"The Ultra High-End Speaker."


My entire relatively simple high end audio system retails for approx. $70,000, with my speakers alone retailing for approx. $24,000 (Revel Salon 2 speakers).  I've been around high-end audio for over 40 years.  I attend audio shows and visit local and non-local high-end audio shops on a regular basis.  I get to hears a lot of high-end audio speakers and gear all the time.  That said, I honestly believe, along with others who've visited my home and have listened to my system, that my system (speakers) produce that ultra high-end, reference quality sound.  Others would suggest that, when it comes to speakers, that the "Ultra High-End" sound can only be achieved by megabuck speakers costing 50K, 100K, 250k and beyond.  I do not believe that ultra high-end ("Sound Quality") is excusive to those speakers costing a king's ransom.  And, I think my own system is am example of what can be achieved at a lower (not for most people) price point.  I absolutely believe in the law of diminishing returns, especially when it comes to high-end speakers.  What's your definition, idea of, what you consider to be, a "Ultra High-End Speaker, and at what price point does the ultra high-end start?????            

kennymacc

Showing 2 responses by kennymacc

My point being:  There's a number of super high quality moderately priced speakers out there like mine that perform at such high levels of proficiency and produce such astonishingly superb sound quality that, inch for inch, pound for pound, one has to question the need to spend more.  My beloved Revel Salon 2 speakers are a prime example of that.  Yes, I've heard a number of moderately priced speakers just like mine, where pure sound quality is concerned, can go toe-to-toe with any of the megabuck, ultra high-end, cost no object, speakers costing multiples of their retail price.  Were a lot of the ultra high-end speakers really have a distinct advantage is with their size and "Scale."  Just one mans opinion.       

Steve59:  You are correct.  Based on my own personal experience, the Hegel H390 are definitely underpowering the Revel Salon 2 speakers.  I tried it and experienced the same underwhelming results that you did.  The H390 doesn't have enough juice to wake up the Salon 2 speakers drivers.  But, when I switched to the Hegel H590, "HUGE DIFFERENCE."  Because my listening room is not very large, the extremely powerful and very high current H590 works especially well driving the Salon 2s.  If I were in a large room, I'd go with separates as to increase the power in order to drive the Salon 2s to their fullest.  But, still, in my smaller room, the H590 works great!!!