[James Tanner]

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/international/soundstage-uk/1074-delusional-nice-people

[Phil A]

Yes I know the types

[DaveC113]

IMO the author is a delusional hypocrite just like anyone else bitching about high priced luxury goods they can't afford, while at the same time consuming luxuries at a level that many others might find similarly disturbing.

And placing blame on "the industry", which to be quite honest would do just about anything to identify what the market wants to purchase and provide that... which means the super-high priced goods are being produced due to market demand, not because some audio designers think people need to have $100k+ worth of cables in their system and are forcing their purchase, it's because there is DEMAND for these items. I've personally talked to a designer of 6-figure electronics who said he didn't really want to make such devices but the market demanded it. If these items were never purchased I think the market would disappear, but it isn't. And most industries offer similar things... $1M+ supercars, $10k+ bottles of alcohol, etc...

Being judgemental and imposing your own value system on everyone else is not a great idea.

[CanadianMaestro]

I say: $pend disposable income on anything that pleases you. As long as no laws are knowingly violated, to hell with the moralists and preachers.

[Elizabeth]

As one of those folks who think about "what have I spent on this stuff' and added it up to discover I own $60,000. worth of audio gear (relax.. I actually only spent $45,000. Buying some of it used)
The last big purchase was for a few IC. I spent $5,400 for three pairs of interconnects.
I am saving up $22,000 for my next purchase. (including a Bryston 4B3)

SO I guess the rant the dude is aimed at is.. me too?

I think of that sort of stuff as 'old guys who want the Good Old Days to wax poetic about'. nostalgia freaks.
The good old days.. When it was true the most expensive cables cost $29.95, and power cords came with the equipment, Hell they were all attached, and no one ever thought to make them detachable.

Anyway, my response to the guy is 'So What?' I say he can spend as little as he wants. Scour Craig's List, Salvation Army and Goodwill for $5,99 to $19.99 used equipment. But his wire from Home Depot. make his own IC. Make his own Speakers from a kit.
No problem.

His problem is he wants everyone else to be JUST LIKE HIM. And since not very many folks are just like him, he is ranting about how bad he has it. But to me, he has the problem, not the folks he is railing against.

I, on the other hand, have no need for anyone to be just like me. He can have his cheap stuff, does not matter to me. Other folks can have stuff costing twenty times what I own, also no problem.
So what exactly IS the problem? Old geezers whining.. LOL

[Chris Adams]

IMO the author is a delusional hypocrite just like anyone else bitching about high priced luxury goods they can't afford, while at the same time consuming luxuries at a level that many others might find similarly disturbing.

Well said.

[Folsom]

IMO the author is a delusional hypocrite just like anyone else bitching about high priced luxury goods they can't afford, while at the same time consuming luxuries at a level that many others might find similarly disturbing.

And placing blame on "the industry", which to be quite honest would do just about anything to identify what the market wants to purchase and provide that... which means the super-high priced goods are being produced due to market demand, not because some audio designers think people need to have $100k+ worth of cables in their system and are forcing their purchase, it's because there is DEMAND for these items. I've personally talked to a designer of 6-figure electronics who said he didn't really want to make such devices but the market demanded it. If these items were never purchased I think the market would disappear, but it isn't. And most industries offer similar things... $1M+ supercars, $10k+ bottles of alcohol, etc...

Being judgemental and imposing your own value system on everyone else is not a great idea.

^ Pretty much. Plus I'd like to see all the critics try and build and sell something with a profit margin, for the price they want, and actually think it's a good product. And then it'd be another test to see if it could support full time jobs for the people involved, since basically that's never true (think Schiit, the owners don't have fulltime jobs with it, and real low pay). Even when someone does manage to make something very cheap and good, no one has any faith in it. You don't see any lower priced stuff mixed with high priced stuff, like, ever.

But he wrote something people can argue about so mission accomplished for him...

[Davey]

Ken is correct on all points.  He highlights the basic problem with the "high-end" audio industry and why it will (ultimately) fail.

That said, there will always be a small amount of luxury products provided to luxury customers for who have nearly infinite disposable income.
But market demand for six-figure electronics simply can not be sustained long-term when equivalent performance can be obtained for so much less.  It's a business model doomed to failure.
Customers in that area of the industry are in it simply to satisfy their ego.

Dave.

[mresseguie]

I'm guilty of what I'm about to say...

"It seems the fellow has too much time on his hands and fills it with commentary."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wonder if he has traveled to Asia in the last ten years. Wealthy businessmen with veritable mountains of cash or credit to burn gravitate to the high priced gear with wild abandon. I mention Asia because that's where my experience lies, but the same thing happens anywhere you have wealth.

Could Mr. Kessler be suffering sour grapes?

[CanadianMaestro]

From that article:

"If high-end audio is to survive, as the numbers of committed audiophiles grows smaller and the brands have to look elsewhere, then the companies are going to have to justify their phone-number price tags".


1. There is no objective evidence (i.e. stats) that the number of "committed audiophiles" decreases. Was a poll ever conducted? How does one identify a "committed" 'phile?
2. What is a "committed" audiophile? Are there non-committed audiophiles? Do they buy Dragonflies and Schiit gear? 
3. The brands don't have to justify anything. Like lux watches and cars (and many other $$$$ items), it's a free market that (sadly) does not require rationality or education on the part of the buyers.

To each their own. $pend responsibly, and support your local manufacturers.

[CanadianMaestro]

deleted

[DaveC113]

It's this kind of thing that's going to KILL the handbag market! What will outsiders think who don't understand handbags? How can the industry have the audacity to even make such a thing? Surely the materials and labor don't justify such a price! 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/birkin-bag-sells-record-380k-at-hong-kong-auction-1008926

[CanadianMaestro]

[Davey]

It's this kind of thing that's going to KILL the handbag market! What will outsiders think who don't understand handbags? How can the industry have the audacity to even make such a thing? Surely the materials and labor don't justify such a price! 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/birkin-bag-sells-record-380k-at-hong-kong-auction-1008926

Sarcasm noted, but it's not really analogous to the situation in this part of the audio industry.

I'm sorry, but a guy who sells $8,000.00 speaker cables is not going to convince me of anything.......or even be taken seriously.

Dave.

[DaveC113]

......

[witchdoctor]

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/international/soundstage-uk/1074-delusional-nice-people

Typical click bait headline from a boring journalist with nothing new to say- ho hum

Why would anyone want to promote uselessness in a Bryston Circle?

James, I hope you don't support the authors "dream" where he states

if my dream came true, in which half the hi-fi manufacturers on this planet simply vanished, we’d still have too many makers to support.

[witchdoctor]

You just can't help your trolling and personal attacks, can you? Once again, I'm reporting your post to a moderator.

This thread is likely headed to the bin with the other threads this guy trolls.

[Davey]

You just can't help your trolling and personal attacks, can you? Once again, I'm reporting your post to a moderator.

Please do.

I understand your defensiveness since you are a member of (and sell product to) the very "delusional nice people" he's talking about.  IMO, you're not objective on this topic.

Dave.

[witchdoctor]

Please do.

I understand your defensiveness since you are a member of (and sell product to) the very "delusional nice people" he's talking about.  IMO, you're not objective on this topic.

Dave.

Dave we have previously discussed your hearing issues and I am very disappointed you have not contacted the specialist you need for your treatment. Good luck

[witchdoctor]

http://www.soundstagehifi.com/index.php/international/soundstage-uk/1074-delusional-nice-people

James, the authors stated "dream" is to get rid of or reduce the number of audio manufacturers.Do you agree?
 Is Bryston feeling the heat from the competition?

Is this why you posted this? Being eclipsed by next generation manufacturers with immersive audio and MQA DACS? I have seen your customers complaining about "long in the tooth" products. why did you post this article and start such a discussion?