What do you think is OVERKILL?

[T DUB]

What kind of dollar figure do you guys think is total overkill on a total home theater package? I was just thining while reading some speaker system reviews over on hometheatermag.com,

They review the Paradigm Reference Signature S8 Speaker System that costs $15,195 and give it an outstanding review say "I’ve found my new reference."(system).

Then they tested the Revel Ultima2 Salon2 Speaker System on there and it costs $45,993. They pretty much summed it up by saying that a system like this is the best money can buy.

Then they a have a review of a PSB Imagine T Speaker System which gets a very good review for $4,749.

My point it the PSB system gets a fantastic review and the Paradigm setup at three times the price of the PSB rig gets an outstanding review and then you have a Revel package that gets immense praise at three times the price of the Paradigm rig.

At what point do you stop hearing a difference in quality??? Would the Revel setup REALLY be that noticably better than Paradigm's flagship reference setup at three times the price of a system which is already very expensive at over $15,000(without the matching sub).

[ZedsDead]

You raise an interesting question. I have not really had the privilege to hear really high-end speakers, but I always do wonder when enough is enough. I guess you could liken it the automobile industry. There are some great values to be had, but the price to value ration usually gets skewed as you climb higher in price. You could buy a million dollar plus Bugatti Veyron if you really want the best of the best, but most car lovers would probably be nearly as happy with say a Ferrari that costs a 1/3 of the price, and have a bunch of money left over for other interests.

[tilapiah6]

When I retire and have a dedicated HT room, I will probably dump tens of thousands into it, easily. Of course, that's about twenty years down the road, but I don't think there's such a thing as overkill when it comes to HT. You could easily spend 50k on a nice curved screen, an HD projector, AVR, amps, cables, speakers, subs, Blu-ray player, seating, lighting, acoustic sound proofing, etc.

[EvilshenaniganZ]

I think $6 million may be a little overkill.

[erict]

Originally Posted by EvilshenaniganZ

I think $6 million may be a little overkill.

That looks like crazyBLUE's room

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by erict

That looks like crazyBLUE's room

I WISH !!!

If I had A room like that I would NEVER leave it .

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by erict

That looks like crazyBLUE's room

Where the hell are the WALL TREATMENTS?

He didn't REFINISISH his speakers in Mozambique Wood veneer either!

And where are the uniquely conceived and utterly brilliant ACCENT pieces?

I think this guy needs to have a little chat with Brent to help him really make his system stand out!

John

[Pondosinatra]

Originally Posted by T DUB

My point it the PSB system gets a fantastic review and the Paradigm setup at three times the price of the PSB rig gets an outstanding review and then you have a Revel package that gets immense praise at three times the price of the Paradigm rig.

I've got an ancient set of PSB's and they still sound killer. For what it's worth.

[Johnny Vinyl]

I don't think that any of them are overkill. Then again, to some they are all overkill. I don't think there is an answer to this question.

Would you hear a difference between them? I'd say very definately YES, but is the difference worth it to you? Personally, if given the choice, I would opt for the $15,000 system as that is about the maximum I would spend over time on a HT setup. If it were for a 2-channel setup I would very happily choose the $45,000 system. Music is more important to me than movies are, so the choice in my situation is easy to make. Do I think that $45,000 for a 2-channel rig is overkill? Absolutely NOT! Would I spend more than that? I'm not sure, but if money were no object I'd surely consider it.

Am I happy with my $5,000 HT/2-channel rig? Very! Given the $$$ I had at my disposal, it has been carefully selected (lots of auditioning) and I feel all of the components match up very well together. It may even sound like a system worth twice as much, that's how confident I am about its sound.

John

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by John72953

I don't think that any of them are overkill. Then again, to some they are all overkill. I don't think there is an answer to this question.

Would you hear a difference between them? I'd say very definately YES, but is the difference worth it to you? Personally, if given the choice, I would opt for the $15,000 system as that is about the maximum I would spend over time on a HT setup. If it were for a 2-channel setup I would very happily choose the $45,000 system. Music is more important to me than movies are, so the choice in my situation is easy to make. Do I think that $45,000 for a 2-channel rig is overkill? Absolutely NOT! Would I spend more than that? I'm not sure, but if money were no object I'd surely consider it.

Am I happy with my $5,000 HT/2-channel rig? Very! Given the $$$ I had at my disposal, it has been carefully selected (lots of auditioning) and I feel all of the components match up very well together. It may even sound like a system worth twice as much, that's how confident I am about its sound.

John

+1 !!! I Totally agree John !

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

+1 !!! I Totally agree John !

Thanks for the +1 Brent and good morning to you!

I think reviews of various pricepoint level systems are great learning tools, and I don't view them with the attitude of "I must have that". From an aural viewpoint I try to read them and pay attention to the language the reviewers use in describing how a particular componant sounds. I take that knowledge with me when I'm auditioning and as I hear a speaker or a tube amp or whatever, I try to listen for those descriptions. Does that make sense? Inexpensive components can still sound dynamite if properly matched and setup. Dollars and cents aren't always a factor.

John

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by John72953

Thanks for the +1 Brent and good morning to you!

I think reviews of various pricepoint level systems are great learning tools, and I don't view them with the attitude of "I must have that". From an aural viewpoint I try to read them and pay attention to the language the reviewers use in describing how a particular componant sounds. I take that knowledge with me when I'm auditioning and as I hear a speaker or a tube amp or whatever, I try to listen for those descriptions. Does that make sense? Inexpensive components can still sound dynamite if properly matched and setup. Dollars and cents aren't always a factor.

John

Yes it makes perfect sense John !
BTW ~ Good morning to you too !

[Hammie]

I think it is very dependent on the person. As John says, what one person thinks is overkill is nothing to another person.

If I had the room and capabilities, I'm sure I would drop $100-200K on a dedicated theater. You need to take into consideration speakers, screen, projector, cabling, soundproofing, furniture, lighting, etc. It all adds up.

Also, when I see speaker reviews in magazines, I don't say to myself that "I need to have them," I usually say, "I need to hear them."

EDIT: John, looks like we cut from the same cloth, my friend.

[Johnny Vinyl]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I think it is very dependent on the person. As John says, what one person thinks is overkill is nothing to another person.

If I had the room and capabilities, I'm sure I would drop $100-200K on a dedicated theater. You need to take into consideration speakers, screen, projector, cabling, soundproofing, furniture, lighting, etc. It all adds up.

Also, when I see speaker reviews in magazines, I don't say to myself that "I need to have them," I usually say, "I need to hear them."

EDIT: John, looks like we cut from the same cloth, my friend.

Hi Lou! And good morning to you as well!

Very well said......I love coming across a component (mostly speakers) that I just read a positive review on. I have yet to come across the speaker I want to hear most of all, which is the Totem Wind! But when I do, I'm going back home and selecting a few fave LP's and SA-CD's for an extensive listen!

John

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I think it is very dependent on the person. As John says, what one person thinks is overkill is nothing to another person

This is so true !