If Money Were No Object... A Fantasy Question


Let's say you're filthy stinking rich and had $1,000,000+ to spend on an audio system. What would you do, assemble a single SOTA system or for the same amount of money put together multiple very high quality (and certainly not cheap) non-SOTA systems.

This fantasy is in the either/or format. Points will be deducted for thoses who answer "both".
128x128onhwy61
First I would build a house with a large room dedicated as a music room - then I would build a system based on large Electrostats such as Sound labs - then I would obtain the components which best matched the Sound Labs and produced a very neutral tone. SOTA is a moving target - too ellusive for me - if any components happen to be SOTA thats fine.
few different rooms with systems optimized for certain music types like electrostatic system for mostly acoustic type music, dynamic system for rock and roll music.
Yup, I am with Mejames.

Tubes and Stats-High end CJ and Logans or Sound Labs-acoustic and signer-songwriter type stuff

Classic - Marantz receiver or McIntosh seps with big ole JBL's to relive part of my youth. Loud Zep and Stones rock

Refined/Show off- with higer priced spread to impress audio elite types. I might even play it once in awhile.

SET setup with efficient stuff like coincident speakers to compare with push pull and triode tube amps.
I'd put a bunch of money into a very good room - possibly custom built as part of a custom built house. Then I'd put a max of $150K or so into the gear and another hundred thousand into music.

I think pursuing SOTA is a mugs game, because preferences and synergy are at least as important as the gear itself. I'd want to have enough cash in reserve to try out stuff I thought might work, without worrying that I'd spent all my money and didn't get where I wanted to go.

That said, I know at least some of the gear that would end up in such a system: an Audio Note DAC5 Signature, a pair of Josh Stippich's amazing amps, and a Blowtorch.
fun question onhwy61
I'd hire the worlds best acoustic engineer and pay him to personally design and oversee the construction of the best room he can imagine. Unless I hear something better, I'll stick with my current speakers but add three more for center and surrounds. Then maybe Halcro amps for each speaker together with the best front end money could buy. Maybe purchase the top 5 in each category of component and then experiment with various permutations and combinations till the best combination is found. I won't have a job so I'll have lots of time on my hands. If the system has any shortcomings after that, I'd consider personally funding the best designers for research in product development. Then I'll pray to God he can forgive me for such excess.