Supreme possible sound.

[Dhimself]

I'm looking for two things: The best portable and home audio setup money can buy. Price is no object; I don't care if I have to travel, commission labor or import equipment from the four corners of the globe -- I just want to know what it is. Best speakers, DACs, amps, phones, DAPs, cords, and whatever else I need to make my listening experience no less than -perfect-. I know individual sound is key, so I'll mention that I prefer a warmer sound, but I'm not willing to sacrifice an ounce of detail. Thank you in advance. I look forward to your recommendations.

 

[jjcha]

No offense mate, but you've asked an impossible question to answer. And I kinda don't really see the point to it, other than to appease some idle curiosity as to what the "best" might be.

If you really do have the budget, and are looking for the "best" product for you, let me know and I've got plenty of suggestions on where to begin your hunt. Also let us know your musical preferences. But even then, it'll just be a list of suggested products that you'll have to listen to for yourself, with your music and with your ears. And even then, you can't find the "best" for you without going through the journey for yourself.

If your question is just one coming out of curiosity as to what is popularly understood to be the top, well, I'm sure there are others who are more interested in answering that question.

Best regards,

-Jason

 

[r0b]

Hello,

I'm not sure about the best portable setup, but I can tell you about some experiences I've had at a store called Audio High... see links below.

They had a setup that completely blew me away, and really opened my ears. I can honestly say I didn't know music could sound so good until I went there. (I currently have etymotic ER-4S headphones, and I thought they were pretty damn good.) I even thought it was better than their headphone setup. Anyway, here's what I can remember about their setups:

--==setup 1: analog==--
source = Acutus Chrome / SME V / Clearaudio Accurate (Turntable / Arm / Cartridge)
phono stage = Chord Electronics Symphonic Phono Preamplifier
pre amp = Chord Electronics Prima Preamplifier
amps = two Chord Electronics SPM 1400E Monoblock Amplifiers
interconnects / wires = ?
speakers = Peak Consult Empress

--==setup 2a: digital, "Chord Electronics" cd system==--
source: Blu Transport
dac: DAC64 D/A Converter
pre amp: Prima Preamplifier
amps: two SPM 1400E Monoblock Amplifiers
speakers: Peak Consult Empress

--==setup2b: digital, "McCormack" sacd / dvda system==--
source & dac?: UDP-1 Universal Player
preamp: MAP-1 Multichannel Preamplifier
amps: two Chord Electronics SPM 1400E Monoblock Amplifiers
speakers: Peak Consult Empress

--==setup3: headphone==--
source: California Labs transport (that company is no longer in business) or some Denon SACD/DVDA player.
preamp: Grace Design m902 dac/pre-amp/headphone amp
headphones: you choose... or even bring your own

My experiences:
I heard Pink Floyd's "Money" (from the "Dark Side of the Moon" album) on vinyl using setup 1, on SACD using setup 2b, and on a regular CD using setup 2a. The soundstage on vinyl was unbelievable. I knew and saw the size of the room, but the soundstage was not bounded by the walls. I've never heard anything better than that yet. I wasn't even listening to their Calix Phoenix Grand Signature loudspeaker ($67,500/pair), but those Empress loudspeakers ($28,000/pair) were impressive nonetheless. On SACD, the image came back into the confines of the room. It still sounded good, but I heard that the mastering process doesn't always work well on every sacd anyway. I don't have an SACD player so I can't tell, except for the performance on their high-end setup. The CD-player sounded just as good as the SACD in this instance. I also listened to some Tetra ($1.5k/pair) and Epos ($0.3k/pair) speakers that sounded quite good for their price.

I told the salesperson I don't even want to know the prices of anything else after he told me that the Empress loudspeakers are $28k/pair, cause then I'll cry, but... If you're curious, here's my guesses! (You'll really have to ask someone more knowledgable for these prices)

I think the McCormack setup (universal player -> pre-amp) is around $6k to $8k

I think the
Chord Electronics setup is at least $8k and more likely $13k.

I think the turntable/arm/cartridge is $15k all together.

I have no idea how much the interconnects or speaker cables cost, but I remember that the speaker cables were about 1.25" in diameter. (I have a 500W monoblock in my car, and I don't have wires that thick!)

Anyway, the guy there (Eugene I think) is really cool. His philosophy seems to be to just let you hear really good music, and your ears will tell you what you need to know. So if money isn't an issue, I'd head there for some TRULY EXCELLENT service! And you can try the AKG-1000

, HD-650

, HD-595, HD-580 (some BeyerDynamic, etc) headphones there on setup 3.

Links:
http://audiohigh.com/
http://audiohigh.com/lines/avid/avid.html
http://audiohigh.com/lines/chordelectronics/chord.html
http://www.chordelectronics.co.uk/ http://audiohigh.com/lines/mccormack/mccormack.html
http://www.peak-consult.dk/Empress.htm

PS - I went to Magnolia A/V to demo their "High-End" room, and I wasn't impressed (especially after visiting Audio High). They must have done something wrong, because I was getting some weird bass cancellation in their room, despite sitting in the "sweet spot chair". They had some $4.5k Martin Logan electrostats. At least the imaging was good. It had near ER-4S definition in the midrange and highs, and a HD-600 bass & midbass. A nice combination, but inappropriate setup.

 

[jjcha]

Heh, as much as I love my Chord DAC64 and Blu, I wouldn't, nor would anyone else I know (other than the editors of hi-fi choice), put it as the best digital source by any stretch of the imagination. If I had to start over with the $10k I spent on that, I'd probably go Wadia. But it's not nearly as sexy looking. And then I'd probably spend a few thousand more and go Burmester. But then there's plenty of competition at that level. Check out GoRedWings19's profile for a few high end sources.

Same with the Grace m902. I got it because it was sexy/super flexible. Not because it's the best sonically. For a solid-state amp, especially one that focuses on high detail performance, I'd look to a Dynamight. But I'd also look SDS XLR as well. Then at that price point, you need to also consider HE90/HEV90.

Best regards,

-Jason

 

[r0b]

I'm not a very knowledgable or experienced audiophile, but I have plenty of time to hear better equipment. I think there are more audiophile stores in San Francisco or on the east coast, rather than in the SF peninsula. Although, I do hear similarly about the HE90... I hope to one day hear it (and the other items you mentioned)!

I don't think I'll ever be able to afford anything I listed.

I've never even heard anything on silver interconnects/pcb/speaker-wires either (oh wait, don't the empress speakers have silver somewhere?)... but that's why there's meet's like this: http://www4.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=120553

still though, that analog experience left me bewildered, lost, and confused for days...

-rob

 

[donunus]

Have an acoustically perfect theatre built then hire the musicians you want to play unamplified acoustic music. Hire the Berlin/Vienna/ny whatever Philharmonic for classical. That should blow anything away in terms of realism,hehehe

paying the musicians a billion each should make them go to your place anytime you want.
Thats cost no object

 

[donunus]

About headphone Equipment however, getting a stax or an orpheus should be a simpler route. less hassle with combining equipment and you won't have to wonder too much if there is anything better. If you don't want to sacrifice detail these would probably be among the best. Guys please tell me if I'm wrong. Maybe some people think some dynamic cans are more true to the sounds of life