on putting in room paramenters and entering preset formulae for the Behringher which configures it for a very close approximation to ideal room dispersion and sound wave directivity. the speakers WILL NOT WORK without this. They will sound like Garbage without the Behringer brain. Spatial takes this to the next level and MICRO-OPTIMIZES the DSP control to whatever speaker placement you decide on (of course decent setup is needed to not limit the SQ possibilities). This is done by computer over the internet where they can test and refine the parameters till they are perfect.

Gradient Helsinki 1.5s with Gradient subs are a very similar concept to the basic EP setup and with a DSPeaker DC anti-mode 2.0 room bass corrector, you can achieve much of the same. The gardients cost $6K new and $3K usewd commonly. They also look like modern art.


View attachment 3600


A long winded way to say Yes, I agree and DSP is the future. In 2-3 years we will see wireless Active DSP controlled speaker sytems with Dacs built in and needing just an iPod as source and they will sound stunning.
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I'm confused. The Emerald Physics ARE dipole. From their website: "With all new drivers, passive outboard crossovers, Emerald DSP, upgraded baffles and cosmetics, the CS2.3 MK2 is a true 3-way, 4 driver bi-amplified, full range dipole speaker design. "
 
I guess they mean that since the woofers are open baffle, there is radiation out of phase in the back of the woofer.

For me, I consider woofers fwd and backward as true dipole (out of phase)? The HF should definitely NOT be dipole, as they are fwd monopole compression dricvers and wave guided via the concentric mount in the midrange.

The Orions have Tweets duplicated and pointed in both directions and are still open-baffle.

Perhaps they are technically correct and I got it wrong though.

Orion 1.jpgOrion 2.jpgOrion 4.jpgorion3.jpgorion5.jpg
 
Oh and Mike, E-Physics should be a banned topic among audiophiles! Once you get them, you are DONE and what is there to tinker with next? Component would be off limits. LoL

You would be left with just trialling Shakti Stones and Room Harmonizors. Synergistic Research/AudioMagic would be among the few avenues left to explore...a fuse here, a powered ground plane stand there. If it doesnt have cryo/quantum/nano in the name, its useless to you. LoL

Imagine being totally satisfied for reasonable money with nothing to get nervosa about? TORTURE to the twitchy audiophile!
 
wisnon said:
Gradient Helsinki 1.5s with Gradient subs are a very similar concept to the basic EP setup and with a DSPeaker DC anti-mode 2.0 room bass corrector, you can achieve much of the same. The gardients cost $6K new and $3K usewd commonly. They also look like modern art.


View attachment 3600
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If you want to get technical, Gradient Helsinki's are cardioids with dipole bass. :P
 
wisnon said:
Oh and Mike, E-Physics should be a banned topic among audiophiles! Once you get them, you are DONE and what is there to tinker with next? Component would be off limits. LoL

Imagine being totally satisfied for reasonable money with nothing to get nervosa about? TORTURE to the twitchy audiophile!
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Norman…Imagine the Torture of being forced to listen to Music…Instead of gear ( I beg your pardon for my sarcasm…)
 
BlueFox said:
Who knows? Who cares? These threads are always by people trying to justify to themselves that their inexpensive gear is as good as more expensive gear. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Who cares?

Is cheap wine the same as expensive wine? They both get you drunk. Are cheap cars the same as expensive cars? They both get you from point A to point B. Buy what you want and don't worry about what others do.
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I'm down with this.If you are happy with your stereo good for you.I'm sure there's a lot I could do to improve mine but unfortunately there's this thing called cash.Hey if it sounds good to you then it is good.Sit back and enjoy the music and stop worrying about upgrades.
 
McChicken said:
Is High-End Gear really worth the Money?


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
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You're comparing two relatively mediocre systems in a bad room and coming away unimpressed. That's not surprising.
 
BlueFox said:
Who knows? Who cares? These threads are always by people trying to justify to themselves that their inexpensive gear is as good as more expensive gear. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't. Who cares?

Is cheap wine the same as expensive wine? They both get you drunk. Are cheap cars the same as expensive cars? They both get you from point A to point B. Buy what you want and don't worry about what others do.
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Here here!!!!! Good take away here. Thanks Bluefox.
 
just dave said:
I'm down with this.If you are happy with your stereo good for you.I'm sure there's a lot I could do to improve mine but unfortunately there's this thing called cash.Hey if it sounds good to then it is good.Sit back and enjoy the music and stop worrying about upgrades.
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+ 1 billion!!!! This is what the hobby is supposed to be in my mind. If that is not so, then I'm in the wrong hobby and will need to find a music hobby!!
 
Hi Guys,
Just wanted to sway that finally I had time to install the DSPeaker 2.0 ( DAC / Room Correction…) and FINALLY I'm able to say I have got the Anthony Gallo / JOB225 / Tweaked Sonos..to a performance where I actually think I have not just wasted my money.
I do think that the largest sound improvement came from the DAC and Digital Toslink, secondly the DSPeakers room correction. I still have not used any of the "personalization corrections (EQ / Filters) that the DSPeaker offer.
I know that I am not in "your league" when it comes to transparency, 3D and refinement, BUT I am starting to get satisfied and honestly that is all that matters. ….but the hunt for a even more pleasant sound continues...
 
Great news. Keep us updated. All that matters is that you are having fun.
 
Whether its all worth it or not is a question each of us has to ask before buying new/different equipment. Beyond the financial constraints most of us have, the judgement of whether high end equipment is worth it or not will depend on the criteria you use for that judgement. If you can easily enjoy the music/experience with $100 speakers then what are you looking for out of $10,000 speakers? Are you looking for something else besides the music you experience with $100 speakers? If so, then you must understand what it is you are looking for that allows you to further enjoy the music. You must understand your listening biases. You need to answer the question of what it is you hear in other systems that you enjoy more than what you already have. What does it do that yours doesn't. Only then can you judge whether an expenditure of $X,XXX or $XX,XXX is worth it.

As a short aside and maybe one worthy of another discussion was the point made buy Bob M that the room is a very critical component to a system. I have done set ups for various vendors at various shows for over 20 years and believe that the speaker/room interface is the single most significant factor in the overall sound of a system- assuming competent components.

gjg
 
Methinks that if you live in a huge mansion, like I do, then yes, high-end gear is welcome.
...The more expensive the better, and I bet it sounds better than a ghetto blaster too.
And besides, it looks super cool and it fits with your lifestyle and all those expensive cars.

Love for music has not limit, no price definition, no boundaries, no nothing for stopping you to go above the sky and beyond.

But! If you live in a super tiny one-room apt, or a tent, or an igloo, or a prison's cell, then you better save your money for the rainy days, or a hunting rifle and fishing rod for food, and be happy with your iPod.

* Saturday night live, I luv it!
 
NorthStar said:
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But! If you live in a super tiny one-room apt, or a tent, or an igloo, or a prison's cell, then you better save your money for the rainy days, or a hunting rifle and fishing rod for food, and be happy with your iPod.

* Saturday night live, I luv it!
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Saturday Night Poetry…LOL
 
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