I'm Looking For the Best

"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??

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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.

Boa2: Either Onhwy61 is practicing Law #3, or else he's practicing Laws #6, 25, 28, 32, 34, 37 and 40 while breaking Laws #4, 36, 45 and 46. All the same, I don't trust him and am taking appropriate proactive defensive measures, which I'm not telling anybody what they are, and also I might be lying about that, but won't say anything more because actions speak louder than words, of which I disavow all of mine...

Doug S., it's all about ego. I want a system comprised of the BEST components which would give me the BEST system which would make me the BEST audiophile. (It goes without saying that I would also have to have the BEST listening room in the BEST house in the BEST neighborhood). Only when I have reached the summit of BESTIALITY can I then become egoless and merge into the infinite nothingness of audiophile hedonistic universal sensuality. And just to show my heart is in the right place I will donate my old equipment to a home for hearing impaired ex-arena concert show engineers.

Nsgarch, would your BEST badge be large enough to cover the "Reference Signature Mk 3" label on the power supply chasis of my active power cords? You also implied that I was a flaming audiophile - I know what that means!

Boa2/Zaikesman, everybody and their mother-in-law is practicing the 48 Laws and it's time to move on. I'm told the estate of Gene Roddenberry is about the publish the Ferengi Laws of Acquisition along with a matching video and an optional weekend retreat seminar. It will probably debut #1 on the WSJ list.

I'm told the estate of Gene Roddenberry is about the publish the Ferengi Laws of Acquisition along with a matching video and an optional weekend retreat seminar.

If Leonard Nimoy is doing the soundtrack to the video, I'm placing an SACD on hold now with Amazon.