Yes, I guess you need diversity for 4kW off a 3kW outlet, and for the other channel? And is it really going to make the St. Georges neighbours happy? Perhaps they're for Black Sea yachts? Don't often see loop distortion mentioned apart from the 1965 Dinsdale, or my '70s topic. Seems the voltage stage is in Cordell's amp book ref. an AES paper. Good to invest in property, but £3m of arty metalwork? (and that worried look)

Pivetta Opera "amp" cost $2.2m 120000 watt weighs 1.5 tonnes or a bit more affordable Pivetta Opera One $650000 power 14400 watt. when I read the power of these two I had to read it again. I found these when trying to find out what that CD player I mentioned costing £30000 was called and no I didn't find it

Never seen any HiFi loudspeakers that would cope with that power.

I was thinking what you would play though it, It would have to be a very good CD player, streamer, Turntable & Reel to Reel. It reminds me of the old computer adage, rubbish in rubbish out. It's not going to make a mp3 file sound any better is it!!

It's only going to be as good as the recorded material.

As you said what loudspeakers can handle that sort of power, I don't know of any.

It's like they say, they wouldn't make it if they couldn't sell it and the way I look at it they are only ripping off the rich & gullible.

I used to buy the What HiFi awards editions when looking for a new bit of kit, but I soon learnt the error of my ways.

But back to topic the high end gear is incredibly expensive.

Would the gross guitar amp distortion from Velvet Underground sound any 'better' with .001% thd improvement, nah. Listen  to the music and enjoy it.

Nobody is making any more of them and they are a piece of cassette deck engineering history. I doubt anybody is buying these machines as a cost-effective record/playback option by modern standards. They're buying them simply because they want one and they can afford it. Function is secondary. The analysis being applied is similar to appreciating a limited-edition artwork to hang on the wall, not a practical piece of audio equipment.

Opens can of worms…

The best money can buy? Surely that would be the audio equipment that measures the best? 

Or would it be the equipment that sounds the best? 

Or would it be the equipment that looks the best?

I think stuff like the equipment linked to is bought by premiership footballers etc. 

Output measured in kW, when most listening is done at around 1W (as Graham stated recently on another thread).

If I could only have one, I know which one I would choose.

A slightly different perspective on: Is it worth it? 

For me, the question (for a £100k amp) can be seen as a larger-scale version of Genera vs Accession.

Both are phono amps. One has fewer compromises than the other, which is at a lower price point.

Each potential purchaser has to make the decision as to which is more suitable for them and their budget. (Or perhaps one of the amps in between, the principle is the same)

How do we advise them to make this decision? By listening. Then they will know whether the extra cost is "worth it" - for them.

They may say "all Phono amps sound the same". We would say - that's a myth. Try listening.

They may say "no one can justify spending £1k on a phono amp". We would say - that's a myth. There is a market for these products, so some people can justify it.

They may say "everybody making a £1k phono amp must be just taking their customers for a ride". We would say - that's a myth. Maybe some are, but in this case look at the engineering effort which went into this product, and look at how delighted customers are with it.

They may say "I could buy the components from RS for £5.99 and build it myself". We would say - go ahead then, but it won't be an Accession.

They may say "A phono amp costing £1k can't possibly sound that much better than one costing £132". We would say - have you actually heard the £1k amp? Try listening, then you will know whether it does sound that much better - for you. If it doesn't, then hurrah - you just saved nearly £900.

The high price, perhaps?

The jury is still out on if it sounds better than my hybrid preamp with the same equipment.

Sure, you get to hear the recording, warts and all.

Is it more musical? Do I prefer it?

You also need to bear in mind that one of the most important factors in a good sounding system is more difficult to get right - the speaker/room interface. Mine is far from perfect.

 I agree with you.

Where you have your HiFi can and does make a difference, I have had to make compromises you have probably had to do the same. My listening room as to have other uses one of which is the TV. I do have my speakers out into the room where they sound best but I do have to move them when my HiFi is not being used. It would be nice to have a dedicated listening room, when spending mega money on HiFi you'll only get the best out of it with such a room. I have a mate that has a dedicated listening room but even this is a compromise one of which is the size and shape, his speakers can't be put in the ideal place or he can't get in or out of the room. It also has to double up as a guest room. But he does say it's better than nothing "his wife hates his type of music"

I would like to know what a mega money system sounds like "something costing hundreds of thousands"  Where's that lottery win"