klettermann
Member
On a recent trip to NYC I dropped into an uber high end salon just to check it out. It's owned by a big name audio guy who has been in the business for decades. Usually they're appointment only but I got lucky and we ended up chatting for at least an hour. This was followed by some serious listening to the reference system. The guts of the system was D'agostino Relentless mono blocks, Relentless preamp, giant Wilson speakers and endless other stuff - cables, power conditioners, etc etc. System was said to be valued at over US$1,000,000. No doubt, it was the best sounding system I've ever heard, as I suppose it should be. I consider it a kind of lifetime experience, like being invited on a joyride in somebody's private jet. Pretty cool!
Yet...... here's what came a s surprise to me. In the course of the conversation the guy mentioned the evils of noise via power line and Ethernet. His solution was, of course, a $700 audiophile ethernet switch. I can't say I've ever listened through such a switch (and likely never will), but the concept bothers me greatly. I do have a pretty good handle on how ethernet works, so this causes me to question what a major influencer is doing. The obvious answer, I guess, is just selling more stuff. And if $$$$$ is no object, as it obviously isn't with a $1.000,000 system, then what's the harm? After all, why leave any stone unturned? But still. And that doesn't even get into the ethics of what a $1mio even means. So there you have it. Whadaya think? Cheers,
Yet...... here's what came a s surprise to me. In the course of the conversation the guy mentioned the evils of noise via power line and Ethernet. His solution was, of course, a $700 audiophile ethernet switch. I can't say I've ever listened through such a switch (and likely never will), but the concept bothers me greatly. I do have a pretty good handle on how ethernet works, so this causes me to question what a major influencer is doing. The obvious answer, I guess, is just selling more stuff. And if $$$$$ is no object, as it obviously isn't with a $1.000,000 system, then what's the harm? After all, why leave any stone unturned? But still. And that doesn't even get into the ethics of what a $1mio even means. So there you have it. Whadaya think? Cheers,