Hello Folks,
The A.V. market has changed dramatically in the last 7/8 years -mainly,in the quality available for the price..I`ll clarify...
In 1998 I remember seeing a Vidikron Vision One crt projector for sale in Absolute Sounds in London for over 60k!!..Great picture..BUT..now beaten quite easily by any quality projector over 5k..In short,the high end has become more affordable..
Exactly the same is true of Audio..pre and power amps of a few years ago ..costing 10k..are easily out performed by any a.v. receiver over 1.5k now..
What this means is that you can beat a 70k a.v. setup of yesteryear with a setup costing only 6.5k now..great eh..
But..there is still high end stuff now I hear you chant...indeed there is ,you can still pay 500k for a set of speakers..150k for a projector...BUT..there is a big difference now...in 1998 the high end was exclusive,now? ..its trickled down to more affordable propositions...
For example,its always been known that in A.V. and HI FI..its the knowledge that counts,the knowledge that can blend the correct components-that can setup to optimum,to ensure that the gap between components-whatever the cost is minimalised..
In short,its establishing the point at which its good enough and presenting value for money..unequivocally,just talking about equipment,25k would get you a stunning A.V. system..75k would be better but not by a ratio of 3 as you may think...maybe all round,a 5% improvement...
So the question todays buyer needs to ask themselves is this..is it worthwhile to spend 50 grand more for a 5% improvement?..It is, IF your budget permits....now,when we talk of the difference between a 75k system and a 250k system the margin of improvement becomes incredibly narrow,maybe a 2.5% improvement....
We are left with a 7.5% improvement between a 25k system and a 250k system..why is that?..why so little?...Because we are limited by the source...and there is a point where it is good enough,in other words..all the resolution is presented correctly in a high def signal..and all the encode within the audio signal replayed at optimum...
You cannot make the picture better beyond the source,you can make the projector brighter..you can make the sound louder...you cant change the source..you are limited...thats why improvements are incredibly miniscule once the source is presented correctly..and those improvements are never going to be apparent UNLESS the person setting up the equipment has the skill to eke out every last drop of potential from the source..
Now,it gets even more complicated,because,in an ideal world,the projector would display the source image exactly as was intended and the amplifier would just amplify the signal without adding any of its own characteristics..and the speaker replay as intended...
Of course this is not the case,different amps sound different,different speakers handle the signal differently and so on...
For example,what kind of sound do you prefer?...Do you like ridiculously sharp?...if so...go for digital speakers like Meridian...if you like a full warm sound...Klipsch...absolute clarity?...Martin Logan...expansive sound?...Magnepan...and so on...
Now these sound differences are actually more to do with the technology employed than the speakers reproduction...a direct array speaker..even if supplied by digital amps,still has crossovers and blends frequencies using different drivers for bass,treble and midrange...and this is incorrect..in real life sound is point source...its not split..its cohesive.....thats why i prefer horn,electrostatic and ribbon speakers..due to the nature of the technology employed they handle sound in a more natural way...
..Its about what technology is employed in creating a great sound not how expensive that speaker set is..if its direct array..its limited...thats my view supported by physics...and my view regards replication of cinema sound is supported by ALL the top cinemas in the world..who ALL use horn speakers from either Klipsch or JBL...because they are incredibly efficient,produce an expansive sound,can handle the peaks and troughs of a movie soundtrack superbly without breaking a sweat....
...and If I may add,the Klipschorn hi fi speaker of 30 odd years ago is STILL recognised as one of the greatest speakers ever made..at any price....
So,wonderful with music as well...
(*For Jazz and blues,I would use Martin Logan,or more importantly ..Electrostatic speakers.. )
But as an all rounder the Klipsch THX Ultra 2 set from Klipsch takes some beating..at any price..and regularly features in all the best speaker polls normally shoe horned between Focal and Wilson costing ,in some instances,10 times more..!!!!....
How much is this venerable set?..less than 10k....in fact,I would not advise the normal mortal,however much money they may have, to EVER spend more than this on a set of speakers because its doubtful they would hear any benefit at all unless setup incredibly well by experienced folks...(*may even be worse if not setup well)..in short,you could be throwing all that extra money down the drain....:-)
So,thats the point at which speakers are good enough for example...10k..thats what i would advise to spend for a stonking performance..no more necessary...
**This principle applies to all a.v. components..and at Projectiondreams,we have determined over many years trials and comparisons,,what is best for the pricepoint..the point at which its good enough for our customers...
Other companies dont do this..they will tell you their 50k speakers are wonderful BECAUSE they are 50k..and frankly,thats complete nonsense..but of course wonderful for the pocket of the chap selling..:-)..I could do the same..I would make more money..but I wont,because its not the truth...
Whats important to me has been maximising the performance of good kit to make perform as well with the source as possible and replicate that source to optimum..thats setup orientated through skill...
With Projectiondreams the high end is here..and affordable...:-)....you can be confident that you have no need to spend more, because we offer the best solutions..not the most expensive..the best value..
Regards,
Vince
