Thank you for this. The penny is dropping. It was driving me crazy (well, not really) that speakers can cost half a million dollars, because when stripped down to parts it wasn't making sense. I think I read somewhere the raw materials of an iPhone are something like $2 in total
Getting back to expensive systems, hi-fi shows, of course are the way perhaps most audiophiles have a chance to hear the crazy expensive stuff.
I’ve always found it fascinating, both from my own experience attending shows over the years as well as reading reports from other audiophiles, that many people’s “ best of show” moments have come from more modest set ups versus the oligarch set ups.
It could be sitting down in front of some (perhaps affordable ) stand mounted monitors that just end up transfixing you more than you might get from the big rigs.
Over the years I’ve had some amazing discoveries at audio shows that were far from the most expensive stuff there. One CES audio show I was completely taken by Thiel CS6 speakers powered by tube amplifiers.
I didn’t even know you could do Thiels and tubes. I eventually re-created the type of sound I heard in that room in my own home with Thiel CS6 speaker speakers and tube amps.
And you can also sometimes hear something in the more expensive stuff that can sort of tip you off in a direction that can be rewarding.
Or even look lower in that manufacturers line to the more affordable stuff that might have a similar presentation.
For me that was the case Numerous times.
It was upon hearing the unaffordable MBL 101 omnis at a show which blew my mind, that eventually led to my owning one of their smaller more “affordable” speakers. I got essentially the same type of Sonic characteristics at home as I heard in the big ones.
That also happened when I heard top of the line speakers from Hales and Joseph Audio at some big audio shows. Even though they’re top of line speakers weren’t nearly as expensive as lots of stuff there, they stuck out as “ best in show” moments for me, and I eventually ended up owning some of their more affordable speakers, which gave me plenty of sonic bliss.
There have been so many times hearing a system at a show where some interesting character characteristics stuck out where I thought “ I really like that” and it led me to some interesting journeys.
I know I’m far from alone in that.