ASR MEMBERS: What System Would YOU Choose To Blow Away Non-Audiophiles?

[MattHooper]

Wasn't sure how to phrase the thread title but...

I was re-visiting a couple ASR threads discussing some articles about audiophiles and high end audio. I'm sure many remember the discussions of this article:

Audiophilia and its discontents

Corner Club Cathedral Cocoon, by Sasha Frere-Jones

Audiophilia and its discontents

harpers.org

And

The New York Times visit Ojas:

His Audio Speakers Are Coveted by Supreme, Mark Ronson and Prada (Published 2022)

Devon Turnbull is the founder of Ojas, a high-end audio company. Previously, he was the streetwear pioneer behind Nom de Guerre.

www.nytimes.com

I think the main annoyance with such articles is this: Here we are with some big magazines deigning to write articles about high end audio, and what do we get? A focus on all sorts of goofy retro gear, tube amps and the like. Another missed opportunity to describe where audio actually is now, the advances available, e.g. powered speakers, DSP etc.

So my question is:

If you had the power to have an article written, in which the author and other non-audiophiles were introduced to high end audio, AND were given listening experiences to see what it's all about, to impress them: what type of gear would you talk about and want to demonstrate?

Cost is no object, dream up whatever system you'd think would wow the subjects and demonstrate what can be done. So it's your chance to represent High End Audio in an article, what do you choose?

 

[sweetchaos]

Pick any of the well-performing speakers and subs from my lists:

Active Speaker Recommendations for USA (by sweetchaos)
Passive Speaker Recommendations for USA (by sweetchaos)
Subwoofer Comparison

Plus room correction software of choice.

 

[JSmith]

In the end though... what really is "high-end audio"? It always seems to be about cost and appearances... not always high fidelity audio reproduction.


JSmith

 

[8bits]

I would bring them to a SOTA Atmos/Spatial audio mixing studio
or
Anechoic chamber with 2 systems, one pair of SOTA speakers and a normie big chain big name pair of speakers for comparison

 

[Keith_W]

For non-audiophiles, I would emphasize volume (lots of it), surround sound, and bass ... because all that is impressive.

I think they have a different set of priorities to us. We want low distortion, good spatial reproduction, even frequency response with no peaks and as few dips as possible. Untrained listeners don't know how to listen for this. A setup with panel speakers won't impress, even if they possess all the characteristics we value.

 

[DavidShe]

HOLOPLOT technologies: 3D Audio-Beamforming and Wave Field Synthesis.

Sound Control

HOLOPLOT 3D Audio-Beamforming provides precise control over sound on both axes and over long distances. Create multiple zones, targeted audio experiences, and innovate immersive installations.

holoplot.com

 

[MarkS]

I don't think there is a one-size-fits-all answer here. I would want to interview the person I was trying to impress, find out what kind of music they like, what's important to them (if anything) if the sound they currently get, etc etc etc.

And the vast majority of people are perfectly happy with sound thet we would all think is awful, and hance are essentially unimpressable.

 

[beeface]

Maybe a B&O Beolab 90 - it’s visually interesting and has some nice tech

 

[Waxx]

Big JBL's always work for that. They are impressive looking, powerfull and good sounding in any way. Maybe add a few subs for deep bass and better room integration and dsp to tune everything, and you're done.

A JBL 4367 or M2 based setup with a few subs, MiniDSP and Purifi based amps in nice cases would be perfect.

 

[suttondesign]

i have not met a casual music listener who would appreciate the qualitative difference between dutch 8c and bose boozpods or whatever. i think it’s because they listen to music, not equipment. actually, I fault myself for sometimes losing sight of that.

 

[MattHooper]

i have not met a casual music listener who would appreciate the qualitative difference between dutch 8c and bose boozpods or whatever. i think it’s because they listen to music, not equipment. actually, I fault myself for sometimes losing sight of that.

Really? Every casual music listener, or “non-audiophile” who has listened to my systems over the years has been blown away. Even the typical “oh I don t know anything about this stuff and probably won’t be able to hear a difference” types. I know I’m far from alone.

 

[Snarfie]

.
My system combined with room correction works fine in that aspect. Some of them (non audiophiles) are looking behind the speakers wondering were the sound comes from.
But none of them where eager to buy such equipment.

 

[Berlin]

Mac Mini -> RME ADI-2 DAC FS -> ME Geithain RL 901K

 

[antcollinet]

Top end Genelecs with dual sub, and all the room EQ they can dish out.

Combined with a Wiim pro connected digitally.

Same (just more of it) if you want multichannel, but then apple music and apple TV as the delivery into surround processor.

 

[Sal1950]

I would bring them to a SOTA Atmos/Spatial audio mixing studio

Ditto

A JBL 4367 or M2 based setup with a few subs, MiniDSP and Purifi based amps in nice cases would be perfect.

Or a well configured home based Atmos/Spatial system built around above speaker systems

 

[Waxx]

Ditto

Or a well configured home based Atmos/Spatial system built around above speaker systems

I would not, as many find it for music very artificial sounding. People are not used to that kind of sound for music. And second, the atmos music libary is very limited in titles, lacking a lot of music i and my friends would like...

For HT, Atmos is great, but not for music. At least not in my and many opinions...

 

[Purité Audio]

Something full-range and room corrected that everyone could easily use and enjoy that switched at the touch of a button between music and TV.
Keith

 

[FrantzM]

Hi
in a typical hotel room say 6 x 4 x 3 meters. (LxWxH)

At the risk of tooting my own horn ...

1 x Denon AVR-X3800
2 x JBL LSR 308
2 X SVS PB-1000
1 x Audyssey MultEQ-X software
That could be less than $3000.... total..


Throw in almost anything this side of what we can identify as High-End,
say a pair of LS3/5A or HEA-equivalent or which there are several (and equally bad sounding ), Price for speakers, must be $3000.oo,
Some typical (read expensive) HEA integrated amplifier with, at least , again, $3000... but, up to $10K,
Typical "entry-level" audiophile DAC/streamer, something >$2000, say a BS Audio...
Get the cables, again "entry level" HEA, Say some Audioquest or Synergistic research..
Make sure the total equipment expenditure is at least $20,000.oo,...

For the audition, Dim the lights so that the equipment are not seen. Invite audiophiles and non-audiophiles alike and ...

Peace....


P.S

 

[jools]

Really? Every casual music listener, or “non-audiophile” who has listened to my systems over the years has been blown away. Even the typical “oh I don t know anything about this stuff and probably won’t be able to hear a difference” types. I know I’m far from alone.

Maybe I've never had a good enough system but I've generally found people to like what they're used to and resistant to change - whether what they're used to is an all-in-one system, earpods or (bit more controversially) vinyl.

 

[DavidEdwinAston]

Really? Every casual music listener, or “non-audiophile” who has listened to my systems over the years has been blown away. Even the typical “oh I don t know anything about this stuff and probably won’t be able to hear a difference” types. I know I’m far from alone.

Get off Matt! They've only said that to be polite! And you know it.