May I point out though that you seem to frequently imply that great gear might be a waste of time and money
You put your idea in my mouth...I NEVER say that ever.... 😊
i said that ONCE an audio relatively good system is chosen at any price and accordingly to your wallet, any upgrade WITHOUT and BEFORE optimization of the chosen audio system is a lost of money...
Is it clearer ?
And the improvement produced by acoustic optimization is so great, if your starting system of choice is well choosen to begin with for sure, that MOST subsequent upgrade will appear preposterous if you take in consideration the S.Q./price ratio...
I said "most", because if you start from a 50 bucks used speaker set like mine upgrading to a 100,000 dollars one, no room treatment and even no mechanical tuning will replace this upgrade and make it meaningless... It is only common sense...But dont laugh at my 50 bucks speakers, your smile risk to be colored yellow listening them in their room... 😁😊
May I posit that if your room is, in fact, exceptionally tuned that a great system dropped into your room would outperform an average system in the same room?
Sorry but you did not understood my point... 😁😊
First my room is relatively well optimized accordingly to my ability...Not exceptionnaly tuned...This will be a ridiculous pretense and boasting...But i am satisfied yes and very happy...It takes me months each day of tuning listening sessions...Nothing is perfect BUT....
Second acoustic tuning is not ONLY classic room passive treatment but more importantly mechanical control with two types of Helmholtz devices, resonator who diffuse et absorb selected bandwidth and diffusers who only diffuse selected bandwith...
Third, my room is mechanically tuned FOR A SPECIFIC SPEAKERS, and FOR MY SPECIFIC EARS if i drop inside my actual room a new speakers with a new dac and amplifier, all the tuning process must be redone from the beginning with listening experiments tuning adapted to the new speakers systems if i want to reach the peak working optimal level of the new system ...
Fourth, acoustic optimization can improve a low cost system OVER a costlier one ONLY if the costlier one is not itself optimized in his own adapted room and is in a nude room like most showroom or most living room ...
Then no acoustic magic trick can transform a low design quality in the highest one ever... Common sense is need... 😁😊
What is the best system that you’ve heard in your room?
Mine for sure for the reasons given above... 😊
In any room?
Homemade speakers from Tannoy 15 inches dual gold cones and big magnepans, my own past 12 inches Tannoy, Quad electrostatic speakers also , all these were better than my actual very good Mission Cyrus 781...
Then why i prefer my Mission Cyrus now to all of them...?
BECAUSE my room is optimized for the Miussion Cyrus, none of these others better speakers were in an acoustically treated room and certainly very far from a mechanically controlled room which is the only way to adapt the room to the speakers...
You get no argument from any seasoned audiogon participant.
The reason is simple: ONLY acoustic and psycho-acoustic can explain sound management and perception...Electronic devices are tool to convey some selected acoustical recorded information from one room perspective via a studio to my room/ears.... Audio is acoustical sound translation...Only gear marketing abusively call it pure reproduction...
Final word: real acousticians never boast about gear brand name guess why?
For the same reason mechanician can transform any ordinary motor to a super working one...The acoustician will make the best of whatever system is in the room...
There is always better motor and better gear for sure , but the important point is what will you make yourself of what you already have....
Thanks for your interesting questions...
And kind interest...
My best to you....
