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What does 90% of the Absolute Best Sound Cost?

Like many things, I have come to believe that the cost of incremental improvements in audio come at exponentially increasing costs - e.g., big improvement from $5K to $10K, less so from $10 to $15K, etc. All of us have our limits regarding what we can/will spend to achieve our best possible/practical audio experience. So, a couple of questions that I am sure are at least somewhat subjective.

A. What does it cost, in terms of components, interconnects, and direct furnishings (e.g., racks, isolation pads, surface room treatments, etc.) to achieve 90% of the absolute best sound possible?

B. What % does $50,000 get you?

FWIW, my setup is at about $21,000 actual cost ($32,000 original retail) and I am really happy with it right now. All of my incremental spend for the next couple of years is going to be working the room itself. Looking forward to your perspectives!

128x128mattsca
avanti1960
1,504 posts
 

@mattsca

 

After a certain point more money gets you bigger and louder scale appropriate for larger rooms. Larger rooms need much bigger speakers and amplifiers and even multiple amplifiers.

In smaller rooms with nearfield systems you can get super high quality audiophile sound for a much more reasonable price.

What size room are you talking about? 

 

inna
7,343 posts
 

90% costs about $100k new, not including room tuning and best record pressings.

donavabdear's avatar
donavabdear
509 posts
 

The best sound costs about 200k, I say that because that is probably an average of what professional playback equipment costs (only digital). The room is extra. 

glenmschneider
32 posts
 

Agree with Avanti1960

i have a <$4k near field second system that is 90% of my more than 10x $  main system in their respective environments. 

but I could not replace my second system in its larger environment and be anywhere in the ballpark.

 

troutstreamnm
53 posts
 

This is an impossible question to really answer. Too many variables to sound quality, source quality, room acoustics etc.  in general you must have quality loud speakers and an amp/preamps to drive them.  I have about $60K in my system and it’s really amazing to me at least. 

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