I'm Looking For the Best

your favorite radio station playing live recorded classical music or any music that you lie. You have the best musicians, the best halls, its recorded live and it can be sent to your Ipod. What else could you ask for?

After seeing a bass subwoofer being built into the sub structure of a building, speakers being built at a cost of $300,000 plus for one pair and the nice little WAVAC amp at $350,000 for just the power amp, my suggestion would be to make some appointments with some of the specialty audio designers, higher a few consultants and set your budget at about $5,000,000 plus for the "BEST". But then what could one get for $6,000,000?

Stellar use of Law #3, Onhwy61. You go, Sensei. :-)

"I have terminal audiophilitis and the MDs are only giving me a few decades more to live,"

How many decades is "a few"? And is this prognosis due to the "audiophilitis" or some other pathology?

BTW, the suffix "itis" simply means "an inflammation of", so are you a completely inflamed audiophile?, or is it just your ears? your wallet? your ego?

Your unrealizable compulsion does however suggest a wonderful niche product -- somewhat along the lines of those pompous little badges that car dealers insist on installing into holes they've drilled into your trunklid forcing you to join in their crass self promotion forever, at your expense:

I'm going to produce a line of aftermarket equipment badges in a variety of styles and finishes (some with blue LEDs) that say "the BEST amplifier", "the BEST CD player", etc. Who could argue??

.

Somehow, it seems you'd not be happy with the "best" because there could be better. And, are you under the impression that more expensive = best?
Sadly, you shall not receive what you desire, because audio is a very subjective thing. Pay someone to set up your extravagant system and then go and hear others, and you may find you do not consider yours the best sound. Would that break your heart? or Ego?

Forgive, but your post seems a bit inflated. If you're simply arousing interest in pursuit of a great system, then your enthusiasm is welcomed.

Maybe, are you attempting to say, EXCELLENCE? There are a some excellent products which, if you're not concerned to make this an all out ego competition, would tremendously satisfy you. But if you're out to impress the world by having the best, you won't win the hearts of audiophiles here that way.

To say "Best" is meaningless without some realistic price point, as has been pointed out above. Several good Agoners could recommend the "best" at a $20k or even $50k level. But who can offer the best without realistic limits? Then again, I sincerely offer you my system as the best, for, oh...say $18k? Email me if you REALLY want the best!!

Some excellent equipment manufacturers include:
Boulder, Sonus Faber, Accuphase, (maybe more economical, but I'm partial to them - Pathos), Linn, some say Wilson, etc.

You need to do some listening at high end shops to begin to discern what appeals to you the most. Otherwise, pay some consultant lots of money to get you the "best" and be done with it.

I agree with Reubent; the i-pod is not the "best" source for superior audio.

As long as audio is some competition, you'll never be happy in it.