I started an audio magazine because I felt that I could offer something that Stereophile and TAS did
not. Two years and 75 thousand readers later, I have accomplished that. Most of our readers
and most of the top companies in the industry agree. And I backed it up with a staff that has
as much or more experience than anyone else.
If my readers and advertisers go away, I won't be producing an audio magazine anymore.
It doesn't mean TAS or Stereophile are bad, or that they are not valid magazines. They offer things
that TONE does not. I still read them both (and all the other magazines as well because I love hifi)
I'd like to think that we all have something to offer our readers.
I don't make comments like "why does Stereophile cost seven dollars, when you can download TONE for
free?"
What I fear that you just don't get is that with Wilson or some of the other extreme high end mfrs
is that they are making high quality, limited production, hand made goods. Wilson has a year backlog
on some of their products, so the demand is high.
The people who buy this stuff truly enjoy it and many of them have the resources to afford it.
Granted a little bit of it is pride of ownership, but let's face it no one buys stereo equipment
to act like it's a status symbol. Most people think you are crazy to spend more than a thousand
bucks on a stereo, so it's pretty much a personal pursuit.
If Wilson was a hoax, they wouldn't be in business for as long as they have been. I can't believe
that everyone that owns a pair of Wilson speakers is delusional.
How much "better" the mega high end gear is than the rest is truly a personal thing. If it's not
worth it to YOU, that's a perfectly valid argument.
And yes, I do think 40 thousand dollars for a pair of speakers is a lot of money. But almost
everything I've heard in this price category (Wilson included) delivers something that the
five thousand dollar speakers or the ten thousand dollar speakers do not. If you want that experience
you have to pay the money. That's the way it goes. It's like that with every other consumer
product out there.
Ive had the same experience with cars, bicycles, watches, cameras, etc. etc.
I know Jerry Seinfeld on a peripheral level and one day we were talking about
vintage Porsches when he told me he "stole" a 917 race car for 1.6 million
dollars. Another friend of mine wanted a SECOND McLaren F1. Said he was going
to wait for them to drop below 750k before he made his move.
It's all relative.
I guess I just don't have a problem with the pricing. Just because I can't afford a Ferrari
doesn't mean it's not an outstanding car. Same with the Wilson Watt Puppies. I can't
afford a pair and Wilson does NOT give industry accomodation pricing to reviewers.
These arguments always deteriorate to this....
