My point was that while such operation can be most worthwhile promoters of new ideas, or even manufacturing methods, they will in all probability remain small operations which will make you and me happy, but will not be able to significantly influence the industry as a whole.
You're probably right. Why you are right, though, is an interesting question. Personally, I think that most people buying hifi gear are really buying reassurance. That costs a lot more than just making top-notch equipment at a reasonable price.
John, I have long held the view that MOST people (not all, thank God!) are buying audio by the pound, not by the sound. They want it for many reasons, but music is hardly ever No.1. Even here, on this list, people talk 99% of the time about new gear, most seem bent on discovering something new and revolutionary, rather than discussing music, recordings, etc. If that's so here, imagine what's it like out there, in the wilderness of the economy, where buy, buy, buy is the key word.
People buy thinking before even paying what will they be able to sell it for in six months' time - how much will it depreciate? Not how it sounds, but how much can they sell it for.
This bodes ill for small, unheard-of companies. ESPECIALLY if they make outstanding products, which by default cannot be cheap (which does not mean they have to be outrageously expensive). Not a big name, tough luck bud, I'm off to buy X or Y who are big names, and hey, if they are big, and magazines write about them, they HAVE to be good.
It never occurs to them that small upstart companies, which may have wonderful products, do not have anywhere near the ad budget of the big guns, so magazines WILL NOT write about them, because they can't afford the kind of ad space the big guys can - if at all.
This is where far too many small, upstart companies, with some really good ideas and products, are lost far too often. This is the way of the consumer audio world. The moment it becomes a consumer commodity, produced in the millions, quality takes the back seat at first, and is eventually dumped out altogether in favor of flashing lights, more features nobody knows the purpose of, and of course, lower prices.
Which is why I have been saying for the last 25 years that quality audio lives at the outskirts of the industry as a whole - small companies bent on quality rather than sheer sales performance as such, no matter what. These are not the hit-and-run salesmen, these are more often than not true enthusiasts.
Just look at our own list here - there's Dan Banquer, then Hugh with his AKSA, and to a much lesser degree, even my old self, although I am not into commercial audio. I really do it for the fun of it, for the satisfaction and soul food it gives me back, and for the people I get to meet. Oh yeah, and I change my cables once every 10 years. I'm one bad, lousy consumer, and should be shot for it.
But you try telling this to laymen who rule themselves by the mags and local audio shop hearsay.
Sorry for the bible thumping, but every now and then, I have to get it off my chest.
Cheers,
DVV
