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At the top of the line is it really all that different?

I'm writing about my experience with the top of the line bespoke gear. Not the insane one-of a kind that I'll never own but the really good stuff that say $50K each will buy.

I have listened to my personal favorite ARC vs. D'Agistino, vs. Bryston vs. Pass vs. the top Macs (no love lost there).  Wilson vs. Sonus, vs. Magico vs. Bryston T-10  vs. Maggies (!) vs. Perlisten. 

So many cables that I can't recall the names. 

I can tell a difference between the voicing of the products at my dealer but the difference is so subtle that in my home they are "nearly" identical. ( I know, I know but I said "nearly") 

I read reviews with all the silly superlatives that make the reviewed item sound heavenly and the "other guys" sound like the AM radio in my '67 Mustang.

I have had my ears checked and my audio sensitivity is "age appropriate" I'm 62.

I have 2 listening rooms- one is a dedicated properly treated room and one is a barn sized great room with anterooms on 3 sides. In my dedicated room I'm all alone with my music which can be really lovely but not often visited vs. the great room with my dogs, kids, and wife. I don't do critical listening there but I love full beautiful sound when the ones I love most are near. 

So, I would really appreciate thoughtful guidance to my quandary- is top end gear crowding at the top of the pyramid with very little difference? Are the glowing reviews colored or even deceptively presented?   Or maybe I'm growing weary of very little cost/benefit improvements as I climb the audio ladder .....please advise. 

 

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devinplombier
314 posts
 

And here I am going to shamelessly quote myself from another thread

At the end of the day, it depends on how much obsessiveness and pathological compulsion dedication and commitment one is willing to bring to the table.

A purpose-built listening room becomes a necessity if one is to even hear the difference better gear makes. That room alone can cost $250K or more, though it doesn't have to.

I don't have a dedicated listening room and I don't want one. I sometimes listen to music 12 hours a day, so I need to do something else while listening, namely, in my case, work. That supposes, by definition, a very imperfect room, which in turn limits how much better gear I can get while still reasonably hoping to hear significant improvement.

But I wouldn't last an hour in a dedicated listening room before I got cabin fever, so I'm more than willing to live with what I have as it lets me listen to music for another 11 hours, and ultimately listening to music is what I'm here for.

mihorn
533 posts
 

OP    At the top of the line is it really all that different?

No. Their sounds are over-rated. Listen to multi $million and low budget systems.  Alex/WTA

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YgU397PPzpA

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/U-7MwmA2a1c

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/GNnE6xeCwAg

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BQ7vhV7BuhY

https://youtu.be/i5Rrg0CU-XM?si=y42Hmi7LmEgrvpF4&t=224

kennyc
1,631 posts
 

 

I have listened to my personal favorite ARC vs. D’Agistino, vs. Bryston vs. Pass vs. the top Macs (no love lost there). Wilson vs. Sonus, vs. Magico vs. Bryston T-10 vs. Maggies (!) vs. Perlisten.

So many cables that I can’t recall the names.

I can tell a difference between the voicing of the products at my dealer but the difference is so subtle that in my home they are "nearly" identical. ( I know, I know but I said "nearly")

Very strange- Wilson vs Magico vs Maggie’s sound very different and somewhat consistent in audio shows and dealers

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