Dream set up, audio only, $100k-250k...

[Lily]

I'm a novelist, and I need some help writing about something I know nothing about.

The setup: An audiophile-only room (no home theater) with an emphasis on LPs/analog but also fully supporting digital technology--both CDs and a media server. This fantasy budget is $100k-250k--I want nothing that is expensive just for the sake of being expensive but definitely waaay past the point of diminishing returns for normal people. I need specific models, including amps/speakers, too. Fully separate analog/digital setups are fine, but so is digital-to-analog--whatever's better. I really have no clue. Also needed is headphone support and all the other goodies that you might have in a room that is strictly for listening to music.

Can you help a girl out?

Thanks!!!!

 

[Irvrobinson]

Why is any of this important to a novel? The only novels I've ever read that even talked about audio equipment were the old Travis Magee mysteries by John D. MacDonald. Early on Magee had Marantz equipment on his houseboat. (He later replaced the Marantz stuff with Japanese electronics, saying they sounded better. Sigh.) As an audiophile I couldn't care less about what specific equipment characters listen to.

 

[Lily]

I'm not going to list most things, certainly not by model number, but I need to know what the characters HAVE so the characters can interact with it correctly. I don't even know what pieces of equipment would be in such a set up! Sure, turntable, CD player, media server, and speakers...but then there are all sorts of different kinds of amps--preprocessing amps, headphone amps, amps only for digital, ones for analog, and ones for digital-to-analog. And then there are other components that some people consider crucial, and I don't even know what they ARE! And some amps have multiple components, and I have no clue why or what for.

So I need the character to be able to go up to the turntable, stick a record on it, and then hit the right buttons on the right components to make music come out of the right places and sound good.

Same kind of research I do with cars. I don't list the features or option package, but I have to know what the interior looks like on that model, how the gear shift works on that model, and whether it's a key start or push button, because otherwise I sound like an idiot when someone who IS familiar with the car reads it.

 

[j_garcia]

Entirely depends on the type of person as to what the system would be. You can blow a wad of cash and still end up with a very simple system with or without all the "tech". For a dedicated music room, mine would have very little in it and the system would be exceedingly simple. A few sources (vinyl, universal player, some form of digital as in USB or network capability for fully digital media), stereo preamp, two mono amps, and two speakers. Different people will likely put together very different systems.

 

[bikemig]

If you are thinking about audiophile fantasies, you might find this youtube video useful: Greek Audiophile - YouTube

I think this blog site is pretty clever: The Audiophile's Wife

Also you might want to post this question on computer audiophile. It's a reasonably friendly group of people some of whom don't believe in the law of diminishing returns (which is why you might be willing to sink that much money into a stereo system),

Edit: or just pick up a copy (or two) of stereophile. A lot of the articles there deal with incredibly expensive gear that could readily add up to over $100k and the authors generally try to rationalize why someone might actually need that kind of gear.

 

[lsiberian]

I think tube amplifiers are a must if the character is a snob. For branding I'd recommend using Salk. Most folks would need to look it up, but it could be intriguing to use a less known brand. You could also use Bower & Wilkins. Powering it up with a harmony one would be great.

 

[Lily]

Thanks, guys! I've been reading Stereophile online--they have one of the few review sources that are decently organized so that I have any idea what anything is/does. Other places just have categories like "amp" with everything all jumbled together, and I have no idea what goes where or does what!

 

[bikemig]

Heck you could build a system where the interconnects run up a big part of your proposed budget. Amazon has some great comments on uber expensive cables, like this, Amazon.com: AudioQuest K2 Terminated Speaker Cable - UST 2.44 m Plugs 8' Pair: Musical Instruments

 

[Lily]

Basically, the purchaser is a true snob but also a purist. He wouldn't be impressed by the supposed virtues of super-duper expensive cables because those claims don't hold up under close scrutiny, and he wouldn't spend money on bling but performance. Doesn't care if something is mainstream of obscure as long as it's the best, performance-wise, though looks are a nice bonus. Cynical and as rich as sin, but doesn't care who he impresses or doesn't. Has nothing to prove, but would definitely be among the analog snobs.

 

[Hi Ho]

I think it's great that you are researching this. All too often as I watch TV and movies references to technology and audio/video equipment are totally wrong, often laughably so. Most people don't notice but people that know about that stuff certainly do and it really adds to the immersion when references are correct.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Cynical and as rich as sin, but doesn't care who he impresses or doesn't. Has nothing to prove....

Sounds boring & depressing. Is he on drugs?

 

[shadyJ]

Cynical and as rich as sin, but doesn't care who he impresses or doesn't. Has nothing to prove...

Hmm, you might set him up with a pair of B&W 802s.. or maybe some Revel Salon 2s, yeah, that sounds about right, or some Dynaudio x32s.. along with some 18" subs.. Perfect for the man of your description.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

just check Gene's RBH/Status Acoustic/Passlab setup and you'll get the picture of $100k system build with quality in mind

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I don't know how a guy of that description thinks, but if it were my $250K system, it would be an all TAD R1 speakers + Funk 18.0 UNPOWERED subwoofers + Krell electronics system.

Well, I guess I don't care what anyone thinks.

 

[shadyJ]

Funk 18.0 UNPOWERED subwoofers

If the subs are unpowered, how would they make any sound?

But seriously though, if I were writing a story with a description of a sound system for that kind of character, I wouldn't get too brand specific. General readers are not going to be familiar with these speakers. I might go with a description of the imagery, and maybe some general specs at the most. Here is a speaker that a wealthy villain would use: the $150k Rockport Arrakis.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If the subs are unpowered, how would they make any sound?

Because they would be powered by the cool Krell amps.

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm a novelist, and I need some help writing about something I know nothing about.

The setup: An audiophile-only room (no home theater) with an emphasis on LPs/analog but also fully supporting digital technology--both CDs and a media server. This fantasy budget is $100k-250k--I want nothing that is expensive just for the sake of being expensive but definitely waaay past the point of diminishing returns for normal people. I need specific models, including amps/speakers, too. Fully separate analog/digital setups are fine, but so is digital-to-analog--whatever's better. I really have no clue. Also needed is headphone support and all the other goodies that you might have in a room that is strictly for listening to music.

Can you help a girl out?

Thanks!!!!

OK I'll take a stab at it.

For speakers the
ATC EL 150 SLP/Active

Price $78,550 per pair. These on not beyond the level of diminishing returns.

They are active and can be connected directly to this media server/pre amp, the Linn KLimax DSM

I suspect the US price is around $20,000. It sells for 15,500 GBP.

Now the CD player. This Accuphase from Germany. I can not find the cost, but it will be high.


Now the turntable. The SME 10 W. Price $9,900.

This cartridge the Ortofon MC Windfeld. Price $3899.00

Now this Rega Phono pre amp. Price $6995.00

To complete the package this Quad Elite FM tuner for $1100.

Actually none of this is really over the top except the media player ad CD player, but it makes a nice effect. This would be a very nice system and justified if you had the cash. This is the type of system someone might easily put together.

 

[flyboylr45]

Ok I'll bite. This would be my dream audio system. Same brands that I own just these are the top of each. For speakers, the Focal Grande Utopia 3 EM @ $180,000 a pair, for amps, the Mcintosh MC2KW mono blocks @ $30,000 each, Esoteric P01 transport @ $25,000, Esoteric D01 DAC @ $12,500 each x 2, Esoteric G0s master clock @ $13,000, and Clearaudio Das Statement turntable @ $170,000. This system comes in @ $473,000, a little more than what you budgeted for. I would spend less than $1,000 on Blue Jeans cables. ;-)

 

[Lordhumungus]

Heck you could build a system where the interconnects run up a big part of your proposed budget. Amazon has some great comments on uber expensive cables, like this, Amazon.com: AudioQuest K2 Terminated Speaker Cable - UST 2.44 m Plugs 8' Pair: Musical Instruments

Oh man, I almost lost it just looking at the images people submitted.

 

[3db]

I'll have to revisit this thread tomorrow but my component will be !00% Canadian starting with Symaudio Moon's amp and preamp, Hansen loudspeakers, Oracle turntable and a room designed for both 2 channel and home theater use.