Hooster Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Did you ever have the chance to listen to an audio system that you had high expectations of but then failed miserably to meet them? Like OOooh ahhh, those amplifiers look huge, and wow, those are precise speakers, and oh gosh, those cables look like marine hawsers... And then it all sounds analytical, un-engaging and boring, failing to bring any pace, rythm and drive to the music? Did you ever listen to a mega system that left you thinking; was that it??? I have had that kind of experience and I think it goes to prove that you can throw as much money at audio as you like and there is still no guarantee that it will be satisfying. You also have to do your homework, both when deciding what to buy and also take care on how you implement it in your listening environment.
Blackrazor1553552694 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Hooster;139296 wrote: Did you ever have the chance to listen to an audio system that you had high expectations of but then failed miserably to meet them? Yep, every time I listen to something made by Theophany. " Oh no you din't!" Seriously though, yes, quite a number of times. I think what it demonstrates more than a specific reflection on the quality of the equipment at hand, is that what sounds 'good' is such an intimately personal thing that basing all your purchases off specs, reviews or other peoples opinions is a total waste of time. I used to be a real spec junkie, until I realised a few years ago after tinkering with, and listening to, far to many systems, that many of the items that sounded good to me weren't that great on paper, didn't always get the best reviews, and had a whole lot of quirks. But I preferred them regardless.
serioushifi1553552742 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Blackrazor;139298 wrote: Yep, every time I listen to something made by Theophany. Haha that is uncanny! I was just going to say this. Seriously! I must say though. The build finish is very nice.
T110 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Yep, a month or so back the Father in law was over from Brisbane. On his last day we had a couple of hours to kill before his check in time so we headed to a Hi Fi store for a browse. Had a listen to two systems, one around $10k and the other was the flagship system ($50+k for the two speakers alone) I walked out feeling pretty chuffed with my own humble system:) Big thumbs up to the man in the store who greeted us though. I made it clear we were only tire kickers that day yet he still took 45 minutes or so to host us and put on a really decent demo, well done that man! Just because neither system got my toe tapping doesn't mean they were "bad" in any way though, it just illustrates to me that there is plenty of choice out there and we all are after something different in our Hi Fi. I also heard a system back in the early nineties that cost a few quid and have never forgotten the sound I enjoyed that day. Craig
Tonto Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 serioushifi;139299 wrote: Haha that is uncanny! I was just going to say this. Seriously! I must say though. The build finish is very nice. Me three! :eek: I also heard some B&W Nautillis Standmounters once in a shop and was like "so whats all the fuss?" It was on at a low level and jazz so my rock ears probably weren't good enough!
T110 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Tonto;139313 wrote: Me three! :eek: I also heard some B&W Nautillis Standmounters once in a shop and was like "so whats all the fuss?" It was on at a low level and jazz so my rock ears probably weren't good enough! Funny. I listened to some B&W805's last week in a Hi Fi shop and thought they were great:D Different ears:)
Beeman Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Yeah - top of the line B&W & Classe pre & monos & CD - half way through the first song I was thinking 'time for a cup of tea' - for 100K I really expected to be a bit more engaged than that - boring hmm :rolleyes:
Luckiestmanalive Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 I've heard a good many setups in hifi shops that made me feel better about what I have at home. Perhaps its because I don't want to think it is better or because what I'm hearing is tuned to someone else's taste. The most expensive system I heard relatively recently was a set of Dynaudio floorstanding confidences with Bryston amplification and source. I only had time for a couple of tracks and I thought they sounded nice... they weren't in their own listening room, though - just in their own space in the store.
got tinnitus Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 It's that can of worms thing again known as musicality. A Loadsa Money system don't mean it makes music.
got tinnitus Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 luckiestmanalive;139325 wrote: I've heard a good many setups in hifi shops that made me feel better about what I have at home. Perhaps its because I don't want to think it is better or because what I'm hearing is tuned to someone else's taste. The most expensive system I heard relatively recently was a set of Dynaudio floorstanding confidences with Bryston amplification and source. I only had time for a couple of tracks and I thought they sounded nice... they weren't in their own listening room, though - just in their own space in the store. Same. But the Dyns were driven by Moon. Nice sound n'all....but I didn't want to wait round for the next bar.
Blackrazor1553552694 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 got tinnitus;139327 wrote: were driven by Moon. Every time someone says that, I get this song stuck in my head... http://www.rathergood.com/moon_song
Ayou21553552688 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 The Linn Unidisk at $20k didn't exactly set my world alight in an audio or video way. Dynaudio speakers have always underwhelmed me regardless of what they are attached to. Dozens of 'the best thing since sliced bread' type reviews as well over the years
Dunnersfella1553552754 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 serioushifi;139299 wrote: Haha that is uncanny! I was just going to say this. Seriously! I must say though. The build finish is very nice. Oooh - interesting. What was the setup? Listening in-store, even in demo rooms seldom allows me to relax and react in the same way that I would to a system at home. At home I'm more relaxed, and most importantly, I'm ready to listen. Even if I know the store well, there's still a different vibe to listening. That's why I think so many people leave a store thinking 'wow, my system is soooo much better'.
Mycenius Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Yeah - I was on AudioEnz and stumbled on a thread called "Did you ever have a "was that it?"... experience?" :rolleyes:
got tinnitus Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Dunnersfella;139334 wrote: Oooh - interesting. What was the setup? Listening in-store, even in demo rooms seldom allows me to relax and react in the same way that I would to a system at home. At home I'm more relaxed, and most importantly, I'm ready to listen. Even if I know the store well, there's still a different vibe to listening. That's why I think so many people leave a store thinking 'wow, my system is soooo much better'. What do stores need to do to make it a more conducive listening demo? Bring out wasabi peas, beer and dancing girls maybe?
King Size1553552683 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 I also remember listening to an SACD played via a Linn Unidisk set up with Aktiv speakers at the Linn offices on the North Shore and being thoroughly underwhelmed. I also had a listen to one of the DS systems at the Demo Room and had the same feeling. On both occasions I felt the playback was non-musical and non-moving.
Dunnersfella1553552754 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 got tinnitus;139341 wrote: What do stores need to do to make it a more conducive listening demo? Bring out wasabi peas, beer and dancing girls maybe? I seldom relax when there's dancing girls twirling around the place either... too on edge, just in case they knock the amp, or step on a cable. :rolleyes:
got tinnitus Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Dunnersfella;139348 wrote: I seldom relax when there's dancing girls twirling around the place either... too on edge, just in case they knock the amp, or step on a cable. :rolleyes: Hi-Heels and cables; bad mix.
Shane Hanify Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 That's easy, just use them for cable lifters. I have to wonder how many of you have heard the Theophanys in a proper setup and not on the shop floor? They're not as rubbish as they seem. The IMO is implied. Sure, they're not the most musical speaker I've ever heard but they're not by any stretch of the imagination the worst. On the other end of the spectrum, I've heard 100k + systems that have failed to light up, sure they ticked all the on paper boxes but they simply weren't musical, but even at that level (and above) if you mix and match the right components they should sing. If you don't, they won't. Same holds at the bottom end. Cheers, Shane.
Blackrazor1553552694 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 got tinnitus;139352 wrote: Hi-Heels and cables; bad mix. I once had a stiletto heel end up going through the cone of a subwoofer in an enclosure I was finishing. Don't ask.
Shane Hanify Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 You should know not to wear heels when DIY'ing then. Cheers, Shane.
Blackrazor1553552694 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Low Orbit;139356 wrote: I have to wonder how many of you have heard the Theophanys in a proper setup and not on the shop floor? They're not as rubbish as they seem. The IMO is implied. Heh, I was hoping the tongue in cheek was going to be a bit more obvious in my post... I don't have a problem with the Theophany speakers themselves at all. They're the equal of many others out there. My only beef is the way that so many people gorge on Tone's reviews and seem to think that they're the best speakers on the planet bar none, which they're very patently not. And there are IMO better speakers at the price brackets
Beeman Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 I seldom relax when there's dancing girls twirling around the place either... too on edge, just in case they knock the amp, or step on a cable Ahh - I would respectfully suggest you are missing the best bit of high quality audio then (dancing girls twirling around the place)
Mycenius Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 Blackrazor;139360 wrote: My only beef is the way that so many people gorge on Tone's reviews and seem to think that they're the best speakers on the planet bar none That's what happens when you treat paid advertisements as reviews! There is not such thing as a "Tone Review"...
Dunnersfella1553552754 Posted November 15, 2010 Posted November 15, 2010 beeman;139361 wrote: Ahh - I would respectfully suggest you are missing the best bit of high quality audio then (dancing girls twirling around the place) I'm quite used to angry neighbours dancing up a storm, yelling for me to 'turn it down a bit'... I guess some folk would enjoy that though.
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