Which came first, the chicken or the egg


Where do you start? Building HT system (Budget $50K New discounted or used). Just finished ASC's WALL DAMP SYSTEM. Now need quality built and sounding electronics. Something recognized by audiophiles (just in case I turn into a junkie and want to dump it in a few months without getting killed, or laughted at). Value priced and not obsolete before its broken in. Tube or transistor but would like 7.1 capabilities. 75% home theater, 25% good stereo listening.
JUMP IN ! Put a system together and be ready to defend your picks to your death, or yield to someone more experienced and knowledgable.(I've read some of the posts, it can get nasty). You have been challenged.... who's first?
blob7
Bmpnyc,I get your point.You say it will over take viynl at some point.Well we have been waiting almost 20 years since we where told about perfect sound forever.
One more thing your 5 channel rig will be obselete or is allready 6.1 7.1 8.1 9.1 10.1 do you think they will ever stop trying to sell you stuff.
Leafs, not everybody wants the perfect sound. Some people want a compromise. Some people want a HT setup that will do a decent job on 2 ch. That's what I want. That's what I have. Will it match your tube/vinyl tweaked and tweased rig in 2ch.? No. Is it even close. Probably not. Is it exactly what I want? Yes. Have I been lied to? No. It's exactly what I want.
Hi Leafs, I think the point I was mentioning will be sooner than 5 years. I appreciate just how well served we have been by records and stereo equipment, but certainly that can't be the last word. Stereo itself was a compromise. If I am not mistaken, those who designed the first stereo set ups wanted a third channel, but though it impractical for public acceptance at that time. I have heard some fantastic vinyl rigs directly compared to SACD, and both had certain aspects that were superior to the other. Vinyl edged out the 2 channel SACD player by a nose. It is still early in the lifespan of that technology, and that was before 5 channel SACD was introduced. Of course there will be silly approaches to mixing for 5 channels, but engineers will get the hang of it , and when a recording is done from start to finish with 5 channel SACD or DVD-A in mind, with top artists and engineers I don't think even the best vinyl rigs will be as impressive. It just takes too much money for the average audiophile to get to that level right now. Yes, I can see the day coming when 10.2 channels will be the norm for high end Home Theater/surround audio, but should we stop progress just because it seems like overkill today? I bet in 30 years there will be a thin panel or two that hangs on the wall and excites the room, reproducing absolutely realistic audio, kind of like Star Trek (pardon the analogy), and all those bulky speakers will go in the trash, but until then, I am planning my 5.1 system for growth, and am ready for two more channels or 5.1 more channels if needs be. I get a real kick out of sounding better than any theater I've been to, and having a damn good 2 channel playback when I am in that mood, (which is quite often) I just hope I have a bigger apartment by then! By the way, I doubt anyone ever bought a CD player thinking "now I have perfect sound forever". Also the last time heard 140 watt Vac monoblocks run out of steam when really cranked, the distortion was as annoying as any obvious distortion. What kind of distortion are you talking about? The only obvious solid state distortion I have heard is when it starts beating up an anemic speaker.
Hey AG, what happened to my "edit this post"? I really appreciate being able to amend an error or two.
whatjd you need to go to :" get a life.com." Yes I have ordered and paid for some equipment, but after reading and asking for advice, aren't I allowed to ask other people's opinion, and then "change my mind"????? What a concept!!!!
Have you ever changed your mind? Or even thought about it? You're probably too busy criticizing everyone else.
You haven't been "had", I don't have time for games. I just wanted some good advice from people that have travelled the road ahead of me. So if you don't have anything constructive to add to this post, go bug somebody else.