One brand system

[Joe Schmoe]

The truth is that I only start dreaming of a new system when I am at work. When I am at home and listening to my current system, it sounds so awesome that all thoughts of replacing or upgrading it vanish. (Not too shabby for $900 MSRP, $500 actual price!)

 

[3db]

The truth is that I only start dreaming of a new system when I am at work. When I am at home and listening to my current system, it sounds so awesome that all thoughts of replacing or upgrading it vanish. (Not too shabby for $900 MSRP, $500 actual price!)

Stop being so shallow!! Beauty is only skin deep but good sound goes right to the soul!!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Stop being so shallow!! Beauty is only skin deep but good sound goes right to the soul!!

I reread the post you quoted, tried to find something "shallow" in it, and couldn't.
Improving on the sound of my current system would be difficult. (Also, I don't know if I can ever be satisfied with conventional speakers again now that I have been spoiled by Omnipolars.)

 

[3db]

I reread the post you quoted, tried to find something "shallow" in it, and couldn't.
Improving on the sound of my current system would be difficult. (Also, I don't know if I can ever be satisfied with conventional speakers again now that I have been spoiled by Omnipolars.)

Looking for gear that looks pretty

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Looking for gear that looks pretty

Ah. Then the source of my confusion was that you were commenting on earlier posts, not the one you quoted (which made no mention of prettiness.)
Oh, and looks are a valid criterion, provided that sound is not compromised. You will notice, though, that I listed studio monitors as an option purely because of the sound. Most of those are butt-ugly.

 

[Seth=L]

Why can't different name products look great? Why won't you buy from ID companies if they themselves don't make the amplifiers or whatever? What is the fuss about? Do you really think that just because a company makes the speakers and the amplification they will sound "perfect" together? I can assure that, that is not the case in most all scenarios. If you ever get beaucoup bucks, you can shoot for a Gryphon only system, but it will only be for CD or LP playback. The don't make home theater equipment or DVD players.

If you ask me, you are asking for the near impossible.

 

[Soundman]

No, they don't make a CD player.

Oh, I must have missed the part about the CD player. i was refering to the speakers, amp, and processor. Oh, well.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Why can't different name products look great? Why won't you buy from ID companies if they themselves don't make the amplifiers or whatever? What is the fuss about? Do you really think that just because a company makes the speakers and the amplification they will sound "perfect" together? I can assure that, that is not the case in most all scenarios. If you ever get beaucoup bucks, you can shoot for a Gryphon only system, but it will only be for CD or LP playback. The don't make home theater equipment or DVD players.

If you ask me, you are asking for the near impossible.

Non-matching electronics look terrible together. As for speakers, I did think that a company that makes both would strive to match their performance with those of their electronics, but maybe not.

 

[flippo]

Omnipolar sound

I also love the omnipolar sound, I am getting a pait of om350's in a couple of days but my dream would be a pair of OMD 28's (only 7500$)!

 

[Seth=L]

Non-matching electronics look terrible together. As for speakers, I did think that a company that makes both would strive to match their performance with those of their electronics, but maybe not.

There is nothing wrong with getting matched components. You could get a NAD integrated amplifier and CD player then get a different brand of speakers to go with it. How would that look horrible? Unless you are actively trying to contrast, it will look fine.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I also love the omnipolar sound, I am getting a pait of om350's in a couple of days but my dream would be a pair of OMD 28's (only 7500$)!

I am currently listening to the 350s in my stereo. They are great in all areas except bass extension and high-level dynamics. Tonight, I am A/Bing them with my Def Tech BP10Bs (from the HT) which are excellent in both of those areas. The "winner" will remain in the stereo and the other pair will go in the HT. (If the Mirages go in the HT, they will be used as surrounds with my present BP8B surrounds promoted to mains.)

 

[Joe Schmoe]

There is nothing wrong with getting matched components. You could get a NAD integrated amplifier and CD player then get a different brand of speakers to go with it. How would that look horrible? Unless you are actively trying to contrast, it will look fine.

At this point in the discussion, I think we have established that the speakers don't need to match. The only issue with matching electronics is that companies with good integrated amps tend to have overpriced CD players. (Overpriced in the sense that they don't outperform $40 mass-produced DVD players, SQ-wise.)

 

[Kolia]

Just put the miss-matched componnents on different shelves...

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Just put the miss-matched componnents on different shelves...

I have intentionally done away with shelves. Matched components stacked directly on the floor are much more attractive, in a minimalist kind of way.
(I am an artist, thus very picky about aesthetics.)

 

[Kolia]

Did you mean:

"I'm an artist so I can't afford furniture."?

Lol! I had to tease you on that one! Way to easy a crack! Aha!

Seriously, aesthetics are important for me also and I agree that a common design can look good. Yet, function will still prevail in my audio componnent selection.

Have you looked at a NAD system? Very minimalist.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Have you looked at a NAD system? Very minimalist.

The 315BEE and 515BEE are gorgeous, high-performance, and affordable. I have considered getting those as my next upgrade and worrying about speakers later, except that I love the idea of a whole new system all at once. (I also wonder how long it would take between getting those and hankering for something even better. They are called "entry-level", after all.)

 

[Kolia]

The NAD might be entry level, but it's Hi-Fi entry. Better than so called high-end commercial stuff IMO!

There will ALWAYS be some "more better" stuff! You'll have to control yourself!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I switched back to the Mirages after spending a couple of days with the Def Techs, and that experience has given me a new appreciation of their sound. The only thing that the much larger and more expensive Def Techs do better is bass extension, and in my room that causes enough issues to outweigh the advantages.
As for electronics, a store ad in What HiFi described my Onkyo as sounding "really good even when compared to budget high-end separates", and my ears tell me that is probably true.
In short, my desire for an upgrade is purely a vague, abstract "want", rather than something that there is a real reason for. The fact is that my present system sounds fantastic and looks way cool to boot. They call it "upgradeitis" because it really is a disease!

 

[3db]

Is there a point to this thread? If so, I've lost it.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Is there a point to this thread? If so, I've lost it.

Why do you care? (As with most threads, the original question was answered within the first page. The rest is just open-ended discussion.)