This poll is based on ambiguous assumptions. If you are serious about reading the Blowtorch thread, then you should be interested in the 'best' at any price. So why take a poll of that particular group?
If you are a critic of expensively designed audio equipment, then you can use this poll as a criticism of the very idea of a Blowtorch preamp or its equivalent. I don't know what that would prove.
If you are a critic of expensively designed audio equipment, then you can use this poll as a criticism of the very idea of a Blowtorch preamp or its equivalent. I don't know what that would prove.
I know John. I just have problems with the undercurrent of snobbery with "a no holds barred design that performs the best" or "One does not waste time designing 'better and better' audio components, unless they love to see if they can make something even better than their last attempt." Especially when followed by Kraut car comparisons. How about "The best that can be done given knowledge and BUDGET" Until Gates or the Sultan of Brunei decide to put it all into an audio design then budget is a factor. I'm not critizing expensive designs in a vacuum, it's all the garbage attitude that follows it.
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yep, especially considering that you John have said yourself, that you could not afford to buy a CTC BT if you had to pay for it ... so clearly there is a ceiling for you too, as much as you would like to think there isnt. we all have limits, living outside of them isnt terribly ..erm..sustainable 😉
thats given we can clearly define what 'the best' is in the first place, which we clearly cant.
I would like to build soffit-mounted 3 ways into my walls and a folded bass horn into the floor, but i'm renting, so thats not going to happen.
thats given we can clearly define what 'the best' is in the first place, which we clearly cant.
I would like to build soffit-mounted 3 ways into my walls and a folded bass horn into the floor, but i'm renting, so thats not going to happen.
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There is nothing wrong with financial limitations, unless you just go 'cheap'.
I design the best I can at any price point.
If I could make something cheaper, that was just as good sounding, I would do it.
I am involved in design decisions virtually every day.
Just today, one of my clients asked me about an IC that I did not know about, and I evaluated it from the spec sheet. (reject) However, I will offer another IC that I just found to replace it, that I think will be better.
When I was burned out in a firestorm more than 20 years ago, I have never completely recovered with the 'best' in the industry, even though I work in it.
What I do is buy used, slightly dated audio equipment, when I don't design it, myself.
So, I have purchased used: My speakers, WATT1; headphones, STAX; vacuum tube tuners, Marantz 10, Fisher 200; power amp cables, Cardas; phono turntable, Linn; etc.
I wish that I could buy new, the latest and the best of each manufacturer, but I just can't afford it, just like most people.
I design the best I can at any price point.
If I could make something cheaper, that was just as good sounding, I would do it.
I am involved in design decisions virtually every day.
Just today, one of my clients asked me about an IC that I did not know about, and I evaluated it from the spec sheet. (reject) However, I will offer another IC that I just found to replace it, that I think will be better.
When I was burned out in a firestorm more than 20 years ago, I have never completely recovered with the 'best' in the industry, even though I work in it.
What I do is buy used, slightly dated audio equipment, when I don't design it, myself.
So, I have purchased used: My speakers, WATT1; headphones, STAX; vacuum tube tuners, Marantz 10, Fisher 200; power amp cables, Cardas; phono turntable, Linn; etc.
I wish that I could buy new, the latest and the best of each manufacturer, but I just can't afford it, just like most people.
Why not build your own John, that would seem like the best approach, keep the others around for evaluation. Surely it's a lot cheaper for you to build a Pr of SOTA amps than buy, best way to try out your new circuits firsthand....
Regards ....
Regards ....
I know my limitations. I would have to build a speaker (been there, done that), tuner (impossible), turntable (no way!), electrostatic headphones (I don't think so). Better to buy used audio equipment.
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Perhaps you should check the title of this thread again. Did you confuse it with another? 😉
Well, of course I use my own power amp designs. What I am trying to convey is that it is possible to get a pretty darn good hi end playback system by buying USED equipment, when it is impractical to design and build your own.
The NEW price of the hi fi equipment that I own is several tens of thousands of dollars, to buy it personally might have cost me under $10,000, over 10 years.
It is, of course, not a perfect playback system, but it works well enough to try out new designs.
I would hope that many here would consider buying used audio equipment to supplement what you cannot easily build, yourself.
The NEW price of the hi fi equipment that I own is several tens of thousands of dollars, to buy it personally might have cost me under $10,000, over 10 years.
It is, of course, not a perfect playback system, but it works well enough to try out new designs.
I would hope that many here would consider buying used audio equipment to supplement what you cannot easily build, yourself.
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Yes, I usually do. Most of it goes under the knife, but it's a great starting point and affordable.- Status
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