How broad is your definiton of High-end audio, what qualifies and what doesn't...

[Rob]

I'm not good for this industry, I've said it before and admittedly I come off as a wet blanket at times. I'm not a reviewer and I have nothing to promote I just like playing music at what I think is a reasonably high level of fidelity. When I entered the hobby many moons ago I used to think the latest widget has to be the best, its only logical as time marches on all things improve, right? Then it seems there was a backlash sometime around the mid-90s and the hobby bifurcated. Suddenly antiquated technology from years past (way past) is suddenly in vogue again, these proponents even coined a new term "ultra fi" or something beyond hi fidelity. Today there's a significant following of 'philes which swears by horns, SET amps, idler drive turntables etc, etc. and another faction that only takes interest in the newest, latest and most advanced equipment available.

Reflecting on a "SOTA" system I recently heard that had to cost $500K+ I came away nonplused and didn't think it sounded like a $100k system. I still remember what high end systems used to sound like many years ago and I could live happily ever after with lots of gear from 15, 20, 30+ years ago. maybe its just me venting again or the Horn/Set/idler proponents got it right and the rest of us got it wrong. I guess my question is, what defines "high-end" for you is it by default the latest and greatest or something different?

[atmasphere]

High End Audio is a matter of intention, not price. If you think of it as price, you will be disappointed. This is why an inexpensive system can be put together and still be quite musical. The idea here is similar to what makes makes a person good at their career: do they want to really excel at it or are they just there to make money? If the latter, mediocrity will be the result. The same is true of high end audio. It has to be a matter of intention.

This BTW is why many SETs and horns (as well as idler drive turntables) can produce extremely musical results. Its also why you can get mediocre results!

(SETs BTW have a property that is rarely shared by push-pull amps: that of distortion dropping to unmeasurable as power is decreased. many push-pull amps have increased distortion below a certain percentage of power. This is part of why SETs are known for 'magic' and 'inner detail'. I myself am not a particular fan of them as they can't make power and bandwidth, and its possible to build a push-pull amp that does not have that problem, so you can have your cake and eat it too in a sense.

Horn's properly designed and built can also have amazingly low distortion compared to other technologies including ESLs. This is because their drivers don't have to work very hard and as long as that is the case, the correct shape of the horn will keep distortion down. OTOH improper horn design will still be high efficiency, but distortion can tonal anomalies can result. This is why intention is so important!)

[Rust]

Bob - I know exactly what you are talking about. Too often the emperor has no clothes, or at least no pants.

One system I listened to several years back was simply the most pleasing thing I have ever heard for small scale music. The system price was under ten grand.

[MylesBAstor]

***Bump***

[Asamel]

If you power up and it plays right away it's not high end.

[Garth]

My definition Any thing I own is hi end nothing you own makes the grade, mean but it saves me money as no upgrades are needed

[JCOConnell]

To me, high end audio has always meant and still does mean all components very close to state of the art performance. With todays advancements and sky high prices, winning the lottery is a virtual prerequisite to owning a true high end audio system by my definition.

[Steve Lefkowicz]

"High End" audio (capitalized) has become a "luxury" item, where the ability to pay for it is as important as how good it might be, while "high end audio" in general simply means that sound quality and dedication to real listening pleasure is the principle guiding force. "High End" is always expensive, though not necessarily better than "high end" which is not necessarily expensive but always an attempt at being really good.

My system, where nothing but my turntable had an MSRP over $1000 will never be viewed as High End, but is most certainly high end.

[Rob]

Ralph's point was kinda where I was going with my statement. David K's system provided the inspiration and would be on my short list of systems to hear (if I ever get the chance). The recent system I heard at a dealers showroom was made up of $500k of the latest and greatest gear and it did not roll my socks up an down, if fact the old adage "the bigger they are the harder they fall..." has rung true on too many occasions when I hear systems that are $100k+. Maybe I'm more jaded and was easier to impress in my earlier years but I don't sense today's "SOTA" gear has made that many strides. l've come so close to chucking it all and going with an SET/Horn system, shoot, I'm already an analog 'lifer' (another "dead" medium) why stop now

[MylesBAstor]

If you power up and it plays right away it's not high end.

Ha ha! Or takes three hours to warm up.

[MylesBAstor]

Something that pays homage to the music? Rather than just making sound.

[hifitommy]

high end does NOT mean high dollar cost. a good example of this is the NAD 3020 and its direct relatives-1020 preamp, 4020 tuner and 7020 receiver with the electronics being designed by tom holman. incredible value. the schiit phono section now available is another (although i haven't heard one in person, the right people have said as much), and the ELAC b5 and its close relatives along with the pioneer bs22 series (perhaps not QUITE the value of the aforementioned ELACs) all designed by andrew jones. need i mention the magneplanar MMG and .7?

those above mentioned products do not have to hang their head in the presence of many of the higher priced spread components.

these are but a few high end products with real world pricing. so one can ostensibly assemble a very decent system for a cost that would not choke a Shetland pony.

[Garth]

I have never thought of choking a pony I would think the child riding would be vey upset . Island life never really understood it, choking ponys is that a thing in Scotland I thought they just did pup fights on a Friday night.

[hifitommy]

well, of course it was a variation of "choke a horse" but my hands aren't nearly large enough for that.