Breaking the ‘sound’ barrier

Did you know that the swish set in India is investing time and a whole lot of money in amplifying their audio experience? Gone are the days when buying expensive speakers and setting up a surround sound would seal the deal. Mumbai’s reliable grapevine was once abuzz with news of a leading Bollywood actor’s over Rs 2.5 crore audio system. It was revealed later that those were just for the speakers!

As important as the other items like the amplifier, the sub-woofers etc. are, the speakers which are the final devices to pass the music to your ears. So what makes a speaker so important and stand out from another pair? It’s all about getting as close to a live concert experience.

Says Priyesh Patel, who owns La-Kozy, one of the finest audio-video boutiques in Mumbai, “Audiophiles can be extremely finicky. For starters, they know their music and they know what they want it to sound like. So when they go auditioning speakers, they’re checking to see if the experience of listening to music is as flawless as possible. I know of people who will spend over Rs 2 crore on just a pair of speakers. Not a home theatre system, not even inclusive of amps and sub-woofers. But, speakers.”

Many of Bollywood’s high profile personalities have enviable home theatre systems set up at home, but experts say only a handful have designated music rooms. And they do not spare any expense in enhancing the experience. Some of these speakers are so huge that one wouldn’t imagine how it got through the front door in the first place. “We consult clients based on preferences and logistics we can work with. Often clients say they’d opt for a massive set of speakers for their holiday homes than their city homes. Some of them consult us when the house is under construction so that they know how to accommodate the speakers. Some of those speakers weigh over 250 kg,” says Gurgaon-based audio expert Gagan Khanna.

The AvantGarde Trio Classico is a massive hit among celebrities. Buzz has it that actor Sanjay Dutt had his eye on these speakers, which come with a price tag of Rs 1.2 crore, simply due to its funky appearance. The actor, known in Bollywood circles to have an impressive collection of music, eventually did end up getting these speakers.

Despite the monetary access to such ultra premium products, not every client gets a good deal. Priyesh adds, “So many of them don’t know what they’re doing. Even these audiophiles. If someone has a budget for Rs 2 crore and his requirements can be met in Rs 1.5 crore, he’ll still look for more expensive speakers. Just because something is more expensive, it doesn’t mean its better suited for you. Either they like the look, they find something unique or they just want to do something different; there are a lot of reasons apart from music that celebrities resort to while selecting speakers of their choice. Sometimes people buy speakers because they’re the latest, despite having a well-functioning setup back at home.”

A few of the speakers that are high on an audiophiles list are Wilson Audio Alexandria X-2 Series-II at $158,000 (Rs 98 lakh) and, Sonus Faber Aida at $120,000 (Rs 75 lakh). The German Physiks’ Gaudi MK II (priced at Rs 1.8 crore) is highly-coveted among those with a ear for music. One South Mumbai steel baron even changed the upholstery of his music room to match the Sonus Faber Aida’s resplendent red. Says jewellery designer Amala Jhaveri, “We only recently bought B&W’s Maserati version of their 800 series Diamond speaker range. It’s not yet for sale in India. My husband and I don’t want that experience to be mixed with a home theatre.”