Oh, my -- how the cost of upgrading can escalate!

A

AVphile

Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2018
Messages
98
Location
Las Vegas
Last month, I attended the AXPONA show. By the time it had ended, I had concluded that the time was now for me to join the 21st century and add a music streamer to my audio system. And so, three days later I was the proud -- and happy -- owner of a new Lumin T2, which is both a streamer and a DAC. and well worth its $4,500 price tag. Why the DAC? Well, my current DAC (a Theta Casablanca IV) was state of the art years ago, but technology always moves on; moreover, I needed the ability to unfold MQA and decode DSD, etc. Unfortunately -- for my wallet, I had also been exposed to Roon, and I decided it, too, was a "must have". At the time, little did I know that Roon needs a "core" on which to operate. Being of the "plug and play" sort, I opted for the logical acquisition, which was the Roon Nucleus+. For only another $2,500 out-of-pocket, I thought I was ready to run Roon. Then I discovered I needed an iPad to control the Nucleus+, and, ideally, an imbedded solid state drive to store downloads. But that wasn't enough; I didn't have a license to run Roon -- another $500.

Alas, this was just the start. I had used up all the outlets in my Shunyata Hydra; I needed another power conditioner. And so, I picked up a lovely demo unit of a Shunyata Denali 6000S. Oops, I forgot I needed Shunyata power cords for my new "boxes" as well as Kimber Kable analog and digital interconnects, two Wireworld Cat 8 Ethernet cables, a Shunyata HDMI cable. Was I finally done? Nope! For multi-channel streams, the Roon could be connected directly to my 12-channel DAC via HDMI. However, it also was powered via an "inexpensive wall wart" power supply that had to be replaced. And so, I also purchased a TeddyPardo Teddy19/3 linear power supply.

When I started, I thought I would be purchasing the Lumin T2, add a couple of cables and be done -- all for about $5,000. At the end, when the dust settled, it turned out I had spent well over twice that amount. I am excited about my new digital "system", but I am also still a bit shell-shocked over how much my upgrade has ended up costing me.

Have others had similar experiences?
 
AVphile said:
Last month, I attended the AXPONA show. By the time it had ended, I had concluded that the time was now for me to join the 21st century and add a music streamer to my audio system. And so, three days later I was the proud -- and happy -- owner of a new Lumin T2, which is both a streamer and a DAC. and well worth its $4,500 price tag. Why the DAC? Well, my current DAC (a Theta Casablanca IV) was state of the art years ago, but technology always moves on; moreover, I needed the ability to unfold MQA and decode DSD, etc. Unfortunately -- for my wallet, I had also been exposed to Roon, and I decided it, too, was a "must have". At the time, little did I know that Roon needs a "core" on which to operate. Being of the "plug and play" sort, I opted for the logical acquisition, which was the Roon Nucleus+. For only another $2,500 out-of-pocket, I thought I was ready to run Roon. Then I discovered I needed an iPad to control the Nucleus+, and, ideally, an imbedded solid state drive to store downloads. But that wasn't enough; I didn't have a license to run Roon -- another $500.

Alas, this was just the start. I had used up all the outlets in my Shunyata Hydra; I needed another power conditioner. And so, I picked up a lovely demo unit of a Shunyata Denali 6000S. Oops, I forgot I needed Shunyata power cords for my new "boxes" as well as Kimber Kable analog and digital interconnects, two Wireworld Cat 8 Ethernet cables, a Shunyata HDMI cable. Was I finally done? Nope! For multi-channel streams, the Roon could be connected directly to my 12-channel DAC via HDMI. However, it also was powered via an "inexpensive wall wart" power supply that had to be replaced. And so, I also purchased a TeddyPardo Teddy19/3 linear power supply.

When I started, I thought I would be purchasing the Lumin T2, add a couple of cables and be done -- all for about $5,000. At the end, when the dust settled, it turned out I had spent well over twice that amount. I am excited about my new digital "system", but I am also still a bit shell-shocked over how much my upgrade has ended up costing me.

Have others had similar experiences?
Click to expand...

Some of what you bought was necessary and other things you purchased were not necessary in order for Roon to function with your new Lumin T2 and were personal choices so no reason for you to feel "shell-shocked."
 
BlueFox said:
I just use a direct attached hard drive to my Lumin X1. Simple, and effective.
Click to expand...

Agreed. We can make digital hook ups as complex and expensive as we want, but it's not necessary in order to make your digital system work. Gilding the lily gets expensive fast and the law of diminishing returns is equally as fast.
 
Yea, it can get a bit out of hand :)... Obviously a lot of what you got was personal choice and you could have gotten away a whole lot less and probably gotten as good if not better performance :)... maybe not as plug'n'play even if you could call what you got plug'n'play :)...

If you are interested in MQA then you also have to figure in subscription price from various services. If you are talking about local playback of ripped and downloaded music then MQA will do little to nothing for you. I very much agree with you wanting to be able to decode DSD however!
 
I feel your pain. I'm in the process of putting together my first high end system since the late '70s. I expected prices had risen but I didn't realize how much money you could spend, even for "mid level" high end products. I will have spent $25+ Gs in the blink of an eye. And I could have spent far more if I had the resources. It's a lonnnnnnng way to the top of the stairs, even from the $25+ Gs level. I continue to be amazed at just how much one can spend on high end audio.

But it is truly exciting putting a new system together, even for a "mid level" high end system. However, I'm still very impressed at how much quality your money can buy. There are many components that are capable of punching way above their weight. Lots of "bang for the buck" out there. I just hope I pick and choose wisely. This system, at this price range, will have to last me a long time.

At first, the wife wasn't too excited about the amount of money I'd budgeted. She is just now beginning to thaw out regarding the idea. I've agreed to purchase 1/2 the system now and the other 1/2 at the first of the year to sort of give a bit of a financial cushion. Plus, since it's pension money it will also even the taxes a little more.

The first part of the system will be a pair of Harbeth Super HL 5+ 40th Anniversary Edition speakers along with cables and stands. I plan to have them on the way in a week or so. The second 1/2 will include a Luxman 509x integrated amp. Lumin D2, perhaps a Roon Nucleus (I need some advice on this since I've already ripped all my CDs to WAV using iTunes), and a few more cables as needed.

I already have a Technics DD33 direct drive, automatic TT that has been gathering dust for several years. Mint condition and barely used. My sis' gave it to me. So I'll get it serviced and cleaned as necessary and have the cartridge checked. Although I'll likely stream my music 95% of the time I'd still like to see how the Technics TT sounds. Pretty simple system really. I think I'll really like it though.

I haven't had anything remotely considered high end audio in 40+ years. So far, anything I've auditioned sounds far better than the 2 HT systems I own. Especially when it comes to 2 channel high end audio. So, as I see it, I can hardly lose with the system I'm putting together. Expensive? It is to me. Top of the heap? Not likely. Great sounding system? Very likely. But...I still feel your pain.
 
CPP said:
It applies to everything these days. Food, gas, clothes, audio, building supplies you name it, all cost are going up.
Click to expand...

Except computers and TVs. Every year they get better and cheaper.
 
It will interesting to see what happens to the prices of Canadian gear now that aluminum prices have been reset


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top