|   POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | geoffgarcia
Jan 18, 2002 10:16 AM | | What would be a ballpark figure that it take to make your jaw or guests jaws drop.
I'm not asking because I want to "get there" to impress others, I'm asking because I want to get there so my jaw can drop and Im' wondering how much of an investment I can look forward to.
Thanks,
Geoff |
| It's entirely possible that there no such amount | Norm Strong
Jan 18, 2002 10:56 AM | | Especially is this true when it comes to guests. Of course if you tell them ahead of time how much you spent, your chance of getting jaw-dropping is much better--even without turning it on. |
| I had a guest jaw dropping experience once | Azuth
Jan 18, 2002 11:27 AM | | The guy really liked the system and his jaw dropped when I told him how much it cost. A few weeks later he had spent even more than I had on a system that sounded awefull. The poor guy didn't know anything about audio and just bought what the salesman wanted to sell him. To make matters worse, the poor guy couldn't afford the payments on it and had to return it. He's a nice guy but I have a feeling that he doesn't make the best financial decisions.
To me, anything in the 5 digit range for one component makes my jaw drop. Half that much and I'm impressed. Half it again and we're getting a little closer to reality. Half it once more and I'll consider it for my own system. |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | Bryan
Jan 18, 2002 12:28 PM | | For me it not so much how much it costs but how it sounds. In the same regrards I can not fathom spending $100,000 on a HT or music system. For a person who is a multi-millionaire a system costing $500,000 may be jaw dropping.
What will make your jaw drop is when you look back and see how many hundreds and thousands of dollars you put into your system to get it where it will be then. I tell people how much I spent on my system, their jaw drops. Then again, most of them either do not have a system or do not have the money to put together a good system. Even my aunt and uncle couldn't beleive how much I quoted them for a good system ($1,500).
As they say, to each his own. |
| Perhaps there is confusion on the original post | geoffgarcia
Jan 18, 2002 12:29 PM | | There seems to be some confusion on my initial post.
The interpretation so far seems to be: "How much CASH do you need to spend to make someones jaw drop."
I actually meant: "How much do you need to spend on a 2channel system so the SOUND makes someones jaw drop"
I heard a pair of speakers made by my local hi-fi store that were selling for 3k$ coupled with a big Parasound amp that made my jaw drop. If they were in my budget at the time I would have bought them instantly, but not knowing anything about home audio/competition I opeted not to. They are the best I've heard to date (in my limited time on this earth and my limited experiences).
Thats the kind of story I'm looking for:) (preferrably w/brand/models included! *LOL*) |
| Okay then $2200 | Azuth
Jan 18, 2002 1:53 PM | | It all depends on who's jaw will do the dropping. If its someone who likes music but has never heard a good system it will be different number than someone who has no interest in music and is dragged around to high end audio shows because they get paid to.
I'm sure that you can make a VERY nice system for just over $2000 if you are willing to make DIY speakers and electronics from kits. Add in a low end SACD player and it would probably impress most audiophiles that have spend $5000+ on their system. Of course you'd need $1000 worth of tools to do it right, but your still making it for very very little cash and you can keep the tools.
ACI Sapphire Kit $650
ACI Titan II Kit $600
Bottlehead Foreplay Preamp Kit $150
SACD player $300
Pair of Norh Le Amps $500
Total $2200 |
| Depends on the person... | jefflam79
Jan 18, 2002 2:06 PM | | Most people that walk into a BOSE store drop their Jaws. Any Audiophile won't be caught dead in that store. Are you the average joe, or the audiophile? I would say $700 for the average joe, or $25000 for an audiophile(remember this is only a 2-ch system). |
| Easy! check out goodwinshighend.com | midfiman
Jan 18, 2002 2:15 PM | | First, build a room that is large enough to house the ever impressive Martin Logan Statements (and their bass towers), and equally impressive monoblocks to run them, and all associated equipment and i'll be impressed. Not only by the $$$ amount, but also by the beauty of these standing monsters
:-)
Goodwinshighend (.com) in waltham (where i grew up) has the most beautiful set up with these babies that is SURE to make your jaw drop check out their rooms... |
| I guess i misunderstood the original post, I read the correction | midfiman
Jan 18, 2002 2:16 PM | | |
| another modification: | geoffgarcia
Jan 18, 2002 2:27 PM | | point take on the Bose/avg Joe.
Do peoples jaws really drop over that garbage? I admitedly know nothing about audio, but I am keenly aware of how bad that stuff sounds.
Lets say an avg guy, that has a bose system and is very familiar with the typical 2D sound (lacking soundstage/imaging/detail), whats it going to take to get him to drop jaw at a real 3d sound.
$25000 and I'm sure people may drop a load:)
Like I said in my post, I think for me it was roughly a 8-9k$ system that introduced me to the world of 3d sound-imaging/soundstage/detail(3k speakers, 2k amp, 2k preamp, 1k cd player+cabling) |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | Vandy
Jan 18, 2002 2:56 PM | | The most my jaw ever dropped was a coupling of cash and sound. I have heard several 100k plus systems and all but one were staggering but the real jaw dropper was by asystem thats sound and (relative) low cost shocked me. I was a system with all Anthem front and back end with a pair of B&W 805s and an ASW 4000 sub. The key here is the guy had done some GREAT work on room acoustics. No admittedly this little system ran into 5 digits (not by much) but in that room it was spectacular. This was prior to SACD days and I would imagine its even better now. Having heard similar setups (and having heard the 805s dozens of times) it really pointed out what pains he had taken in set-up.
Vandy |
| Hey Vandy, what are some of the things ur friend did to......... | bOb>
Jan 18, 2002 6:55 PM | | ...help his room. I have plaster walls and ceiling with hardwood floors. Carpet will help but I'm renting. |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | Jammer
Jan 18, 2002 3:49 PM | | Too many variables to be able to make a definitive statement: the individual in question - what is their level of experience, and what do they feel is extravigant as far as cost; the way the equipment/speakers/cables are partnered; the type of music being played and the quality of the recording; the room this is all being done in; etc.
I've seen the "jaw dropping" phenomenon in others for as little as $5,500:
Musical Fidelity A3 CD Player - $995
Musical Fidelity A300 Integrated Amp - $1495
B&W Nautilus 805 Speakers - $2,000
Transparent Music Link Plus cables - $1,000
But the only times I've personally experienced "jaw dropping" myself the systems involved were a bit more costly than that:
Wadia CD Player (don't remember model) - $8,500
dCS Purcell Digital Upsampler - $9,000
dCS Elgar D/A Converter - $12,000
Jeff Rowland Design Group Coherence Preamp - $14,000
Jeff Rowland Design Group Model 9 Amps (4) - $37,000 a pair = $74,000
Wisdom Audio Adrenaline Ribon Speakers & Subs - $40,000
Cardas Golden Reference Cables - around $5,000
TOTAL = $162,500
or, more recently:
Linn Sondek CD-12 CD Player - $20,000
Linn Karin Preamp - $3,000
Linn Klimax Solo Amps (6) - $9,750 each = $58,500
Linn Aktiv Electronic Crossover - $2,000
Linn Komri Speakers - $28,000
Linn cables - $1,500
TOTAL = $113,000 |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | RGA
Jan 18, 2002 7:02 PM | | You know what...buy a system that sounds so good it will drop jaws. I know a guy with Bose 901s that cost him 2k Canadian(a fair number of years ago) I let him listen to my $300.00Canadian B&W DM 302s and within the month the 901s were sold to another unsuspecting sheep and he his in the process of finding a top notch speaker. To me this is the best jaw drop of all...showing someone what a well designed inexpensive speaker can do(with good ancillary equipment that can make the most out of them) makes people want to see what the big brother has to offer.
The 6 channel surround Martin Logan set-up impressed the hell out of me...of course I'll need to marry money, win the lotto or befriend Bill Gates...bacause as a future teacher...I'll never afford it. |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | Bucko
Jan 19, 2002 11:38 PM | | <<<I let him listen to my $300.00Canadian B&W DM 302s >>>
I totally agree....many of my friedns are blown away by my little system.
B&W 601S2 fronts
B&W DM302 rears
Energy ES10 - sub
cheap center - another story.
Yamaha RX-V620 A/V reciever
This unit kicks ass, most people can not believe the sound, and many have "sold" their Cerwin Vega's, Bose, or other speakers and moved over to my little cheap system.
paid $300 Cdn for the DM 302's
paid $400 Cdn for the 601s2
paid $600 Cdn for the Yamaha RX-V620
paid $450 CDn for the Energy Sub
Total = $1750
This system was put together piece by piece....and except the sub...all was used. In my opinion I'd do it all over again, but may actually look for a cheap pair of B&W 800 series speakers, and maybe a higher end amp.
My three cents worth anyways! |
| re: POLL: How much $$ on gear to have jaws drop? | geoffgarcia
Jan 21, 2002 2:40 PM | | Interesting replies thanks for all of your time!!! |
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