This is what I call audiophile obsession!

quote:

Originally posted by Consciousmess:
Check out all these pictures! What sort of cost do you think this man has paid?

More than he has told his wife I bet

So I conclude that this "barn" isn't his house....
So where does he live and how many times did his wife see him in the 35 years they're married with a barn like that!?!

Doesn't do anything for me.

Awesome!!

That's how it should be.

No idea what it sounds like, obviously, but it looks magnificent.

Top chap.

The design of the music room seems quite impressive. I'm not familiar with his gear so I'm not particularly excited.

Regards...

quote:

More than he has told his wife I bet

He's either very rich or doesn't have a wife!

Makes my 2 systems look positively cheap.

The cost of the gear plus room & CD racks will buy a helluva lot of gig tickets
- a lot more fun & socially rewarding.

I notice the single - & I am sure accurately aligned to within 0.5mm - listening seat.
This for sure indicates no significant other & that this guy is into doing it alone.
- a lot less fun & if his only friend is Mrs Fist & her 5 lovely daughters, a lot less socially rewarding.

quote:

Originally posted by Dungassin:

quote:

More than he has told his wife I bet

He's either very rich or doesn't have a wife!

Makes my 2 systems look positively cheap.

Something to show the missus when she quibbles about the cost of servicing your Naim gear??

Looks like some of the systems on show at last year's Heathrow Penta gig. All of which sounded shite...

What exactly is your (i.e. all those who have posted disparaging comments) problem?

Spending tens of thousands on naim means you must not be some sad onanist, presumably?

quote:

What exactly is your (i.e. all those who have posted disparaging comments) problem?

Spending tens of thousands on naim means you must not be some sad onanist, presumably?

I have no problem with somebody spending vast sums of money on hifi equipment as long as they can afford it. In fact I don't think I criticised his purchase at all.

I think most are intrigued by the "only one listening chair" part of it.

In some photos there are at least 3 chairs - 2 behind or to the side of the main listening position. Not that it matters - how often do people here listen to music alone?

He works in Retail ???what's he selling Expensive Hi Fi???

Seen this one before and I find it quite impressive, not familiar with his gear so.

Impressive, and rather beautiful - not sure how long it would last with my little Rhiannon aged 5 running around though!

I do however think that it's good to se someone presumably of fairly modest means achieving such a high level at least in one area of their life. At least having striven for it over many years he is more likely to appreciate it and enjoy it than some rich git who just bought it because it looked cool.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

I'm not having a go at either you or him, but it would never have occurred to me to presume that this man was of 'fairly modest means'.

Extremely beautiful set-up.

Dave

Everything is relative. Someone said as long as he can afford it...

Have a look on 'ferrarichat' forum's vintage section to put it in perspective (there is a very nice bloke who posts on there who had Pininfarina design a Ferrari for him which was signed off by the factory and given a chassis number - and that is just one of his many toys), which in turn, no doubt, could be put into perspective by certain aviation, marine or fine art interests.

bw,

I realise he's not as well off as Bill Gates.

Maybe he is well-off now.

He is 57 and thus may well have come into an inheritance - as may his, presumably age-matched, wife.

If such people are happy where they live, have a decent car etc., why should they not buy a fantasy hi-fi? This is my intention.

Fraser

Probably not as satisfying as a Bose wave radio - eh Bryan?

Tim

quote:

If such people are happy where they live, have a decent car etc., why should they not buy a fantasy hi-fi?

Suggesting this man is of more than 'fairly modest means' is not the same as saying he's doing something wrong. As far as I'm concerned he can spend all that money on hifi even if he hates his neighbourhood and rides a spacehopper. It's up to him and his wife. I presume he pays his taxes.

I personally do not like his HIFI system but having a dedicated room for music is very reasonable. I would do the same if I can space in home.

i have the grand prix rack that he uses for my system, loved the room he has

I've been to this fellow's barn. It is behind his house and was a working barn before converted. Very nice guy. The update on that entry was Feb of '09 so it has probably changed a bit since then.

I would call it an audiophile obsession as well. Not that I would disparage.

Amazing detail retrieval, scale, yada. Didn't make my music satisfaction synapses sizzle, however. But you maybe could have guessed that. Would love to take an active Naim system into the room, but the room is designed for free standing speaks so DBL wouldn't have worked anyway. Now maybe with Ovator series we might have something to talk about. But a Naim system would require a paradigm shift, I think. I'll give him a call.