Macro,
I can appreciate your skepticism; it should be mandatory for all audiophiles as there is so much hype out there. But I can add to the argument here.
I visited the Denver Sound room at RMAF with Steve in 2007. The sound was very, very good, and I saw little evidence of hyper expensive components, just middle of the road high end.
What entranced me was the balance of the sound, and the solidity of the imaging, which worked just about anywhere in the room. It was not boomy, didn't shred my ears, had lovely 'body' to the sound, particularly on vocals which all too often sound thin, and it meant you could lie back in an easy chair and really immerse yourself in the music. This to me is what reproduced music should be like.
The hype arises because of marketing, obviously, but also because describing sound with words is like trying to explain the difference between red and blue to a man blind from birth. Commercial aspects aside, this is really difficult, and reflects a real need because an audition is not always possible. This applies particularly with my gear, where I sheepishly require payment for a product most have not heard. This is an absurd situation, but the solution is bricks and mortar hifi shops all over the country and with the web and Ebay it is becoming clear to blind Freddy that the consumer is not prepared to pay the oncosts incurred in such establishments.
This puts more and more pressure on reviews and testimonials, which as you may realise are often 'sponsored' in some form or other, usually advertising, and which therefore negate their benefits. Add to that the fact that different folks listen for different things, and write and express themselves differently, and you have it..... the horns of a dilemma.
I believe caveat emptor is more important than it ever was. One way around this is to send product to customers on approval, and subsequent purchase. The problem with this is risk to the manufacturer; this is never a preferred commercial method.
Competition and customer expectation is higher than it's ever been. I listened to a Xindak 200W monoblock recently, and it was beautifully made, gave sensational performance, and cost around $US6K the pair brand new with good warranty, thousands less than the reputable US brands. In the face of this competitive onslaught, it's very difficult for western manufacturers to compete, and since most consumers show champagne taste on beer income there are no prizes for guessing who will ultimately win this competition.
In closing, it's not all bad. For myself, I focus on creativity, original design, and service, particularly in my more sophisticated offerings like the Soraya. My goal is zero distortion, ultimate resolution, and palpable musicality, and those who buy my products are attracted to this approach, and the affordable prices. Fortuitously my prices have recently taken a tumble because of the low AUD; low because US investors seeking very high investment returns in Oz stocks and bonds have recently sold off all their AUD to satisfy abrupt liquidity demands Stateside. Bad for Oz consumers, great for Oz manufacturers!
Thank you for your contributions. Everyone here is courteous and you will find quite willing to chat.
Cheers,
Hugh
