2. misc-audio
  3. 148456-123666

Moderately priced audio

So I have been a audiophile for 40 years and in that time I have seen and owned a huge amount of equipment. Lately I have been reading Sterephile magazine and attended the last 2 years of Axpona. My question is what about the people that love the craft and get tremendous joy out of their audio systems that are in the $2-5K price range. Are they to be ignored? I know this hobby holds a lot of enthusiasm by people that have great sounding systems of new and vintage gear that they are proud of and enjoy listening to. While I appreciate the sound and the technology of the systems that cost more than a house I think there is a slice of enthusiast that are silent. Back in the 70s I worked at a stereo store that your average person came in and spent $600-$1000 and got a good sounding system. And we sold a lot of them. Seems a lot less interest today. Could it be the price of what you see in magazines and shows? I am curious to see if you people are out there that love the music and get great joy out of listening to your moderately priced audio equipment. Feel free to share what you have. I know you are out there. 
schmitty1
glupson
7,842 posts
 
yyzsantabarbara,

I had SONY CFD-S33 ($100 at that time) boombox as my only home system for five years. It was standing on a stool from Wal-Mart ($16) in the middle of an empty (dining) room. In those days, if I wanted to feel like I have some more refined sound, I would sit in the car in the parking lot.

I have to admit, both of those systems dragged me into music much more than many, actually any and all, more sophisticated systems I have heard since then. There is something about the moment and point in life, etc., I guess. To make it even more bizarre, at least to admit on an obsessive audiophile forum, both of those systems (boombox and that particular car) still sound just right. Live in the sense that I am alive again.
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
Glupson.

That was one EXPENSIVE Wal-Mart stool!
jburidan
803 posts
 
uberwaltz:

Okay, I see what you meant by ’mystique’ -- McIntosh has those blue and green lights and Old English font, and it makes good products.

However, there are good used products from other brands that can be had readily for half the price of new. One doesn’t need to own McIntosh -- in fact, buying McIntosh never crossed my mind in the last fifty years.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
uberwaltz,

Now, when I think about it, you are right. I got scammed and never realized it. I also had one beach chair (around $5) which disintegrated after a few days. One bed (upgrade from mattress on the floor for 4 years prior to that) and that was all the furniture for a couple of years. No wonder that sitting in the car was like going to the opera. On the brighter side, all my music at home got standing ovation.
glupson
7,842 posts
 
I do not think that people who buy McIntosh put price/performance high on their list of concerns. Looks definitely account for a lot there.
More to discover