??? What Is The MOST Expensive System You Ever Heard ??? What Was Your Opinion ???

I had a revelatory experience with a ~$1 million dollar Wilson / Roland system many years ago. The system was carefully set up… in fact the sweet spot was on a chair on a custom built raised platform. It was a permanent setup in an audio store.

I could fill pages on the incredible three dimensional holographic imagery and micro detail. Individual sounds were holographic with a very distinct width and depth in space… like 2’ spherical… with a detailed and nuanced micro detailed spherical edge. There was lots of space between the sounds… imagine floor to ceiling and nearly wall to wall… and in a big room.  It was a religious experience. It was just so over the top. My mouth was just hanging open. I listened to it for a couple hours. every tone was perfectly crafted and even a kick drum would be so accurately located that I could visualize the kit in an incredibly distinct and solid space. It was so far beyond anything I could imagine I was changed forever.

I simply had no idea this was possible. Coming away with shivers and emotional exhaustion I realized how amazing it was but that I didn’t want that. I did realize that if I could have a second system off in a separate room I would love it as my secondary system. But my main system needed to sound like real music (I use that word now, at the time I wasn’t sure how to describe the sound I wanted).

Experiences like this are crucial in developing a deep foundation of understanding of high end audio so ultimately you can create the perfect system for yourself. I can’t thank Wilson and Rowland and the retailer for that experience.

I’ve heard a lot of expensive systems at shows and most of them left me feeling meh. Among them the original, snail shell B&W Nautiulus driven by stacks of Krell amplifiers and crossovers.

In terms of exceptionally good sounding and too rich for my blood was the top of the line Vandersteen speakers driven by their own amplifier and a CAT preamp.

I’ve heard the CAT in a different environment at Magico and was also really impressed by it. I wish I could have one for a long term review.

Also, and not necessarily very expensive was the Snell A/III driven by Tandberg amps.  Wow.  Among the very best systems designed for a living room.  The Tandberg amps may not be as smooth by today's standards but they did justice to the Snell's bass cabinet in a way few other amps could do then.

Most expensive probably close to 7 digits. No thanks. Too big and too expensive to ever work in my house. Bigger but not necessary better. Maybe if I lived in a mansion…….

Big difference between hearing a big expensive system in a hotel ballroom at a show versus a well designed dedicated room. I’ve been in some nice rooms at dealers, but they are rarely optimal as they are often moving different pieces through or having multiple combinations of speakers, amps, sources, etc.

A modestly priced system in a good room can sound better than components costing twice as much or more and a great system in a great room can be an incredible experience that leaves you breathless. It all matters.

I didn't ask how much the most expensive system I've heard cost, it was probably over $1 million, including the custom built room.  I've never heard anything close to it before or since.

The best system I ever heard was all mbl and the cost was not horrible by high end standards. But the thing that helped  make it the best was the showroom set up just right for those. Would take a lot of custom work to do that at home.