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Mejias' budget system

111.92.65.1
Posted on October 3, 2012 at 20:40:18
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 4711
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Its amazing that Stephen Mejias of Stereophile seems so happy with his budget system. He enjoys various LPs and even CDs through the humble NAD 316BEE and the PSB Alpha and occasional substitutions like Wharfedale 10.1 and Tannoy V1. I get the feeling that as a great music lover, he can immerse in the musicality in spite of such low priced start up system. Perhaps there is a message in here that we all tend to upgrade in search of the musicality that we do not hear. I guess that is what happened when I owned NAD 320BEE and the PSB Alpha unless the 316BEE is that much superior to the 320BEE.

Cheers
Bill

 

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RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 4, 2012 at 04:45:54
tmsorosk
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 What your saying is likely true, but lets not forget he's being paid to listen to, evaluate and write about lo-fi gear. One day he may be qualified to evaluate hi end gear and may do so, although he has suggested otherwise to me on Stereophile's site.

 

"Musicality?" I don't buy it. , posted on October 4, 2012 at 08:15:13
Enophile
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 I mean, do you drive around singing along to your favorite tunes and opining the lack of the car system's "musicality?"

"I'd love to sing along with (insert your favorite artists here) but the sound in my auto lacks sufficient 'musicality."

Do you think non-audiophile music lovers are suffering from a lack of system "musicality?"

Could you enoy the 'musicality' of your favorite records when you were a teenaged music lover, or did you think, "Man, as soon as I can throw together a really decent system, I will finally beging to enjoy the 'musicality' of this experience? I'll see you in a decade, guys."

Was there any time a juke box had your favorite song available and you stopped, saying, "No. No need to put my nickle in. I won't have musicality on this thing."

;)

Nope.

I don't believe you!

We, audiophiles, are simply an example of 'better' being the enemy of 'good.'

I bet Stephen's system is plenty musical and he can relax and enjoy, and us audiophiles would ruin it as we sit and think there wasn't enough air around the second triangle to be able to really freaking enjoy the 'musicality.'



 

RE: "Musicality?" I don't buy it. , posted on October 4, 2012 at 09:07:08
abs1
 Well said :)

 

Well, if you actually look at the performance of the PSB Alpha B1,, posted on October 4, 2012 at 10:56:14
Pat D
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Posts: 11967
Location: Fredericton NB, Canada
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 you might surmise it's a pretty good little speaker.

The NAD amps are quite capable of driving most speakers very well.

I've linked the Soundstage NRC measurements below.

Here is the URL for JA's measurement results for Stereophile.

http://www.stereophile.com/content/psb-alpha-b1-loudspeaker-measurements

Robert J. Reina reviewed the Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 and you can find JA's measurements at this URL:

http://www.stereophile.com/content/wharfedale-diamond-101-loudspeaker-measurements

There is a broad hump from about 100-250 Hz, and quite good dispersion.
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser

 

So to have bona fides as a "great music lover" one must avoid a expensive audio system? LOL , posted on October 4, 2012 at 13:04:47
bjh
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Posts: 14232
Location: Toronto, Canada
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 .


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

Well, if you ever listened to a pair of them you'd be aware they are nothing to write home about., posted on October 4, 2012 at 16:56:25
bjh
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 There's not much at the price level that is very capable.

Sure you can use it to listen to music, why not, but in terms of preference there's just a myriad of things ... depends on your means ... he's not likely getting paid much, and does he go to school?

They're not even my favorite, for that matter there's really nothing they put out currently that interests me ... you know they top out at Synchrony One, they're practically a Big Box store player these days.

That said I would love to lay ears on Platinum T8 towers (discontinued).




"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: "Musicality?" I don't buy it. , posted on October 4, 2012 at 17:31:21
bjh
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 Sucks to be you LOL


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

Mejias' system, posted on October 4, 2012 at 18:09:59
hifitommy
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 i for one have had the opportunity to hear at length the psb alphas and have owned more than one nad amp. and YES they are musical and enjoyable.

stephen is a musician and in that light should be commended for having a halfway decent sounding system which MANY musicians do not nor even care about having one. they put their interest into the music and listen for different things than the usual music lover does.

i am sure that someday he will venture into some higher end stuff like henry rollins and his wilson audio speakers etc. i can enjoy music on a lesser system than my own and of course better ones too. i am amazed at how good my computer system sounds and it just has klipsch comp speakers of not high cost.

point and laugh if you will, its really all about the music.

...regards...tr

 

RE: Mejias' system, posted on October 4, 2012 at 18:30:51
bjh
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 I just discoved my cheapie HT stuff, $300 Yamaha HT Receiver, $300 Polk 5.1 speakers, don't sound so bad.

I don't care about it much, and the FM performance isn't inspiring ...

But via a USB DAC playing Internet Radio out of my laptop it sounds surprisingly good!


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: Well, if you ever listened to a pair of them you'd be aware they are nothing to write home about., posted on October 4, 2012 at 18:41:38
Pat D
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 Lots of people listen to inexpensive speakers, and some of them are pretty good, quite listenable on a lot of music.

I have listened to both the PSB Synchrony One and the Platinum T8 at different times. I thought the T8 was a very good speaker, but I thought the Synchrony One was really first class.

I could live with the Synchrony Series speakers but there are other speakers I prefer, though I wouldn't say they are necessarily better.
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser

 

RE: Well, if you ever listened to a pair of them you'd be aware they are nothing to write home about., posted on October 4, 2012 at 19:30:42
bjh
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 "though I wouldn't say they are necessarily better."

Of course not, God forbid you could ever commit to a judgement LOL


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

Bingo!, posted on October 4, 2012 at 20:41:27
Enophile
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 Musicality is what we extract, not what the system provides.





 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 5, 2012 at 01:55:14
RGA
Reviewer

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 He writes for Stereophile so at least he BOUGHT the stuff he has.

Owning expensive things does not equate to having good ears or being able to be moved by music - music is the key - I can be moved with my $40 AKG headphones and 128bit MP3. I simply prefer to listen to it on something much better because it renders more of everything and in a much better more resolved manner.

I have heard both the Alpha B which I almost bought against the B&W DM 302 way back and the Diamondd Series has always been under appreciated in my view. The 10.2 sounds quite a bit better than the 10.1 and Wharfedale makes a powered version of it for about the same price (exactly the same price in Canada) so my suggestion would have been rather than have two inexpensive speakers to combine the budget for one step up. Either way the Wharfedales and PSB Alpha are excellent budget speakers. I have not heard this Tannoy but I own an older inexpensive standmount which sounds quite good - CM 150 or something (I don't recall the exact number).

NAD sounds like most budget SS amps. My NAD dealer and I compared the Bee amps to competition in the same price and the Bee was underwhelming. I would suggest he A/B and level match a Rotel integrated. Rotel isn't perfect either - little hotter but overall the NAD came off as a dull dead flat sounding bore. I've generally preferred Arcam, Rotel, Cambridge Audio to NAD. I would try not to buy any of them though unless I had to have SS and an integrated. If I am going to buy budget SS amps I would sooner buy a receiver - at least then I'd have Feeeetchers.

 

Excellent (nt), posted on October 5, 2012 at 05:08:43
Bill the K
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 nt

 

RE: Well, if you ever listened to a pair of them you'd be aware they are nothing to write home about., posted on October 5, 2012 at 06:39:35
Pat D
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Posts: 11967
Location: Fredericton NB, Canada
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 I did make a judgment and bought the Paradigm Signature S2. There is such a thing as personal preference.
-----
"A fool and his money are soon parted." --- Thomas Tusser

 

"Yorx" is the buzzword for "true music lover" nt, posted on October 5, 2012 at 07:24:30
Elizabeth
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Location: Great Lakes Region
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 .

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 5, 2012 at 07:24:49
soulfood
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 "He writes for Stereophile so at least he BOUGHT the stuff he has."

For clarity, please explain the significance of your claim.

 

His speakers are nuanced enough to reveal differences between interconnects., posted on October 5, 2012 at 12:16:11
Enophile
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 Being lighthearted, no actual argument is intended.





 

A lucky man Mejias is, posted on October 5, 2012 at 15:10:57
Ozzie
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 What you said here tommy, is only partially right:

"MANY musicians do not nor even care about having one. they put their interest into the music and listen for different things than the usual music lover does."

You have the musicians part right on, but not the music lover part. Substitute the words "music lover" for "audiophile" and you will be correct. As a music lover myself, I do listen for the same things you cool musician types do.

If someone likes the way their rig sounds, I say all the better for them. They are lucky enough to be happy with the sound and can actually listen to and enjoy the music played through it, and not fret, hoping that the next upgrade will get them there.

 

Depends if you use your system to listen to music or use music to listen to your system (nt), posted on October 5, 2012 at 16:11:05
13th Duke of Wymbourne
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 nt

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 5, 2012 at 17:58:19
fantja
Audiophile

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 Personally, I have not heard a poor NAD product, especially, 1990's gear!

 

i had a NAD receiver..., posted on October 5, 2012 at 23:12:35
hifitommy
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 that was just fine all except for the phono section. a 7225 or a number like that. the phono section was just like listening to corduroy. that's the only word i could find that matched the sound. it was just about the time that receivers and integrated amps plus preamps (actually line stages) eliminated phono stages from inclusion in their design.

aside from that, i have always been more than satisfied with NAD products.
...regards...tr

 

we will have to agree to disagree unless..., posted on October 5, 2012 at 23:16:17
hifitommy
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 you can state now what it is that you listen for. i will reveal what i am referring to after your answer, and i will be honest.
...regards...tr

 

LOL!, posted on October 6, 2012 at 00:29:11
Timbo in Oz
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 and as Milligan kept reminding us in the Q series'

"there's a lot of it about!"

And "It's all the rage" on The Goon Show.

His piss takes on Seller's manias about cars and audio remain funny and apt.


Warmest

Timothy Bailey

The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

 

IMO there's a few musicians, whom I wonder why they do it!?e, posted on October 6, 2012 at 00:38:20
Timbo in Oz
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 And not one of them a viola player. A drummer or two, of course.

Weekend sopranos who take lessons and nothing changes.

When I was younger and a bachelor and sniffin' round like you do, there were a lot of good looking sopranos. I never told it to chuck it, if I thought I could .... it.

Now I do. Even if I'd have liked to, 'cos I don't HAVE to!

see?! ;-)!


Warmest

Timothy Bailey

The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

 

Now that's an elephant in the room..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 07:24:38
mls-stl
Audiophile

Posts: 3039
Location: St. Louis
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 ...that many around these parts would consider very impolite to point out.

Good work!

 

RE: we will have to agree to disagree unless..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 08:11:19
Ozzie
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 Tommy, as you were not explicit in your statement, I guess the burden is on you to explain what you meant. Music to me is like a piece of art, the meaning of which can be interpreted as the listener sees fit. One only needs to Google A Whiter Shade Of Pale to understand what I am talking about. Now please do come back and school me how there is some deeper understanding or appreciation among musicians that a music lover like myself simply would not understand.

 

it's not necessarily education but..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 08:29:53
hifitommy
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 many times the musicians are listening to the structure of the music, the punctuations they call a dynamic, techniques of writing or performance. they dissect the music in ways we music lovers don't usually do.

we music lovers usually are affected by the totality of the performance and not its anatomy. having formal music education (or the experience of playing the music) can make you analytical like that.
...regards...tr

 

Perhaps the 3020..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 09:15:18
Bill the K
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 has made a comeback thru 316BEE. My 320BEE was different.

I dont know but it is simply amazing that Stephen can really enjoy all those nuances of music thru such a simple system. I would imagine its due to the positive attitude towards music and pleasant mental state with a dinner date to look forward to.

Cheers
Bill

 

Two questions..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:05:32
bjh
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 1. Since when has Stephen become a musician, that's new to me, I spent time on the SF forums for a period and there was no mention of him being a musician, his name in the company of any instrument would be a surprise to me.

2. Since when is lack of interest in something considered a virtue?

Things that are of no interest are simply that, not considered. If I'm not interested in sound there's no way in hell I'd be here, ever bother to read a audio rag., probably wouldn't give a flicker of interest in the mention of audiophiles in a conversation, ...

If Stereophile approached me and said, review that, I would be jumping around my living room like I just won a lottery, not because my name would show up in print (I'd consider that a negative), but because soon ...yr, 2 yrs, if Atkinson hadn't fired me by then, that I'd begin to enjoy a parade of excellent audio gear through my place ... LOL

So why the Kudos for Stephen, working for the premier US audio publication, for having *no* interest in something.

What else does he *not* give a sh!t about, maybe that would be interesting too... Huh?

[Um, now that I think about it ... Fire him]

LOL


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

Unfortunately needed ..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:24:36
bjh
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 If they all disappeared the demand for audio gear would take a hit.

On top of that many audiophiles don't necessarily listen to their systems all the time, may go for periods not doing so, so they're out too...

Soon enough it would be gone.

Elephants welcome!

(anyway, who cares, as long as the Chinese are interested in it the rest *could* just go away LOL)


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: Two questions..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:25:47
John Atkinson
Reviewer

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 >Since when has Stephen become a musician...

Stephen Mejias plays guitar, most recently in a band called The Multi-
Purpose Solution. He has mention this on a number of occasions in the
magazine; see the link below, for example.

John Atkinson
Editor, Stereophile

 

Cool. Thanks. , posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:27:54
bjh
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Location: Toronto, Canada
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 Have you heard him on stage? Lead, rhythm? ... does he sing?

Any good?

:)


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: Unfortunately needed ..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:34:22
Tony Lauck
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 "On top of that many audiophiles don't necessarily listen to their systems all the time, may go for periods not doing so, so they're out too..."

One wonders how much this is due to limitations of their systems vs. other factors. If one's system is not musical or is ultimately fatiguing, one may feel the need to turn it off and leave it off.

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: Unfortunately needed ..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 11:49:28
bjh
Audiophile

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 In my experience it can be other things entirely, especially when observing other people.

However, I must admit that all the talk does lead me to suspect that if what you suggest, or question, is a big mitigating factor that I should thank my lucky stars I have such a great system ... and there are times when I'm not listening to mine LOL


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 13:45:48
josh358
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 I'm not sure what you mean by "musicality." Are you referring to the music itself, or to a sonic flaw in the system?

I always delighted in the music I listened to, from my first kid system (Dyna A-25's). Well, before. And I took at least as much delight in the hobbyist aspect as I did later on. But something magical happened when I got my first high end components, as we'd called them today, a pair of Tympani 1-D's. They bought an ineffable magic to the experience.

Since then, that magic has been my basic criterion for selecting audio components. They have to have that magic to them. Not perfection, we can't do that. Not even state-of-the-artness, although I'm always glad to improve something. But some kind of threshold that, for me, anyway, even some extraordinarily expensive components don't have (and some surprisingly inexpensive ones do).

 

RE: IMO there's a few musicians, whom I wonder why they do it!?e, posted on October 6, 2012 at 13:55:07
josh358
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 I have the opposite reaction, I wonder why they don't. Even if they get no pleasure from good sound -- which seems a little strange to me, given the work that musicians put into producing a beautiful tone from a very expensive instrument -- a good system is more revealing of the details of performance practice.

 

? I wonder with some why they ARE musicians because they shouldn't be, posted on October 6, 2012 at 14:00:48
Timbo in Oz
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 I wasn't commenting about their home audio systems!

;-)!


Warmest

Timothy Bailey

The Skyptical Mensurer and Audio Scrounger

And gladly would he learn and gladly teach - Chaucer. ;-)!

'Still not saluting.'

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 14:24:54
rbolaw
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 I got a thorough education in classical music as a kid by listening for hours at a time to WNCN in NYC (a superb classical station before its gradual decline beginning in the late 70s and death in 1993) on a plastic Sony clock radio. NAD and Tannoy are a whole lot better than that.

 

RE: Unfortunately needed ..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 14:33:37
mls-stl
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 >> One wonders how much this is due to limitations of their
>> systems vs. other factors. If one's system is not musical
>> or is ultimately fatiguing, one may feel the need to turn
>> it off and leave it off.

To me, that is an incredibly sad statement about the people who suffer from this problem. To think of spending all that time (and presumably quite a bit of money) searching for high-level sound quality only to discover your system is really unlistenable is a fascinating concept to me.

It's one thing to have quality limitations imposed by your budget, the room or other factors beyond one's control, but quite another to intentionally choose equipment you can't live with. That truly is an elephant in the room. Yet, one doesn't have to read this and other forums for long to affirm there are plenty of people who inflict perpetual unhappiness on themselves.

 

And the elephant is playing music!, posted on October 6, 2012 at 15:04:14
Sue Kraft
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 :-)

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 17:41:17
Tony Lauck
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 It sounds like you have a pretty good handle on "musicality". :-)

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 19:17:35
Cherrell
Audiophile

Posts: 14
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 I have a budget system that amazes me every time I play the damned thing.

My speakers are SV Sound SCS-02(M)$400.
Receiver: Denon 591 $400.
Sub: NEC SW-300 on loan from a friend
Transport: Oppo BDP-93 $500.

I play SACDs and stream from a hard drive to the Oppo. I also use Audyssey. With this I get a very nice soundstage and great imaging. For example, I can hear that the 1st clarinet is in fact sitting next to the 2nd clarinet on his left and the lead flute on the right.

I would love to hear a more expensive because I never have been able too.

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 19:48:04
Bill the K
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Posts: 4711
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 Josh, we could call it 'magicality'. We can find it in the lowest priced PSB as well as Vivid K1. Thats the beauty of music.

Best Regards
Bill

 

RE: Now that's an elephant in the room..., posted on October 6, 2012 at 20:05:24
13th Duke of Wymbourne
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 No impoliteness intended - but why give Mejias a hard time if he's enjoying himself? I came to audio to better listen to the music I liked but gravitated to recordings with good sound first and musical merit (to my taste) second.
These days there is still a place in my collection for recordings that show off the system but I've managed to come back full circle and listen to what I really like. I think the mark of a good system is one that allows you to enjoy all your music.

Of course, if you like Jazz and female vocals you're covered both ways.

Cheers
13DoW

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 6, 2012 at 22:14:29
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 8060
Joined: August 8, 2001
 Most companies will provide components to reviewers at around dealer cost (perhaps manufacturing cost) since it does not "cost" the manufacturer any money. Equipment at a reviewer's rate in this regard is still at a level playing field. For example - the reviewer has review ten speakers all retailing for $5,000 may be able to get all ten of them for $2,000-$2500. Which is about what the average audiophile would pay on the used market. The review sample, when the reviewer is finished with it, is now a used loudspeaker. Further that accommodated price usually comes with strings like you can't sell the item for a year or two and it must be in your system for a period of time etc.

Few manufacturers will give for free expensive equipment to reviewers as a sort of payment for a good review (3-5 year loans may be called a "loan" but I think it would be fair to object to that IMO).

I don't place the blame necessarily on the reviewers - the manufacturers who are happy to give amps and speakers to studios and reviewers are doing it for their advertising which probably means it is stuff that can't sell based on listening sessions.

Having auditioned heavily a lot of well reviewed famous gear that is "given" to recording studios and reviewers it is almost always stuff that at normal retail to the average audiophile would not make my top 20 of the given classification of gear. In other words they need all the help they can get and you tend to like it more when it's free.

Further if you have a massive ego and "expect" manufacturers to kiss your ass then you can be quite vindictive if you are not "given" stuff for free because after all 12 other companies are willing to give you stuff so why aren't you?

Sometimes it's more interesting to see what is NOT reviewed in certain magazines which may tell you that those companies don't play the "freebie" game.

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 7, 2012 at 06:18:23
soulfood
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 You pointedly asserted to know how Mejias acquired his budget system. No reason, I suppose.

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 7, 2012 at 06:34:28
josh358
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 There is something magical about it, isn't there?

 

RE: Cool. Thanks. , posted on October 8, 2012 at 10:48:21
Stephen Mejias
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Location: New York
Joined: April 9, 2007
 JA has seen our band perform, but not on stage: He recorded our second album. I play mostly rhythm guitar and I don't sing. Though I've been playing since I was 17, and playing in bands since I was 18, I'm not technically skilled. I can't play a scale, for instance, and I can't play other peoples' songs. The band, on the other hand, is great (in my opinion), though I don't think we're JA's cup of tea. I've written about the band often enough, including in The Entry Level column, which we're currently discussing. See: http://www.stereophile.com/content/entry-level-14

To answer a couple of other questions that came up in this thread: I'm 34 years old; I'm not in school (I graduated from college in 1999), but I've worked for Stereophile for 12 years; and I've written about gear, both expensive and affordable, since 2005.

From time to time, for reasons I don't fully comprehend, the topic comes up of whether I'm "satisfied" with my current position as reviewer of "affordable" gear. I've discussed that, as well, most recently here:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/stranger-question

For all intents and purposes, I think I am qualified to review more expensive gear, except for the fact that I don't want to. I prefer listening to equipment that my friends, family, and I can actually afford. That is to say, I prefer listening to equipment that fits into my lifestyle.

I hear wonderfully expensive systems often enough to know that I'm not missing much. Before that sentence gets you all fired up, please try to understand what I mean. I visited Michael Fremer last Friday. His current system comprises the Wilson Alexandria XLF loudspeakers ($200,000/pair), Continuum Caliburn turntable ($150,000), darTZeel NHB-458 monoblock power amps ($144,500/pair), and a bunch of other enormous, outrageously expensive stuff. The music sounded excellent -- big, bold, present, powerful, clean, clear, compelling, everything you'd want -- but the sacrifices one need make in order to enjoy that sound are far beyond my limits and my lifestyle. I love that Mikey enjoys it, but, when I imagine such a system in my own room, I'm appalled. And, anyway, if you took that system and squished it into my 11' by 13' room, it would probably stink.

The system I've pieced together (Rega P3-24 turntable, Elys 2 cartridge, Parasound Zphono-USB phono preamp, PSB Alpha B1 loudspeakers, NAD C 316BEE integrated and C 515BEE CD player, and Kimber and AudioQuest cables and interconnects) is pretty much perfect for me and my life. I can come home after hearing a cost-no-object system, know what I'm missing, and still love the sound of music in my room. It sounds very, very good. Most people, including diehard audiophiles, are impressed by the sound of music in my room.

The last thing I'd ever want anyone to think is that you have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to get good sound. That simply isn't true.

And, yes, in the future, I do see myself buying more expensive gear, but I would never -- ever -- suggest to anyone that they can't properly enjoy music on a modest system. That notion just strikes me as being cynical, close-minded, and even sort of sad.

 

12 years with SF ... Wow, time flies ... guess I'm not much of a SF follower. :) , posted on October 8, 2012 at 13:08:58
bjh
Audiophile

Posts: 14232
Location: Toronto, Canada
Joined: November 22, 2003
 You'd swear you were 20 examining some of the posts that appear here.

:)


"Can you support that with measurements?"
"Yes, I sit 3m from my speakers and definately hear that there is more bass." - anonymous

 

RE: Cool. Thanks. , posted on October 8, 2012 at 13:31:09
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 1222
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Mr. Mejias:

I find it a sad commentary on the direction this hobby has taken that you were called out to "defend" your system and it's cost.

I am ten years older than you and VERY happily rolled with an NAD/Sony/B&W system through most of my 30's. I probably never enjoyed music more.

I now have a system that costs ten times as much or more than that modest system but my musical enjoyment has not increased by ten times.

Keep on trucking. Musical enjoyment and system cost generally have no correlation IMO.

Too many parlour audiophiles around here..ones that never leave their house to enjoy live music, can't listen on "bad" systems in social situations, and are generally party poopers. :)

 

Thanks for the link, Sue. That was way cool! (nt), posted on October 8, 2012 at 13:51:26
paulmah@hotmail.com
Reviewer

Posts: 268
Location: NYC
Joined: August 8, 2007
 nt.

 

"Too many parlour audiophiles around here...", posted on October 8, 2012 at 15:22:43
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3310
Joined: August 9, 2001
Contributor
  Since: July 18, 2011
 "I now have a system that costs ten times as much or more than that modest system but my musical enjoyment has not increased by ten times."

So, relative to your audio journey, is ten times the threshold before becoming a fool's errand?

 

Asylum Parlour, posted on October 8, 2012 at 16:13:37
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 10397
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
Contributor
  Since: February 24, 2009

The vast majority of people here are well past the place that normal people would call the point of diminishing returns. That's why it's called an Asylum. :-)

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: Cool. Thanks. , posted on October 8, 2012 at 17:13:00
tmsorosk
Audiophile

Posts: 1412
Location: Sprucegrove Ab.
Joined: October 31, 2010
 Thanks for sharing your thoughts Stephen, interesting as always. I guess when it comes to audio systems, ( to each his or her own ) works well.
Although I'm no longer satisfied with mediocre when it comes to my audio system, I have many friends with smaller systems and enjoy visiting and listening to them very much.

Regards Tim

 

RE: Asylum Parlour, posted on October 8, 2012 at 19:45:37
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 1222
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 No joke..I've actually seen listening rooms scarier than this!

 

RE: "Too many parlour audiophiles around here...", posted on October 8, 2012 at 19:46:42
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 1222
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 Don't you get tired of looking for answers where there are no questions?

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 9, 2012 at 02:57:55
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 8060
Joined: August 8, 2001
 Well I would assume that he paid for it. I could of course be wrong if Mejias could be bought you'd think his standard would be a bit higher than entry level inexpensive products.

I am not familiar with him as a reviewer but the impression I got was that he was being attacked in a way for not having a supremely high end (read expensive) rig. My main system is in Canada and I have purchased a new budget system while working in Hong Kong. Having a budget system doesn't make me hear worse. It's very possible to have taste and class and great ears on a tiny ass budget - and it's possible to own a top of the line $300,000 stereo money stuffed in the pillows and be completely classless, tasteless, and tone deaf.

I'm pretty sure Mejias can listen to a big MBL, Quad, Harbeth etc and not be under the impression the PSB Alpha B-1 is better sounding. Although this is an assumption as well.



 

No question?, posted on October 9, 2012 at 07:02:15
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3310
Joined: August 9, 2001
Contributor
  Since: July 18, 2011
 Like you, I used a question mark. So, what's your response a statement?

 

RE: No question?, posted on October 9, 2012 at 16:06:29
Sprezza Tura
Audiophile

Posts: 1222
Location: New York City
Joined: August 24, 2012
 A mole digging in a hole
Digging up my soul now
Going down, excavation

 

RE: "Musicality?" I don't buy it. , posted on October 9, 2012 at 17:50:22
marc g.
Audiophile

Posts: 2665
Location: New Orleans
Joined: October 14, 1999
 I'm with you on this one.

How about PRAT? Me thinks that's an aspect of he music, not hardware.

marc g. - audiophile by day, music lover by night

 

Mejias for President, posted on October 10, 2012 at 04:39:58
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 4711
Joined: June 3, 2006
 A cool Man for the Masses.

Three cheers
Bill

 

That's a huge upgrade/leap. :^), posted on October 10, 2012 at 05:43:00
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3310
Joined: August 9, 2001
Contributor
  Since: July 18, 2011
 This bit of wisdom is taken from your OP: "Perhaps there is a message in here that we all tend to upgrade in search of the musicality that we do not hear." LOL! We all?

 

AudiophilePlus, posted on October 10, 2012 at 09:58:46
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 4711
Joined: June 3, 2006
 Soul, sorry for that exaggerated statement in the OP.

A lot of Audiophiles seem to be constantly searching for upgrades. I feel there is a group of audiophiles that I would call as AudiophilePlus who can enjoy music with the humble systems they have. They dont need to upgrade. The way many reviewers who I like a lot write about small bookshelf speakers give me the impression they love those little cheap things enormously. This may also be a little faculty they possess but in some cases they love speakers that do not do too well in measurements. There are three budget speakers which were loved by the reviewers that I found pathetic. I guess it should be the music that rules, not the equipment.

Cheers
Bill

 

RE: Cool. Thanks. , posted on October 10, 2012 at 19:53:36
the old school
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: marin county
Joined: April 9, 2011
 I could not agree more with ALL of this. I have heard many systems costing $400,000 or more, that don't come close to my humble system: VPI Scoutmaster tt, Benz Ruby 3 cartridge, Bob's transformer, Mystere CA 21 preamp, Audio Research D 70 amp, and my beloved Fulton J speakers.

 

Audiophile, posted on October 10, 2012 at 21:19:21
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3310
Joined: August 9, 2001
Contributor
  Since: July 18, 2011
 "A lot of Audiophiles seem to be constantly searching for upgrades."

I'm not judging.

"I feel there is a group of audiophiles that I would call as AudiophilePlus who can enjoy music with the humble systems they have."

Just one segment of audiophiles. AudiophilePlus is total nonsense.

"They dont need to upgrade."

They may not want to upgrade but understand none of this has anything to do with needs.

"I guess it should be the music that rules, not the equipment."

This versus stuff is just plain silly. It's about reproduction. Everything rules.

 

RE: Audiophile, posted on October 13, 2012 at 20:36:14
lord addleford
Audiophile

Posts: 760
Location: new england
Joined: July 5, 2005
 are you implying that false dichotomies are bullshit, not to mention reductionist? omg. good for you! next, move on to argueing for accepting apparent contradictions, and we will be well on our way towards a real discourse.

 

RE: Audiophile, posted on October 14, 2012 at 08:30:45
soulfood
Audiophile

Posts: 3310
Joined: August 9, 2001
Contributor
  Since: July 18, 2011
 "are you implying that false dichotomies are bullshit..."

No, but possibly an asshole magnet.

"next, move on to argueing for accepting apparent contradictions, and we will be well on our way towards a real discourse."

I don't get it. Is this your perverse take on the road to hell?

 

My system is a status symbol to impress the electric co guys as they watch the meter spin, posted on October 15, 2012 at 10:49:26
Elizabeth
Audiophile

Posts: 10070
Location: Great Lakes Region
Joined: December 20, 2000
 I Also use the system as an excuse. When my best friend complains about my wearing shabby clothes.. I respond with: 'Yeah but i have $100,000 tied up in my stereo.. doesn't THAT count as status?'
(apparently not. Only if it was a car....)

 

RE: Mejias' budget system, posted on October 26, 2012 at 22:14:38
the old school
Audiophile

Posts: 635
Location: marin county
Joined: April 9, 2011
 IMO, EVEREYTHING sounds better than a $500,000 MBL system. MBL represents what has gone wrong with "high end" audio: horribly inefficient speakers, 1000 watt ss amps, and crapy digital.

 

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