Agreed, you literally need a small fortune to get this system but I now understand a bit more about high-end audio and why people are willing to spend that much money on their systems.
Indeed. Though I haven't heard them myself, or anything really over the ~2500-3k/pair club, I get that there is some reward for some of that high-end gear. It's also been noted that the returns, after a certain point, are also greatly diminished.
What that point is, I don't know. For me, the Phil 3s are astounding at the price point I purchased at. Don't know if Jim, or anyone will keep them alive, or if Dennis will post the plans for them... but at 4K/pair, the SQ has been compared favorably to speakers costing more than twice that. Other people have said the SS8 from Salk's Soundscape line are the best speakers 'they've ever heard,' even when compared to 20K speakers.
I do hope to get a chance to experience the bigger shows like Axpona and RMAF... gonna go to the show here in Oakland this year in June or July.
But that's going to be as close as I get to anything like that... unless I build it.
Consider that Illuminiso kit from Selah Audio... 3K gets you drivers, finished crossovers, the plans and all accessories you need... but you still have to buy the wood and build the cabinets... or have them built for you. When I asked, Rick said the finished Iluminosos might sell for around 10K. I don't know how to quantify the going rate for high-end cabinet building, but consider the cost of the kit as a certain measure of Rick's time involved +parts... add to that roughly another 3K in professional cabinet work and finishing, and another third in profit, perhaps? *shrug... just speculation of the cost for a single example in a small operation.
I think the kit would be well worth the cost! I could never buy the finished speakers.
Regardless, it's all just a version of chasing the dragon! We want the best quality sound... but at what cost? Where does that last 5% or 1% of SQ come from? Does the best Jansen or Mundorf XO component do that? Is it the Amp? The Amp Stand? The cable risers?
How far would you go, CB? What's a realistic dream system going to cost for you?
Me, about 7-10K... TOTAL, including wall brackets, stands, etc. That's not
my bill, mind, but I think over time, that's what many spend to achieve a successful HT/Music rig that is Atmos ready. (Not counting incremental upgrades.)