So I have a hypothetical questions that I have been thinking about lately and I was curious to hear what other Head-Fi members thought. Here it goes:
Company X has made some technological breakthrough and has managed to make a perfect all-in-on system that outperforms every other piece of equipment, regardless of it's price or design. There has never been a better DAC/PreAmp/PowerAmp, either separate or combined and there will never be a better one. It pairs perfectly with every known speaker/headphones and cables have no effect on it. It's comes in a simplistic metal box that is neither aesthetically pleasing nor gaudy, but is instead completely unassuming. To own one, there is a catch: you would have to get rid of all your components to have it ($500,000 or $50) and then pay $500 to cover the cost of production for the device. Would you do it?
Over time, I have realized in home audio that visuals, perceived value (e.g. higher cost = higher quality (not always true)), customization (cable and component matching), and audio quality are the central pillars. Would you forgo the first three to obtain the final one?
The main reason I ask this is that I feel within this hobby are a few things that are unspoken but ring very true for all of us.
1. Driving the best (and albeit most expensive) headphones known to man by a $50 headphone amp as your primary setup feels inherently wrong, even if it sounds killer. Subconsciously we question whether or not this is right.
2. Let's be honest, this is a hobby where people flex wealth. I am looking at you guy with the Audeze LCD-4 connected to your Sony DMP-Z1 with a god tiered cables. I highly doubt you posted that photo for completely pure-of-heart reasons.
3. We have a hard time believing that something out of this world can be attainable for a price that most people can afford.
Thoughts?
tl;dr - Would you trade all your audio gear in for the best sounding system ever, even if you knew it was cheap and no stunning to look at?
Company X has made some technological breakthrough and has managed to make a perfect all-in-on system that outperforms every other piece of equipment, regardless of it's price or design. There has never been a better DAC/PreAmp/PowerAmp, either separate or combined and there will never be a better one. It pairs perfectly with every known speaker/headphones and cables have no effect on it. It's comes in a simplistic metal box that is neither aesthetically pleasing nor gaudy, but is instead completely unassuming. To own one, there is a catch: you would have to get rid of all your components to have it ($500,000 or $50) and then pay $500 to cover the cost of production for the device. Would you do it?
Over time, I have realized in home audio that visuals, perceived value (e.g. higher cost = higher quality (not always true)), customization (cable and component matching), and audio quality are the central pillars. Would you forgo the first three to obtain the final one?
The main reason I ask this is that I feel within this hobby are a few things that are unspoken but ring very true for all of us.
1. Driving the best (and albeit most expensive) headphones known to man by a $50 headphone amp as your primary setup feels inherently wrong, even if it sounds killer. Subconsciously we question whether or not this is right.
2. Let's be honest, this is a hobby where people flex wealth. I am looking at you guy with the Audeze LCD-4 connected to your Sony DMP-Z1 with a god tiered cables. I highly doubt you posted that photo for completely pure-of-heart reasons.
3. We have a hard time believing that something out of this world can be attainable for a price that most people can afford.
Thoughts?
tl;dr - Would you trade all your audio gear in for the best sounding system ever, even if you knew it was cheap and no stunning to look at?