What would be considered the "Average Level" sound system?

When we discuss audio equipment and music reproduction on this board as well as other dedicated audio sites we are looking at it from a very narrow perspective relating to most music listeners. Most recordings and consumer equipment is produced for the "mass market" and we tend to be more focused on the niche when it comes to equipment and buying music software.

What would be considered an "average level" sound system? How much money does a "normal" consumer spend? I think many of us have a very warped perspective when it comes to equipment and the purchase of discs. Aside from "collectors" (that's a whole different story) many "Audiophiles" spend more on just one component than many people spend on an entire system. Heck. some people spend more on just interconnect cables than others on entire systems. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't think there is anything at all wrong in that, to each his/her own but, when we try and judge recordings we have to keep in mind the intended market that these are produced for....the mass one.

So, on an average, what would the majority (non-audiophiles) spend when buying a sound system and what reproduction capabilities would such a system have? Any thoughts?

 

I have no idea what the dollar amount is, but I would guess most people go to Circuit City, Best Buy or maybe Wall Mart and buy what ever is on sale. It may be an all in one system or separates.

 

Khorn,

My guess is these days it means an Apple iPod (or horrors a Fisher rack system )....but I'm not really sure I understand your interest...isn't it better to create accurate, flat transfered music for maximum enjoyment of audiophiles as a benchmark and then let its accuracy suffer to different degrees under lesser systems?

The reason I propose this is not out of some audio elitism but as a recording engineer who sees no good way to make a recording for average gear that will satisfy those who spend more.

Think a minute about a liquid midrange. If the producers get that right, it will sound lush on a $25K system and on an iPod. If there is more bass and HF information then so much the better.

The problems arise when producers try to cheat the recording process by adding compression, aural exciters, and other things IMHO. The finished product may sound okay on an iPod but the lack of dynamics and detail will trouble the serious music fan.

 

Well, I's say the average system today is much better than the average system of yesteryear, and much more bang for the buck. Remember that in order to get decent sound out of a turntable, you need a well set up high quality turntable, and a good phone preamp. A 100.00 cd player, though horrid to most of us, is virtually the same as a high end unit for the masses. And you can buy a semi decent 100 watt/channel stereo receiver for around 200.00. This was not possible decades ago. So, that would seem to leave the speakers for the rest of the expense. Now speakers, it would seem, have generally not come down in price over the years. Decent small speakers can be had for around 200.00 a pair. So I'd say $500.00 these days could get something that would be plenty acceptable for the average user.

 

My guess is between $200.00 and $1500.00 for the average Joe. In my pre-audiophile daze I spent around $800.00 on my complete system.

 

I'd say a Bose Wave Radio/CD is considered to be more than adequate by normal consumers as a stand-alone music system. So $400 or so. Otherwise, many would consider CDs being played through their home theatre as the way to go - so whatever it costs is acceptable.

 

From reading a lot of circulars, and from visiting a few "mass market" stores, I would say that right now the "Average Joe" is probably buying HTIB (home theatre in a box) systems. I think that the average price for one of these systems is about $450. You get a 5.1 system, with built in DVD/CD player, 5 speakers with little dinky cabinets with maybe a 4 in. speaker in each driven by a 100 watt amp (20 watts perchannel at 1% thc), and a "sub-woofer" with an 8 in. sub and a dedicated 100 watt amp. This little system would probably make the average Joe a happy camper.

 

On this Forum? - probably $10,000 of accumulated expenditures.

Bob

 

As some of you may know, my old reciever developed a capacitor problem. I decided that it would be better ifv I just bought a new one with Dolby, DTS, and all that, and I found one for $200 at the evil Circuit City.

Well, for a consumer amp, it's OK. I probably got what I paid for. But, it's not bad sounding at all. It is clean and detailed with the proper two-channel set-up with direct mode and digital inputs. The amp features 24-bit/192kHZ converters.

One thing I did notice is that the frequency response seems flatter than the old one. The midrange is layed-back, and it made things sound better, and right. I had the same relavation when I fired up my Shure cart. The brightness I experienced with my old amp is gone.

I put on some SH mastered stuff from DCC and the, of course, sounded great! Then I put on a compressed CD, and it sounded compressed still, but somehow, less offensive. Then I put on one of my needle drops on CD-R, and it sounded just like I mastered it. Since things sounded "different", I decided to put on the most edgy-EQ'ed sounding CD in my collection, the 2-CD set of Rhino's recent War collection. It hurt my ears in my car, and sounded strident on my old amp, but for the first time, sounded correct! Hats off to Inglot/Hercsh! I put on some other compressed CDs and the ceiling was somewhat removed. What?

So, i'm wondering, is it that my speakers work better with my new amp? Is it that I am now using a digital interconnect with my CD player? Is my new amp flatter in response? All of the above? Were my old MIT Terminator 4 interconnects squeezing the sound?

So, it seems that this is what the "average" consumer, willing to pay $200+ for a typical HT amp, hears on their CDs. And, something tells me that the mastering guys aren't optimizing the music for these playback systems. Technology is coming at good prices these days.

BTW, since my new amp doesn't have a phono stage, typical of consumer HT amps in this price range, I am using my old amp just fot the phono stage and extra imputs until I can buy a dedicated quality phono pre-amp. I am using that MIT intercommect to hook up the output of the old amp into the new one. How do my records sound? Damn good! For an amp I bought a Radio Shack a decade ago, the phono section was pretty good.'

Not trying to threadjack, but I figured this would fit right in with the topic at hand.

 

That's exactly what they are buying! They are also buying exotic mini-systems for $200 that recall the ols Bang & Olfsen systems that many "average" listeners do own. Then, they go gfor the gawdy boomboxes. People want compact and easy to use systems for cheap. If sound is secondary, so be it. It all comes down to $$$ in the end, though, something a lot of the forum members here don't have to worry too mucgh about, judging from the profiles.

Even what I bought is way more than what the average person is willing to shell out. And, don't be fooled, some of those HT recievers have a high learning curve. Mine has a pink-noise generator to help you adjust your speakers, but I still can't figure out half this stuff. I have no clue as to all this DTS, Dolby, THX stuff. I dread getting a DVD player for this system.

 

Grant,

Have you tried one of those cheap RS phono preamps. Who knows, since you already had good luck with a RS phono section, it might be ok. I mean, we're not talking rocket science here, just a little gain and RIAA equalization. For 30.00 or so, and a money back guarantee, it might be worth a try. I think Shure made one of these bolt on units as well. I seem to remember seeing those in studio's before for TT transcriptions.

I wouldn't recommend this for a ultra high end system, but for a 200.00 receiver, why not.

 

I use a $150 DJ mixer for my phono stage. BTW, the total that I spent on my system is over $1,000 which was my budget on my sound system. I know that my current sub isn't the best sub, but I did upgrade my front and rears. The fronts ended up sounding considerably better than the small satellite speakers that came with my receiver. My rear speaker upgrades sound a little better than the satellite speakers, but since the fronts are more important to me than the rears, I didn't want really good speakers for my rears but a little better sounding than satellites. The sub that comes with my typical HT system in my bedroom is just right for me, for now.

 

Well, I saw one of those $12 Memorex phono stages at Circuit City. The specs were fine for a club DJ, but not for me. The S/N was -50 db. The frequency response was something like 40-15,000HKz. I can't imagine a RS phono stage being any better.

No, i'm going to get one of those $119 units made by Sumiko. Just because the amp was $200, don't think that the specs suck. They don't. They just aren't "audiophile" level. I checked the specs before I bought it. It was between the one I bought and the Sony for the same price.

But, you know, these are the choices the avarege consumer with or without the disposable cash will tend to buy. I was horrified when the salesman, who was basically a kid, said that the Memorex phono stage sounded "good". Then he admitted that I wasn't going to like it if I was looking for audiophile quality. And, there it is. Even people with the money don't look for better quality. They are happy with whatever because they want tom put their money in other things. They aren't as dedicated. I could have bought a better 2-channel amp for the same money, but then I wouldn't have had the chance to expand the system without having to dump the amp and get a new one. I don't have that kind of money. The reason I do keep memtioning money here is because that is what matters most to the average consumer. Only thing is, I have audiophile tastes with an average consumer's wallet.

 

I figure I have spent a total of $5000 on my system. My wife's cost about $1500. I just have more stuff on mine.

 

Actually, my mixer retails for $199.99 http://www.northernlightfx.com/cart.php?Action=closeup&prod=Q-2422SX

 

Now that's a bargain. For that price you get a built in rumble and scratch filter.

 

I have audiophile tastes with an average consumer's wallet as well.

 

Grant, for even cheaper, you can get an upgraded version of my mixer http://www.northernlightfx.com/cart.php?Action=closeup&prod=Q-2422MKII

For more info on the upgraded version of my mixer but without the WOW button that is basically the same as loudness button on car stereos, etc. http://www.americanaudio.us/product.asp?ProductIDNumber=1213&cat=Mixers

http://www.northernlightfx.com/cart.php?Action=closeup&prod=Q-SPAND has the WOW button and marketing info from SRS about WOW is at http://www.srslabs.com/ConsumerTechMonoStereo.asp#WOWdownload the PDF available at the SRS link posted as well.

 

Grant, a DJ mixer will give you additional inputs as well. It is just what you need.

 

Seeing lots and lots and lots of midfi sales from larger stores I can tell you in my experience for a complete HTS system, because basically no one is buying just stereo,the range for 98% of the sales is $900-$1500. Of course my perspective is relative to the fact that the system's I am talking about are sold in midfi mass market stores so take that in to account.

 

Hi Grant,

Are you saying that only 4% of your audio system budget was spent on amplification?

Take care,
Jeffrey

 

You'd think that the HT system craze would lead into massive SACD and DVD-A sales, but it isn't unfortunately.

 

I have spent more on components than amplification and preamplification.

 

Judging by my surrounding neighbors houses....the average system for them is very poor. Some use computer speakers as their main source of sound. Proper stereo imaging just doesn't exist over here. At least with the CD there is some sort of consistency.

In my day (the 60's to 70's) people bought at least a turntable with a decent amp and some good speakers. Now it is those plastic speakers powered usually by a Discman or their computer.

I'm like the freak on the block because I actually have real speakers and real electronics (plus I still collect music).

 

I do have real electronics and real speakers as well in my bedroom which compared to the minisystem in the living room is audiophile quality. When I added components to my mixer when I had the minisystem, it indeed took more space than with a HT receiver which is why I bought a HT system for my bedroom but waited to get stands for my components when they were on sale at K-Mart. My electronics I either bought at pawn shops or at my work and the replacement speakers I bought one pair at a garage sale and another pair at Goodwill. The Pioneer 563A I bought at Best Buy in Duluth, Minnesota and I will go to Duluth this weekend for the firmware upgrade.

Stuff I bought secondhand somewhere besides the replacement front and rear speakers:
1984 Sanyo cassette deck (still works great)
HT system

Stuff I bought at my work:
RCA cables
speaker wire
CD/MD combo deck
turntable
DJ mixer
headphones
and some other small electronics