Why most users here HATE all very expensive speakers?

[Ropeburn]

The guy is Japanese. They have a hard earned reputation of taking obsessions to the absolute extreme. All or nothing. When you do something , do it right. They have many people with a level of obsession to detail and thoroughness that make me as a German humble and jealous.

 

[Sokel]

Let's do a short of scientific thought experiment based at what we have on hand.

Let's assume we have an active speaker with good measurements, short of full range with overall low distortion at 96dB SPL.
Now, we want to have identical performance but at 120dB SPL. That's it, nothing else, forget looks, etc.

What would be the minimum price premium to do that, lets define it in percentage if we can.
By pure physics alone, nothing cosmetic or any other price differentiator.

Can anyone tell?

 

[Karmacoma]

Depends. Did you see that video about the Japanese guy with his own transformer/utility pole? Some people are merely wealth but push all their resources into one thing.

lol.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Let's do a short of scientific thought experiment based at what we have on hand.

Let's assume we have an active speaker with good measurements, short of full range with overall low distortion at 96dB SPL.
Now, we want to have identical performance but at 120dB SPL. That's it, nothing else, forget looks, etc.

What would be the minimum price premium to do that, lets define it in percentage if we can.
By pure physics alone, nothing cosmetic or any other price differentiator.

Can anyone tell?

Do you want below 1%@120dB or "just" inaudible distortion? What amount of distortion would be acceptable?

 

[Karmacoma]

Let's do a short of scientific thought experiment based at what we have on hand.

Let's assume we have an active speaker with good measurements, short of full range with overall low distortion at 96dB SPL.
Now, we want to have identical performance but at 120dB SPL. That's it, nothing else, forget looks, etc.

What would be the minimum price premium to do that, lets define it in percentage if we can.
By pure physics alone, nothing cosmetic or any other price differentiator.

Can anyone tell?

That's an impossible question to answer, you need to add a lot more parameters to get an even remotely accurate answer.

 

[Imakeller]

Haters gonna hate

I don’t think most people are introspective and self aware enough to really understand their reflexive responses to something like super expensive speakers or amplifiers, etc. They’ll trash these items in absence of objective data, yet still proclaim their “guilty until proven innocent” stance on performance, value, and desirability is scientific. I think there’s a lot more to it than that from a psychological and sociological perspective, but your post sums it up as good as any.

 

[Sokel]

The guy is Japanese. They have a hard earned reputation of taking obsessions to the absolute extreme. All or nothing. When you do something , do it right. They have many people with a level of obsession to detail and thoroughness that make me as a German humble and jealous.

Korean are not much different, there's a scene at about 1:14:00 at Netflix's "High Society" (a little spicy to pic, so one has to see it for itself) with an absurd horn system playing the beautiful Bizet's "Je crois, entendre encore" .

Far from the audiophile standard listening conditions, but looks like a LOT of fun.

 

[Robin L]

Honestly, I can’t think of any objective measurements or even subjective evaluations — such as properly conducted blind tests — that would convince the majority here that a very expensive speaker could truly be among the best available. Can you think of a hypothetical scenario where this is the case?

I guess that all depends on what one means by "very expensive". I also guess that measurement of speaker performance would be more relevant than price. In any case, if this isn't expensive enough for you, I really don't think there's much more to discuss:

Genelec 1236A studio monitor

 

[Sokel]

That's an impossible question to answer, you need to add a lot more parameters to get an even remotely accurate answer.

I tried to do the opposite, subtract anything else but pure performance.

 

[NTK]

Let's do a short of scientific thought experiment based at what we have on hand.

Let's assume we have an active speaker with good measurements, short of full range with overall low distortion at 96dB SPL.
Now, we want to have identical performance but at 120dB SPL. That's it, nothing else, forget looks, etc.

What would be the minimum price premium to do that, lets define it in percentage if we can.
By pure physics alone, nothing cosmetic or any other price differentiator.

Can anyone tell?

Amir gave a golfing panther to Meyer Sound's Amie. Distortions at 96 dB SPL isn't too low given its size. I think the next step up that is NFS tested (by Erin) would be the JBL M2.

Meyer Sound Amie Monitor Review

This is a review, listening test and detailed measurements of the Meyer Sound Amie Studio (active) monitor speaker. It is on kind loan from a member and costs US $4,080 each (sold in pairs?). The deep, horn like waveguide sets the speaker apart from its competitors. The large throat of the...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Sokel]

Do you want below 1%@120dB or "just" inaudible distortion? What amount of distortion would be acceptable?

Let's make it reasonable, 3% for both, down to at least 30Hz.

 

[Ropeburn]

Korean are not much different, there's a scene at about 1:14:00 at Netflix's "High Society" (a little spicy to pic, so one has to see it for itself) with an absurd horn system playing the beautiful Bizet's "Je crois, entendre encore" .

Far from the audiophile standard listening conditions, but looks like a LOT of fun.

Iirc, Japan was settled from today's Korea, so that's not surprising. They share ethno-cultural origins and it seems to show.

 

[Robin L]

You'll love this DJ

Yousuke Yokimatsu

"Jeezuz, I'm sooooo PoMo!"

Where do I sign up?

 

[Ropeburn]

There's a lot of fake edits for laughs of his sets out there, but he really plays like that. When you look up "eclectic" in the dictionary, there's a picture of Yokimatsu.

A hifi store or brand hiring him for demonstrating their speakers, now THAT would be something. Although he seems quite popular, so chances are only high end ones can afford him.

 

[sqrl]

Depends. Did you see that video about the Japanese guy with his own transformer/utility pole? Some people are merely wealth but push all their resources into one thing.

I'd be scunnered if I'd shelled out for a 24" turntable and could only find 12" LPs.

 

[Oddball]

Let's make it reasonable, 3% for both, down to at least 30Hz.

Now you got me - what are those beasts in the god's garden - 3% THD at 120dB - I assume we measure at 1M?. If any passive to fit that, I am Japanese at heart so might attempt the ceremonial death due to shame and defeat.

 

[IPunchCholla]

Let's make it reasonable, 3% for both, down to at least 30Hz.

This thread made me look at the pro (L-acoustics, Meyer, Jbl) systems. Most of them seem to be aiming for 45hz to 20khz, +- 4dB. 120 slot plus headroom. With prices being around $80k for a pair. I didn’t see distortion spec.

The low end being set to 45hz across a number of brands intrigues me as even though I play a five string bass with B0, I’m pretty convinced I’m getting most of that deep sound from a missing fundamental effect. I generally have been high passing the really low end and if anything it sounds deeper and cleaner.

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Veblen Goods

Conspicuous Consumption

 

[MattHooper]

I maintain my assumption that people with f**k you money buy this as a social status. They are either too busy making money or spending them than sitting down and listen.

I’ve never bought that argument.

For one thing, lots of these very high price speakers or statement speakers are not the kind of thing most people care about. The audiophile thing is a niche worn now than ever. I’ve been a many rich people’s homes and I’m always amazed… being an audiophile… at the lack of interest shown in the house for good audio systems.
There’s been a couple times where I spotted high-end gear, but when I had the inevitable conversation with the owner, the dude turned out to be clearly an audiophile like me, and we would enthusiastically geek out talking about audio gear.

Similarly, tons of celebrities have f-you money and you can see all sorts of celebrity home room tours with nothing showing or mentioned in terms of fancy sound systems.
The occasional time you do see truly high and gear, it tends to come with the revelation that yes, the owner is into that type of thing.


One obvious example would be Fabio and his gigantic Martin Logan system. Or Henry Rollins who is clearly a passionate audiophile with his big Wilson Alexandria speakers and big monobloc amplifiers. Elijah Wood he’s a big vinyl enthusiast with a horns and tube based preference. Jimmy Fallon uses high end gear. Clint Eastwood had a top-tier system. etc

Basically, I see rich people who would actually buy this type of gear as a niche and they are niche because they happen to be audiophiles and can afford these offerings.

On the other hand, I have heard about a different dynamic in the Asian market.
I’ve heard through the grapevine that some companies have been asked by their dealers to create more expensive tiers of their products, at the request of some of their wealthy clients. So maybe there is some sort of rich guy competition mindset going on there. I wouldn’t know just repeating some of what I’ve heard.

But I personally have not seen that dynamic among western wealthy audiophiles.

 

[Sokel]

This thread made me look at the pro (L-acoustics, Meyer, Jbl) systems. Most of them seem to be aiming for 45hz to 20khz, +- 4dB. 120 slot plus headroom. With prices being around $80k for a pair. I didn’t see distortion spec.

The low end being set to 45hz across a number of brands intrigues me as even though I play a five string bass with B0, I’m pretty convinced I’m getting most of that deep sound from a missing fundamental effect. I generally have been high passing the really low end and if anything it sounds deeper and cleaner.

Most pro-audio drivers for bass guitar recommend a ~30Hz hi-pass which depending the slope affects higher as well.
Good 45Hz and strong mid-bass work miracles for chest punch, at even lower than 120dB SPL.