TOTL

[speakerman1]

I have been reading about a person in another forum waiting to buy TOTL components. What is a TOTL component to you. We all agree on Macintosh. What other brands? I have a Scott tuner that is great. I have a Carver rack and a Creek rack. Are they TOTL to you. I think TOTL is in eyes of the beholder. I mean I really like Hafler also A lot of people only buy vintage. Has technology improved since a lot of things vintage have been built? Are the Chinese putting out better components at a better price. I think my Shanling CDP is TOTL. It is Chinese built; but I have no complaints. The only way I could afford it was by being a dealer. The Brits are designing their equipment and having the Chinese build it. What American company builds equipment today at a half way decent price. Don't say Music Hall it is built in China and Czech Republic. Is there any company. Throw out a name ; but Macintosh and I will tell you where it is made.

So what is TOTL?

Larry

 

[Fairchild]

To my mind TOTL is a pretty loose figure of speach. All of the audio company's would have their own TOTL, During the receiver wars Sansui would have had the G 33000 as their TOTL, Pioneer would have said their SX-1980. Does this mean these had the best sound quality? Not to me but they were the Top of their particular line.

Just my thoughts.

Jim

 

[Web Police]

Sounds like he only wants the top of the line equipment. To me TOTL means the most expensive of a particular model, such as the Pioneer SX 80 series of receivers the SX-1980 would be TOTL. Every manufacture would have different TOTL for different models of equipment. Generally the biggest, baddest most expensive model in the series. Very vague yes.

 

[orange]

It's like kids and pets (even if they are being a PITA)...you love them warts and all.

Unless you are the brother of that guy out east that just got sentenced to death and he's pleased with the verdict...oh well.

 

[speakerman1]

To me it isn't about money. It is what sounds good. I may be a snob. But I very seldom buy the mass produced components. Pick what you want. I do like the older H/K and Rotel amps. Also like the Yamaha sound. So TOTL isn't even equated to money with me.

Thanks
Larry

 

[Web Police]

Think Chevy Impala/Belair/Biscayne The Impala at one time was the TOTL it costs more and came with more toys standard.

I generally look for TOTL equipment when I am buying used, however in new equipment you must pay the price for TOTL.

 

[jbeckva]

Last night I got a little bored. Threw a rat shack SHD into the Nak LX-5 and started recording some Toad The Wet Sprocket off of a minidisc I got with a player off of ebay, about a year ago.

Then that "Walk On The Ocean" song came on, and with the setup I have (not really TOP of the line, and not even close to middle by some standards)... I did a double-take. Man, did that shit sound good.

That's probably another good reason why I haven't been much into looking for new stuff lately on CL.. dabay.. whatever. Heaven forbid, am I actually *satsified*? Nooo, can't be so...

But still... that muze sounded damn good (and I'm about to repeat that performance now, thank you very much). Even if my system looks like a "mutt".

 

[Web Police]

I did a double-take. Man, did that shit sound good.

Did you inhale? oops you said sound... nevermind.

 

[speakerman1]

With the new stuff. Depends on what you mean by spendy. Well Jerry you do have some TOTL stuff in my book. The Carver and the LX-5 are TOTL to me. Would you spend 2000.00 for an amp you will have the rest of your life? I doubt if some people consider Carver TOTL or Creek. I do. They would really have to do some things better than what I have. I am very happy with what I have.

Larry

 

[Web Police]

Well what I mean is if you buy used you can get a TOTL cheaper than if you buy new. I mean I can own a few years old TOTL Cadillac car for $15K, but if I want a New one is its going to cost $50K. I own some TOTL amps that cost $2K when new but I bought them used for $500 or so. I wouldn't spend $2K on an amp but I would spend $500. Of course this all depends on an individuals person finance situation.

 

[Fairchild]

I believe the difference comes in that a manufacturer has a line of products that they determine that one particular model is the Top of the Line for a particular line of products, that does not in my mind mean the it is the best product but it is what that manufacturer has determined to be the product with the most bells and whistles, and their Top of the product Line. This is not the same as what I would call a Top Shelf product, meaning to me the best sounding product from a given manufacturer and or product line.


Does that make any sense?

Jim