What's your dream system?

[anmpr1]

This appeared at an enthusiasts hifi show in the UK several years ago. I


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I wouldn't trade my LX521s for anything (nice to see them get a couple of mentions in this thread), but a big horn system would be a great addition if I had the space.

That's the one room of the house this guy's wife never enters.

 

[Victoria]

No love for Bang & Olufsen?

My dream system would be a pair of B&O Beolab 50’s (or even the older Beolab 5’s) in a nice dedicated listening room and that will be all! No DAC, no amplifier; just a pair of stunningly beautiful speakers with built-in room EQ and et cetera.

I’ve really begun to appreciate B&O more and more over the years. Yes, they’re expensive, but you do get a lot of value given everything that is built in; and they do service their products even years after they’ve long been discontinued. I’ve got a friend with a pair of Beolab 1’s from like two decades ago still going strong and recently serviced. I’ve also become a lot more minimalistic and less tolerant of equipment clutter over the years and this is one area where B&O really excels at with their active speakers.

I’m also quite fond of ICEpower (even my old amplifier used ICEpower modules), so there’s that. I know a lot of people see B&O as more “lifestyle” than “audiophile” (pfft!) but their speakers even lower down the price range do sound pretty darn good.

I’m currently rocking a Beosound 1 Gen 2 as my bedside speaker and I absolutely adore it; I’ve never enjoyed music so much while just taking it easy in bed away from my main system and I’m most certainly going to go with larger B&O system for my bedroom in the future.

 

[Frank Dernie]

This appeared at an enthusiasts hifi show in the UK several years ago. I think it was called the Communal Monster Horny System or some such thing - anyway it was completely effortless and room filling. A great bit of fun.

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I wouldn't trade my LX521s for anything (nice to see them get a couple of mentions in this thread), but a big horn system would be a great addition if I had the space.

Ah Scalford!
That was a system put together by 3 members of the WAM iirc. I remember them setting it up during Saturday with Coco using a DSP crossover I think, It was indeed a lot of fun.
Shame the Wam has changed so much and the new venue couldn't house something like that.

 

[Sgt. Ear Ache]

For me this is a tough question to answer. I don't really have any specific "dream" equipment. I mean given unlimited financial resources, I'm sure I'd have a really nice high-end setup...but I'm not sure I'd appreciate it any more than I do my current budget rig. I have a really simple, bare-bones system now that cost me less than $1500 and it sounds really great afaic. I'm also a bit of a cheapskate...lol. Today's me would have a hard time really enjoying an expensive setup. I'd be all "well it sounds great, but is this rig really 20 times better than my old one??"

 

[JeffS7444]

As I read through the responses I see a definite trend away from the audiophile publication ethic of conventional design passive speakers hooked up to wildly expensive "pride of ownership" electronics. Rather the tilt is towards larger active studio monitors from Neumann, Genelec and JBL. I'm not surprised. It also shows an interest in super high dynamic range, high impact, right up front music listening.

I currently have Linkwitz Plutos (active, biamplified), and almost all of the other speakers I might like to sample are likewise active: Linkwitz LX521, LX-Mini, JBL 705P, Genelec coaxial monitors, Grimm Audio, etc. But the Plutos + room correction sound mighty good to me and I've felt little incentive to try something else.

Electronics: I always had a thing for compactness: Think late 1970s Technics micro-components. So small (ha!) wonder if I currently use a Benchmark DAC2 HGC as my preamplifier. It packs almost everything short of DSP into it's 1/2-rack, 1U form factor.

 

[JeffS7444]

No love for Bang & Olufsen?

Definitely some interesting offerings there from a design and tech point of view, but beyond the $3K range or so, it looks like I'd need to make an appointment and travel a long ways to check out something that I can't afford to buy right now. Beolab 90? I wish! That plus my Hans Wenger shell chair shall have to wait for another day, but maybe I could consider B&O's wireless "picnic basket".

 

[Ron Texas]

For me this is a tough question to answer. I don't really have any specific "dream" equipment. I mean given unlimited financial resources, I'm sure I'd have a really nice high-end setup...but I'm not sure I'd appreciate it any more than I do my current budget rig.

Two interesting thoughts. First, how much is unlimited resources? (anyone) In 2016 the top .1% of people in the US has a net worth of $43 million. I can't find a 2019 number and the authors of that study started with a 2012 estimate which they thought was fuzzy and adjusted it for inflation of financial assets. The top 1% is around $11 million. There are a lot of rich people in the USA.

The second thought is whether it's worth it to go out and spend say $20,000 or more on audio gear. This one is totally in the eye of the beholder and it probably keeps a lot of well off people from upgrading. What I have noticed is some of the technically savvy members around here have assembled kick ass systems for not small, but reasonable amounts. Some have been lucky with used gear, but that has it's own risks. I had a pair of speakers around here which seemed functional after a quick check, but had something very wrong with them. They were replaced under warranty.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

No love for Bang & Olufsen?

I understand that the company is up for sale but the price is also up!
https://www.thejakartapost.com/news...rs-after-chairman-says-hes-ready-to-sell.html

 

[Ron Texas]

I understand that the company is up for sale but the price is also up!

Seems like a lot of companies got sold, B&W, Harmann, Dynaudio and probably some I missed.

 

[FrantzM]

No love for Bang & Olufsen?

My dream system would be a pair of B&O Beolab 50’s (or even the older Beolab 5’s) in a nice dedicated listening room and that will be all! No DAC, no amplifier; just a pair of stunningly beautiful speakers with built-in room EQ and et cetera.

I’ve really begun to appreciate B&O more and more over the years. Yes, they’re expensive, but you do get a lot of value given everything that is built in; and they do service their products even years after they’ve long been discontinued. I’ve got a friend with a pair of Beolab 1’s from like two decades ago still going strong and recently serviced. I’ve also become a lot more minimalistic and less tolerant of equipment clutter over the years and this is one area where B&O really excels at with their active speakers.

I’m also quite fond of ICEpower (even my old amplifier used ICEpower modules), so there’s that. I know a lot of people see B&O as more “lifestyle” than “audiophile” (pfft!) but their speakers even lower down the price range do sound pretty darn good.

I’m currently rocking a Beosound 1 Gen 2 as my bedside speaker and I absolutely adore it; I’ve never enjoyed music so much while just taking it easy in bed away from my main system and I’m most certainly going to go with larger B&O system for my bedroom in the future.

FWIW I have been shocked in lengthy auditions of the Beilab 5 speakers at a B&O store and later at an audiophile in fL in his (untreated) living room. I tunesd out those encounters but now that you mention it... A pair of those speakers would make a serious audio system in most living rooms. They are spectacular. I have the feeling that the Beolab 50 are similarly good They don’t have all the bells and whistles of the 90 but could well provide 80% of the performance. Something to consider.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Seems like a lot of companies got sold, B&W, Harmann, Dynaudio and probably some I missed.

For sale is not sold.

 

[Victoria]

but maybe I could consider B&O's wireless "picnic basket".

I’d strongly encourage you to consider the Beosound 1’s over the Beolit 17 “Picnic Basket” (haha that’s what I call it too!) if you can afford it. I own the Beosound 1 and I’ve tested the Beolit 17 extensively as I originally thought of buying one for my kitchen, and I found that the Beolit 17 was a little too bass heavy and not quite as in control of the drivers (in that the bass is “boomier” and not as tight) as the Beosound 1.

FWIW I have been shocked in lengthy auditions of the Beilab 5 speakers at a B&O store and later at an audiophile in fL in his (untreated) living room. I tunesd out those encounters but now that you mention it... A pair of those speakers would make a serious audio system in most living rooms. They are spectacular. I have the feeling that the Beolab 50 are similarly good They don’t have all the bells and whistles of the 90 but could well provide 80% of the performance. Something to consider.

Yep!! Also the Beolab 5 can be had for a pretty bloody good price in the second hand market from a number of pretty reputable resellers who specialise in B&O for the resale market. If I had the space I’d own a pair by now.

 

[Ron Texas]

For sale is not sold.

That's for sure.

 

[jonfitch]

TAD CR1 if I can ever get a good deal on a used one.

Or a used Genelec 8351B in white or black finish, if anything like that ever hits the used market.

 

[anmpr1]

No love for Bang & Olufsen?

Beolab 5 was an excellent speaker. Also, their erstwhile linear tracking record players. Very modern and high-tech. Visually appealing.

Others mention the company is for sale. A brief look at their Web site shows a lot of 'lifestyle' products fronted by fashionable people you don't know, but might see in a trendy magazine. Designer wi-fi boom boxes. Headphone travel bags selling for a Ben Franklin.

On the hi-fi side, a very strange looking floor standing speaker priced as much as an Audi A8L (which probably uses a B&O sound system).

What for? Can someone explain the B&O product mix? What it is supposed to represent, who it might appeal to, and how it can be profitable?

Sorry to see them go, if they go. B&O seems to be a company offering a solution to a problem no one has. File them under ReVox, Nakamichi, and a few others.

 

[Ilkless]

Critical listening in the sweet spot: Genelec 8361 + BACCH + Okto DAC8 + multi-subs from a top-class direct-sale subwoofer specialist (think PSA/Seaton and so on). And a room to match.

Probably a CBT with subs for the living room due to the exceptional coverage.

 

[JeffS7444]

...priced as much as an Audi A8L...
Can someone explain the B&O product mix? ...who it might appeal to...?

I don't know, who is an Audi A8L supposed to appeal to?

 

[anmpr1]

I don't know, who is an Audi A8L supposed to appeal to?

I know you are being facetious, but I will answer seriously. If you have a Porsche 911 Turbo S in your garage as your weekender, and if your wife is driving a GLS to ferry the kids to dance lessions and baseball practice, then you might want a large sedan... for moving business partners back and forth. Not only that, if, say, you live in China, large sedans are where a lot of business deals go down. Away from prying eyes and ears.

However, the point I was making (and the point you most likely understand but are avoiding): what kind of company sells an obviously state of the art speaker for 100 large, while the rest of their product line exists simply as expensive fashion-ware lifestyle glamour things? Where is that company going, and what is their goal? And how can management expect to sell a company like that? In this economy?

 

[Kal Rubinson]

However, the point I was making (and the point you most likely understand but are avoiding): what kind of company sells an obviously state of the art speaker for 100 large, while the rest of their product line exists simply as expensive fashion-ware lifestyle glamour things? Where is that company going, and what is their goal? And how can management expect to sell a company like that? In this economy?

This was a product made to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the company and, according to the guy who headed the engineering/design, it was the first time that the company asked for a speaker but did not specify any constraints about cost, size or appearance, a priori. That might assure a difference from their other products.

 

[Sprint]

Critical listening in the sweet spot: Genelec 8361 + BACCH + Okto DAC8 + multi-subs from a top-class direct-sale subwoofer specialist (think PSA/Seaton and so on). And a room to match.

Probably a CBT with subs for the living room due to the exceptional coverage.

What is CBT?