Ken Fritz's $1M Dream System update

@rooze Please provide a location or source to help those who are interested find more about the misinformation mentioned. 

So much misinformation about this poor fellow. Not least of which - much of the high value gear/media was sold before the auction even started, hence didn't reflect in the auction totals..

@cdc ​​​​​​i never thought the idea that Harman used when Floyd Toole was there for comparing speakers was done fairly, by using only one speaker and then positioning ever make, model, and type in same exact spot.

Ken’s life can teach a valuable lesson as audiophile.I am glad i read his story. I learned a lot from it.

The real sadness for the last few months of his life suffering from a terrible health problem. In the end it's all about the journey I guess. You climb to the top of Mount Everest look around for a few minutes and then start going back down.

At least when Harman Audio spends 1 million on R & D they have trained engineers who know what they are doing and the facilities to test it out scientifically. So they know what they are getting.

This guy "puts together some Stereophile "A" components" and thinks he will have great sound. With no technical expertise, you can build a speaker from a solid block of aluminum which will be very expensive to make and thereby justify a high cost. But that does not mean ii will get any better sound than some MDF unless you what you are doing.

This guy reminds me of someone off the street who walks into a boxing gym and thinks he can beat the champ (Andrew Jones of Mofi for example). Except hi-end audio is subjective with no right or wrong while boxing you will know pretty fast if you are wrong.

Sure, filling a big room with full range, high volume, sound can cost 1 million, But that does not mean you have to spend that much for great sound. Just start with a small room. Stereophile regularly gives a $1,500 bookshelf speaker an "A" as far as sound quality. If not the ability to fill a big room with full-range sound.

I would say most of us here have that drive to make some killer system that blows everyone else away. That’s what hi-end audio is all about. Or why get into it in the first place?

@grannyring -- I’m not saying anything negative about Mr. Fritz. I never met him and I don’t speak ill of the dead. However, the forum members making comments could have read the exact same article I read in the Washington Post that delved into the family break-up prior to his death.  The article started off with,"He spent his life building a $1Million Stereo.  The real cost was unfathomable."

Ken was estranged from one son, and after his terminal diagnosis they attempted a reconciliation which went WAY SOUTH, with Ken’s son’s last words to him being, "I hope you die a slow and miserable death." Apparently, all of his children were estranged up until the end when he reconnected with one son (in the documentary) and his daughter.

The Washington Post article was a tough read -- it pulled no punches. It looks to be behind a paywall now, but I highly recommend trying to track down a copy to read. Then go hug your spouse, kids, and family. I know I did.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/interactive/2024/ken-fritz-greatest-stereo-auction-cost/

I followed the online auction, and based on my math, the ENTIRE AUCTION, all 668 audio items in the house, only brought in $167,000 based on adding up all the final auction bids.  Unreal.  In an interview, Ken estimated his entire system build and room cost him around $1.25 million.

In my opinion, the Krell gear was the only gear that brought a decent return.  The Denon PBN turntable was a STEAL.  PBN tables without arms can sell for $30,000.  This had 2 Kuzma arms that are $10,000 each and cartridges that also run almost $11,000 each.  That's $40,000 costs in JUST the 2 arms and cartridges.  I spoke with somebody at PBN, and this current build would run approximately $60,000.  The winning bidder got an endgame table, a Super Denon on Steroids, for $10,750.

The "Frankentable" went for $19,750.  Considering $19,000 is what I priced a Kuzma Tangential Arm at, and his turntable had TWO OF THEM, plus another Kuzma arm, and all three arms had cartridges that cost over $10,000 each....yeah, it sold for pennies on the dollar. Ken had estimated he had close to $150,000 in it in just PARTS. In the end, it was an albatross.

He was a pathetic human and died alone and miserable. 

"Yes private and we don’t know the reality. Seems we should not speculate negatively on a man that has passed."

There are direct quotes from his own children verifying his selfish obsession and lousy parenting.

Did anyone hear it?

I wonder what a crappy quality recording on an 80's CD sounds like on a $1M system? 

I am actually glad they talked about his family. It reminds me my priorities.

The music is going to tell me every time I put it on, you didn’t waste your time and money and you spent your time and money wisely, so enjoy it.

No dude, if your kids hated it THAT MUCH, it wasn’t worth it

re: million dollar system - I don’t listen to million dollar music. Having something that expensive to hear someone scream while 3 musicians rock it out in the background would be like eating a Danish with a silver fork and knife.

+1 @mulveling

Yes private and we don’t know the reality. Seems we should not speculate negatively on a man that has passed.

I’m surprised it netted that much. I thought the monstrosity custom speakers and turntable / stand thing (once the actually-valuable high end arms and cartridges are stripped off) would have to be near give-aways; really just come and and haul it off. I’m surprised if anyone thought otherwise.

Then there were a bunch of electronics which are most OK, nothing special and not really big bucks - just tedious to sell in aggregate. I’m sure a good portion of the sum went to the auction managers.

I wouldn't give too credence to the "family drama" story. Sounds like someone wanted the attention. This should have remained private to the family. 

Unfortunately Ken got obsessed in this hobby. Family priorities were put aside.

@jasonbourne71 Agreed. 100% That is beyond diminishing return territory and planted firmly into no returns land. 

As I texted on Jay's Audio Lab on Facebook "Nobody needs a million dollar system". 

Yes he did.   I watched an interview with him and thought how sad to let a hobby completely overtake your life.   I love this hobby but it has always taken a back seat to what's really important.   Family.   

That man had seriously screwed up priorities.

Excess in anything is bad. Even if it is in a good thing.