I guess it is as much about what you have on hand or can get within your own budget constraints. Diy is not necessarily economical, I'll not disclose what I've spent, but I have had a lot of fun along the way building my rats nest, and ended up with a system that sounds just fine playing anything I've thrown at it.
Some luck and being in the right place (in more senses than one), recognizing opportunity when you see it.
That 401 was a great score..
Some luck and being in the right place (in more senses than one), recognizing opportunity when you see it.
That 401 was a great score..
DIY is only economical when you're not a true DIYer...
The resulting sound is usually good for who it is for which is all that matters. I also do not believe in High End systems which only excel at one genre but that is the technical reality and because general populace care less than ever I doubt that fact will ever change. Now I think it's best to have two systems if your musical interests span over all genres . One system for classical and the other for everything else. That if you try to have High-ENd respectively. Recently I was listening to Deep Purple from medium Magnepan speakers , Hmm all those guys should be LOOONG DEAD , that was the part of the deal , all those Alice Coopers , Pink Floyds , Stoness , but those old farts cling to life like my grandma so they fully deserve to be played on Magnepan High End speakers..
Well, a LS3/5A is High-End for me, despite the lack of deep bass.
But if you like deep, strong bass, I listen this Altec 19 for years with all tipes of music and the bass is realy physical, a 'visceral' listening:
Vendo Altec Model 19 Diffusori acustici 161078 Annunci Usato HI-FI End Audio Graffiti sistemi audio di alta fedelta
The problem is, until second hand, no low cost. I don't know if the modern PA systems can be close to some of the old altec 19, but perhaps you can listen some in any pro-audio shop... and yes low cost.
As example:
JBL JRX 215 - Thomann España
Altavoces pasivos full range - Thomann España
But if you like deep, strong bass, I listen this Altec 19 for years with all tipes of music and the bass is realy physical, a 'visceral' listening:
Vendo Altec Model 19 Diffusori acustici 161078 Annunci Usato HI-FI End Audio Graffiti sistemi audio di alta fedelta
The problem is, until second hand, no low cost. I don't know if the modern PA systems can be close to some of the old altec 19, but perhaps you can listen some in any pro-audio shop... and yes low cost.
As example:
JBL JRX 215 - Thomann España
Altavoces pasivos full range - Thomann España
DIY is only economical when you're not a true DIYer...
If I would need two systems, one for classical and one for the rest, I would consider both systems deeply flawed and far from high end regardless of price.
That said low-powered valve-based systems sound surprisingly nice with over-compressed pop and heavy rock at low to medium volumes.
Not what I would call HiFi but nice nonetheless.
Orchestral works with good dynamics need a LOT of grunt to sound right at realistic levels.
If it cannot do the full frequency range it can't be high end. The 3/5a is a conundrum anyway as NONE of the production units matched the reference pair, so very few have actually heard what they were supposed to sound like. They also can't do dynamic peaks. This is not to decry how enjoyable they might be and how well suited to the standard euro living room.
That can be easily fixed with a Smyth Realiser. Not cheap, but it really works.
Hey! I'm a huge Stax fan. One of my favourite logos too. ;-)
Don't like headphones much though.
Attachments
DIY is only economical when you're not a true DIYer...
Recently I was listening to Deep Purple from medium Magnepan speakers , Hmm all those guys should be LOOONG DEAD , that was the part of the deal , all those Alice Coopers , Pink Floyds , Stoness , but those old farts cling to life like my grandma so they fully deserve to be played on Magnepan High End speakers..
Magnepan makes some great speakers, my last a pair of 1.6 QR got sold in the bad days as my business fell apart in order to keep a roof over my head for another month. Their departure was the beginning of my conversion to the refrigerator sized diy based speaker system I use today. (And which cost a lot more than those Maggies to reinforce my diy economics comment)
It is much easier to assemble satisfying inexpensive system than multi -kilobuck expensive one worth it's price. I'm really not surprised by your comment and believe it to be true. I witnessed it many times and frankly I'm not quite able to do it either (mostly because of permanent lack of funds and focus and accidental purchases with hope that they somehow will work , meh I thought that with time I will simly outgrow this idiocy and the lunacy will stop , but no ,it's incurable and the collection of ex-GF's grows ... )
minimum spend for high end is available at diyaudio
If I were to start over, and since speakers are weakest link, I'd follow this example for the speakers and crossovers, (plus maybe some subs).
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/mult...lti-way-point-source-horn-25.html#post4644522
AS you see from attachment above it measures very well.
The CD and lack of lobing makes dealing with room problems much simpler.
This type of speaker is easy to drive and any up- to- date competent amplifiers and sources will provide superb results.
ESS XT1464 horn $92 at amazon
SB65WBAC25 fullrange $21 at madisound
SB23NRXS45-8 woofer $92 x2 "
So I'd guess with odds and ends and not counting miniDSP maybe $350 - $400 per speaker
miniDSP - It depends on what else you need to do but lets not be too cheap: miniDSP 2x4 HD $200
So you could get SOA sound for less than $2000 not counting sweat equity
If I were to start over, and since speakers are weakest link, I'd follow this example for the speakers and crossovers, (plus maybe some subs).
http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/mult...lti-way-point-source-horn-25.html#post4644522
AS you see from attachment above it measures very well.
The CD and lack of lobing makes dealing with room problems much simpler.
This type of speaker is easy to drive and any up- to- date competent amplifiers and sources will provide superb results.
ESS XT1464 horn $92 at amazon
SB65WBAC25 fullrange $21 at madisound
SB23NRXS45-8 woofer $92 x2 "
So I'd guess with odds and ends and not counting miniDSP maybe $350 - $400 per speaker
miniDSP - It depends on what else you need to do but lets not be too cheap: miniDSP 2x4 HD $200
So you could get SOA sound for less than $2000 not counting sweat equity
in the US, despite male predominance at birth, by over 35 years old males are already out numbered by healthier, less accident, violence prone females here
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf fig 3
China one child policy and resulting sex selection gave them a significant male predominance by now
they will be the ones importing brides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail-order_bride
http://www.census.gov/prod/cen2010/briefs/c2010br-03.pdf fig 3
China one child policy and resulting sex selection gave them a significant male predominance by now
they will be the ones importing brides
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail-order_bride
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