If you had 50 grand

[Pigmy Pony]

Inspired by Jamie's thread but bigger!

My question is: if someone gave you £50,000 which you had to spend on improving the sound of your system, would you throw all the money at more expensive components, or could better improvements be had by building a dedicated listening room designed to work with your existing kit?

[topoxforddoc]

Very happy with my system and the room.

If I had to spend £50k on audio reproduction, most would go on sourcing more 15 IPS 1/4 inch tapes of my favourite music. If you search hard enough, you can find probably 3-4th generation tapes, which sound WAY better usually than any first pressing LP. I've got some more coming from the USA soon - The Who, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald. With the loose change, it would be some nice wine and malt whisky to help the evenings along.

Mind you £50k buys you a lot of concert tickets, enough to have a night out every week for a few years.

Charlie

[Boyse6748]

Keep everything I have.... money don’t make a sound system better. Room acoustics, maybe another mater but only for a few k. (Or a new house with a bigger room) My system new, is over the said budget. Money don’t make music..... I believe it’s what we like[emoji736] worked in Island Records Studio for many years..... many millions..... great sound.... but who wants to live in a studio!

Be happy with what you have.!!!


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[walpurgis]

Keep everything I have....

I was just thinking the same.

I'd bank the fifty grand and just spend the interest.

[Wakefield Turntables]

I wouldnt spend 50K on hifi probably spend some save some.

[Boyse6748]

Very happy with my system and the room.

If I had to spend £50k on audio reproduction, most would go on sourcing more 15 IPS 1/4 inch tapes of my favourite music. If you search hard enough, you can find probably 3-4th generation tapes, which sound WAY better usually than any first pressing LP. I've got some more coming from the USA soon - The Who, Aretha Franklin and Ella Fitzgerald. With the loose change, it would be some nice wine and malt whisky to help the evenings along.

Mind you £50k buys you a lot of concert tickets, enough to have a night out every week for a few years.

Charlie

Reading your answer.... brings me back to to good days. However, for me a 2” master tape machine would be the dogs. “ if only, “a” !!!


In the days of analog of courses!!!!

Peter


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[Pigmy Pony]

Keep everything I have.... money don’t make a sound system better. Room acoustics, maybe another mater but only for a few k. (Or a new house with a bigger room) My system new, is over the said budget. Money don’t make music..... I believe it’s what we like[emoji736] worked in Island Records Studio for many years..... many millions..... great sound.... but who wants to live in a studio!

Be happy with what you have.!!!


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Ooh, Peter,

While I largely agree with what you say, One of the points you make doesn't seem to fit with the others. Namely, the one about your system, new, costing more than the stated budget. is this your first and only system, and the bargain of the century, or the result of changes made over the years? If the latter, were you not happy with what you had?

I imagine most of us are happy with our stuff, but there's almost always room for improvement.

But I really would love a dedicated listening room, a space just for me and my toys. Right now Mrs. Pony is at the Slimming World weighbridge, and I am able to play my tunes (right now it's Massive Attack "Blue Lines") but in half an hour or so she will return, probably with a face on her because the scales dissed her efforts, and then it'll be back to Emmerdale, Corrie, etc.

And I disagree about the Compass Pint Studio. Sod what Mr. Blackwell thought, I would put up some flock wallpaper and some flying ducks on the walls. Sorted!

[Scooby]

Id be straight round to Hifi Dave's to hand over £9k for that Luxman amp. Then I'd work,out what to do with the other 41k. Probably buy a camera to take pics of the thing and a designer table to stand it on so I could drool over it.

[Boyse6748]

I kid you not! Perhaps have a look at my signature. 70 years young and a lifetime of stuff that has sent so much enjoyment or dissatisfaction.

Current stuff, is mainly McIntosh as follows,

McIntosh MA 2275 amp
McIntosh CD550
Mytek BROKLYN+ DAC
Denon DP80/ Custom Plinth/ Dynavector DV507- Mk II / Benz Wood / Ortofon Anna.
Dynalab Etude / System Sluth Tuner
Pioneer RT 909 R2R
Revolver Cygnus Speakers
Etc, etc. (IC’s / Speaker Wires)

I’m not too sure where your coming from to ask me this ?

But hay ho.....

It ain’t a boast! :....... just where the last 50 years has lead me !!

Peter





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[southall-1998]

If I fancied something valvey....Audio Note Jinro, and some nice AN-E speakers to go with it.

S.

[topoxforddoc]

Peter,

Yes indeed, but it's enough of a faff lining up a 2 track machine (1/4 or 1/2 inch) let alone a 2 inch 16/24 track recorder. If someone gave me a stack of half inch or quarter inch 2 track tapes, I'd be over the moon. Clearly no chance of ever seeing the original stereo mix down, but production copy would do very nicely, thank you.

Charlie


Reading your answer.... brings me back to to good days. However, for me a 2” master tape machine would be the dogs. “ if only, “a” !!!


In the days of analog of courses!!!!

Peter


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[hifinutt]

I was just thinking the same.

I'd bank the fifty grand and just spend the interest.

that wouldn`t get you far !!!!

[alphaGT]

With 50K I could build a dedicated listening room, AND make some major upgrades to my stereo! And buy a bunch of new albums! And still have 10% left over to donate to my favorite charity.

Russell

[Boyse6748]

It was happy days ...... 2” was the business. Almost the digital age........

Peter


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[topoxforddoc]

Sadly so much of it (esp in the USA) was on Ampex with what proved to be sticky shed. I'm an easy man to please - a decent dub from a production tape or a production tape will do for me. I'm glad that some artists have started going back to tape for their recordings - so much better than Protools :)



It was happy days ...... 2” was the business. Almost the digital age........

Peter


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[montesquieu]

Easy. Kondo M-77 preamp and spend the change on a SUT to go with it.

I had the Kondo in my system for one all too brief evening and it was a game-changer - I learned that evening just what a truly exceptional preamp can bring to the table.

My EAR 912 is far from shabby indeed it's the best pre I've heard in my setup at least apart from the Kondo, beating a tubed Kondo M7. But if I had £50k burning a hole that's where I'd spend it.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/kondo/hero_open2.jpg

http://www.astrasuite.com/client-system-albums/albums/userpics/10001/chrisc-20110201-0010.jpg

Edit: just to add I'm happy to answer the OP's question in the spirit in which the question was posed .... since no-one is **actually** going to give any of us fifty grand to play with, none of us need to get into any kind of virtue signalling/moral olympics about it - this is just a bit of fun.

[Edward]

Easy. Kondo M-77 preamp

<snip>


+1 I recall there was a Kondo room at Munich last year - mightily impressed. Can't recall what speakers they were driving (probably ANs).

But if I were to spend £50k I would dedicate £20k on a proper room and the balance probably around MBLs or something similar. Or maybe a Tannoy centred setup. But I would run out of cash ....

[WESTLOWER]

+1 I recall there was a Kondo room at Munich last year - mightily impressed. Can't recall what speakers they were driving (probably ANs).

But if I were to spend £50k I would dedicate £20k on a proper room and the balance probably around MBLs or something similar. Or maybe a Tannoy centred setup. But I would run out of cash ....
I've already run out just thinking about it..!

[struth]

fairly happy with my cheapo efforts. probably get a bigger tv tho :D Might soundproof the room too and fix car up then give my daughter and son some.
My system has some great memories and its value is in that for me, and it sounds pretty decent too to my old lugs:) wouldnt start buying expensive gear as 50k wouldnt cover it, lets face it.

[Pharos]

Now, despite my social/financial status of 'Class E', I have more money for Hi-Fi than ever before, and having just bought very expensive speakers, can compare them with my own design attempts at 1/20th the cost, and the difference is not massive. I also have what to me are state of the art pre and power amps, though not quite up to the Benchmark standards.

Certainly the law of diminishing returns applies, and this raises questions about cost benefit analysis, and also how much more enjoyment can be obtained from well loved recordings, many of which are not current.

If I had to I suppose I would research and take an educated plunge into what seemed to be the best bet at improvement.

[sjs]

+1 I recall there was a Kondo room at Munich last year - mightily impressed. Can't recall what speakers they were driving (probably ANs).

But if I were to spend £50k I would dedicate £20k on a proper room and the balance probably around MBLs or something similar. Or maybe a Tannoy centred setup. But I would run out of cash ....There were 2 rooms at Munich last year and 2016 with Kondo electronics, one was was the Living Voice room with the Vox Elysium speakers and it sounded quite breathtaking each time I visited, the other was a Kondo room that had some speakers with ribbon tweeter which I just couldn't get on with.

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[sjs]

Easy. Kondo M-77 preamp and spend the change on a SUT to go with it.

I had the Kondo in my system for one all too brief evening and it was a game-changer - I learned that evening just what a truly exceptional preamp can bring to the table.

My EAR 912 is far from shabby indeed it's the best pre I've heard in my setup at least apart from the Kondo, beating a tubed Kondo M7. But if I had £50k burning a hole that's where I'd spend it.

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/kondo/hero_open2.jpg

http://www.astrasuite.com/client-system-albums/albums/userpics/10001/chrisc-20110201-0010.jpg

Edit: just to add I'm happy to answer the OP's question in the spirit in which the question was posed .... since no-one is **actually** going to give any of us fifty grand to play with, none of us need to get into any kind of virtue signalling/moral olympics about it - this is just a bit of fun.The M77 is quite something, doesn't do some hifi things but musically it was unlike anything else I have played in my system.

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[montesquieu]

There were 2 rooms at Munich last year and 2016 with Kondo electronics, one was was the Living Voice room with the Vox Elysium speakers and it sounded quite breathtaking each time I visited, the other was a Kondo room that had some speakers with ribbon tweeter which I just couldn't get on with.



Agreed I found the Kondo room itself a disappointment, the speakers in particular were terrible. What were they thinking?!

[Edward]

There were 2 rooms at Munich last year and 2016 with Kondo electronics, one was was the Living Voice room with the Vox Elysium speakers and it sounded quite breathtaking each time I visited, the other was a Kondo room that had some speakers with ribbon tweeter which I just couldn't get on with.

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Ah yes those Vox Elysium speakers were quite something.

Pity £50k would not barely touch my 'wish' list. I have to make do with 40+ year old third hand speakers. :)

[montesquieu]

Pity £50k would not barely touch my 'wish' list. I have to make do with 40+ year old third hand speakers. :)

Yes it's tough. 50 year old turntable motor unit and power amp in my case, 40 year old drive units. Hard times. :)

[Edward]

That would make for an interesting thread. Oldest hi-fi item still in daily/regular use.

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[walpurgis]

My ADC 10E Mk.II cartridge still gets used and that's fifty years old.

[RichB]

Inspired by Jamie's thread but bigger!

My question is: if someone gave you £50,000 which you had to spend on improving the sound of your system, would you throw all the money at more expensive components, or could better improvements be had by building a dedicated listening room designed to work with your existing kit?

For £50k I'd property renovations, including soundproofing and then equip a half decent recording studio/rehearsal space. That way I'd save money on band rehearsals, could perhaps rent it out and of course make my own music in there.

Nothing too fancy like Neve consoles or owt like that, just some decent kit to get the job done. Of course I'd need some new guitars and amps and stuff... That goes without saying.

[alphaGT]

For £50k I'd property renovations, including soundproofing and then equip a half decent recording studio/rehearsal space. That way I'd save money on band rehearsals, could perhaps rent it out and of course make my own music in there.

Nothing too fancy like Neve consoles or owt like that, just some decent kit to get the job done. Of course I'd need some new guitars and amps and stuff... That goes without saying.

I’m changing my answer, I like your idea better!

Russell

[jandl100]

If I had 50 grand to spend ..... I'd stash it away and I'd carry on exactly as I am now.

[Puffin]

Just for the sheer scale and sumptuous looks.....oh and even through YT they don't sound too rubbish, would probably need the amps and other gubbins to go with em. £50,000 might not be enough.

y-JfHjn9LC4

[Pharos]

I wish I could understand the love of Audionote stuff.

I dislike the owner, more particularly his rude arrogant and probably neurotic wife, but even more cannot see, or more relevantly hear, what it is that so entrances people.

[Marco]

We're on the same page (as usual), Dennis. (High-end) AudioNote?

Vastly overpriced badge-fi, sold largely to impress superficial fanboys of bling, who wank over the dubious efficacy of boxes brim-full of 'boutique components', in the vain hope of being seen by others as 'discerning'...

That's especially true when you know extremely capable electronics designers who can build just as good equipmement, or better, for a fraction of the price [minus badge-snob value]! ;)

Marco [would gladly put his TD Copper amp up against anything that AN make].

[Marco]

Oh, and as for spending £50K on hi-fi equipment. I wouldn't dream of it now, simply because it isn't necessary if you know how to judiciously play the 'SPPV card':eyebrows:

Marco.

[Haselsh1]

LOL, I'd buy a car...!

;)

[Haselsh1]

OK, I know what the OP said. I'd buy a turntable of the Orbe type with appropriate tonearm and cart. I'd have the very best of what Glen Croft could produce, oh and a pair of speakers if I must. Then with the money I had left I would buy whisky. Probably made by Ardbeg.

[Haselsh1]

I wish I could understand the love of Audionote stuff.

I dislike the owner, more particularly his rude arrogant and probably neurotic wife, but even more cannot see, or more relevantly hear, what it is that so entrances people.

I so agree with this and Marco's comment in the next post. For us old buggers it smacks of the Linn/Naim saga of the seventies.

[macspur]

I'd buy Harbeth 40.2 anniversary model, Accuphase pre/power and Burmester 061 CDP and extend my listening room a bit.

[jandl100]

I so agree with this and Marco's comment in the next post. For us old buggers it smacks of the Linn/Naim saga of the seventies.

Yep, me too.

I've heard some extravagantly expensive AudioNote gear that tbh sounded piss poor.

[Thetiminator]

Hitman for the Mrs.

Crank up the volume.

Sorted ;)

[Macca]

I'd go to Kenrick sounds and buy some vintage JBL. With shipping from Japan and insurance that should pretty much do the £50K in. Any left over, hookers and coke.

[George47]

I would get a new super dooper Tannoy Westminster and a great big f*** off amp and just feel the force......:eek:

Good to see the love for Audionote and I guess Kondo.....the attraction ain't the bling. The cases are genuinely constructed by blind badgers. :lol: Having said that the AN amps at home have gone......

[hifinutt]

I'd go to Kenrick sounds and buy some vintage JBL. With shipping from Japan and insurance that should pretty much do the £50K in. Any left over, hookers and coke.

yes , his stuff is fantastic

[hifinutt]

Hitman for the Mrs.

Crank up the volume.

Sorted ;)

oh gosh.... hope she is not reading this :lol:

[Pigmy Pony]

Hitman for the Mrs.

Crank up the volume.

Sorted ;)

I Think it was called "Hitman and Her". You can probably find it on VHS.

[Pigmy Pony]

yes , his stuff is fantastic

What stuff? The JBL or the coke?

I'm more of a Pepsi man meself.

[Thetiminator]

I Think it was called "Hitman and Her". You can probably find it on VHS.

Lol showing your age buddy. I vaguely remember watching it after coming in after a night out. Assuming the position - sitting up in bed with a hand over one eye to stop the tv spinning :p

[Pigmy Pony]

Yup, Been there too!

A bit more recent than that (early 90's) there was a late programme called BPM, which one week went to Cream in Liverpool. We got ourselves on TV by the simple strategy of dancing near the most attractive women, cos that's where the cameras always were. I bet if I saw it now, I would cringe, even though I had hair then.

[Marco]

G9d2UiOcyjg

Marco.

[Pharos]

That looked like Peter Waterman on the mic..

[Thetiminator]

It was him, and Michaela Strachan iirc??

Btw Marco....I’d like to suggest a life time ban for Pigmy Pony for dancing on tv :p

[Beobloke]

£50k you say?

Easy - B&O Beolab 90s.


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[walpurgis]

I’d like to suggest a life time ban for Pigmy Pony for dancing on tv :p

That's a bit extreme. However, I guess we could bung him in the AOS 'Hall of Shame' for a week though. Oh, hang on, we haven't got one! :lol:

[Frazeur1]

"If you had 50 grand" I am just getting ready to do this very thing for real and...uh...oh, wait, 50K...Hmmm, guess I actually need to drop a couple of 0's off the end there. Oops, never mind. Seriously, it is probably easy to say that one would be happy with their system and bank the cash. But, I think when in hand, most of us would probably change/buy something for our setup, regardless of how much we lie to ourselves and say how much we like our setup currently...Real money in hand does things to a person's thinking. We are already irrational hifi loonies-all said in somewhat of jest of course, and we all have our own financial compass, mine just happens to be broken at the moment. I would probably blow half of it on hifi goodies and music, and a fair amount to the local homeless shelter. But I would damn well take my time and have numerous in-home auditions of systems that have been put together, and not just one off things more than likely.

Really though, it would be a considerable amount of pressure to put on oneself, but it would be fun. My company recently gave out a bonus, something I haven't had for the last 12 years, and it amounts to 5K. I have already spent a number of nights-sleepless I must say, just thinking about how best to spend it-and if I even should, especially on my hifi. So I can only imagine what 50K would be like trying to figure out what to do with that! Threads like this are fun, much food for thought!

[struth]

That's a bit extreme. However, I guess we could bung him in the AOS 'Hall of Shame' for a week though. Oh, hang on, we haven't got one! :lol:

yes we have :eyebrows:

[Jimbo]

Keep everything I have.... money don’t make a sound system better. Room acoustics, maybe another mater but only for a few k. (Or a new house with a bigger room) My system new, is over the said budget. Money don’t make music..... I believe it’s what we like[emoji736] worked in Island Records Studio for many years..... many millions..... great sound.... but who wants to live in a studio!

Be happy with what you have.!!!


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Hey Pete, I worked down at Island Records Hammersmith for a number of years as a contractor - back in 1982

[Pigmy Pony]

It was him, and Michaela Strachan iirc??

Btw Marco....I’d like to suggest a life time ban for Pigmy Pony for dancing on tv :p

I really wouldn't call it dancing.

Yes, Michaela Strachan and Pete Waterman. He was the Hitman. I suppose that's where they got the name "The Hit Factory" when he teamed up with Stock and Aitken. I can't believe I'm owning up to this knowledge, what with a ban looming....

Always amazes the Missus that I can remember shit like that, and not remember what I did this morning.

[Macca]

I remember when that came on it meant it was time for bed. It was possibly the first ever example of a TV show that was completely devoid of content.

[walpurgis]

Always amazes the Missus that I can remember shit like that, and not remember what I did this morning.

Old age mate :). You know you're in trouble when you can't remember what you had for lunch.

[Pigmy Pony]

I remember when that came on it meant it was time for bed. It was possibly the first ever example of a TV show that was completely devoid of content.

You're right, the programme had "time for bed" written all it.

Before that, iirc, it was "diddy" David Hamilton telling us to turn off our sets, and before that, a shrinking white dot with accompanying tone. These days, you know it's past your bedtime when you see the little man in the corner doing sign language. Seems a bit unfair to deaf people, maybe they'd like an early night once in a while.

[Macca]

You're right, the programme had "time for bed" written all it.

Before that, iirc, it was "diddy" David Hamilton telling us to turn off our sets, and before that, a shrinking white dot with accompanying tone. These days, you know it's past your bedtime when you see the little man in the corner doing sign language. Seems a bit unfair to deaf people, maybe they'd like an early night once in a while.

When you've taped a show you really want to see but it is on in the middle of the night. And when you come to watch it the next day it has the sign language bloke on it. One of those situations where you can't be pissed off but you'd really like to be.

[Pigmy Pony]

I agree totally. And they seem like really nice people, just a bit small.

[Macca]

They do seem to enjoy it. I think I'd be a bit less than enthusiastic after miming five episodes of Minder on the trot but they never seem to flag.

[Pigmy Pony]

Duracell batteries, probably.

[Macca]

Of course.

[Pharos]

I used to live 200 yds from PWL, and as I went to Dave Prowse's gym would hear loud Rick Astley booming out of the Genelecs.

[Macca]

I used to live 200 yds from PWL, and as I went to Dave Prowse's gym would hear loud Rick Astley booming out of the Genelecs.

Did you ever meet Dave Prowse then?

[walpurgis]

Did you ever meet Dave Prowse then?

I have a vague recollection of him filming some 'Green Cross Code' stuff by where I worked in the eighties (maybe). For a fit bloke he had an awful lot of health issues. I read a 'fake news' article years ago saying he'd lost both legs. Mind you, tall men seem to get a lot of problems as they age. Two 6'5" mates of mine died of spinal cancer.

[struth]

He did have arthritis in various forms. Think he is still with us but must be a decent age now

[Pharos]

Yes Martin, he was there most evenings as were his sons often, and I even trained with him.

He has had an ankle fused, (he has very big feet), and I hear that now he has lost the use of his arms, but what I admire is that he gave himself fully to what he did.

[Anthony K]

I would not blow the whole wad , but I am not one for not trying.

I am currently happy with my system , but parts will change. Usually its power cables or interconnects.

I have found that its not so much better or worse , just different.

As for the ' be happy with what you got statement ' , mmmmmm Mcintosh, most are happy, but sound repro is a hobbie and never ending

[Len Co]

Unfortunately I think I'm at the age where no amount of expensive equipment could improve my listening pleasure.... a younger pair of ears might do the trick though!