I think we can agree that that the Audiophile industry or Highend is at a crucial if not critical juncture. The review industry for better or worse is ad dependent for it's survival. Moreover as the worlds wealth is concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer people the desire to separate them them from some of that cash is understandable.
It appears that highend industry response is to embark on an unprecedented barrage of expensive products. it appears everyone has a high priced product. Even a mass market company like pioneer has $50k products. Also we are experiencing the return of the local audio show. The role of the audio press has always been to promote the industry. Despite the claimed allegiance to its readers, subscriptions don't pay the entire bill.
I'm prompted to write this because recently I renewed my subscription to Stereophile and the absolute sound. I regularly visit thier Blogs and Forums. What bothers me is the unadulterated endorsement of some very expensive products and the glowing endorsement of the industry as a whole.
For example you might read lines Like this, X company debuted thier new cable that was producing nice sound for kilo bucks, per meter. A new speaker ws producing good sounds in the x company room price $50k /per pair.To say that these prices make you blush for what appears to be average results is an understatement. The highend is not alone. I watch Home and Garden TV and see young couples struggle to come up with > $300 k for what is at best a mediocre house, only to watch the real estate agent advise them to toss another $30k on that just so they don't lose the house to a "bidding war. " It's always unclear who the real estate agent is working for. Higher prices mean higher commissions.
Speculation exists in every industry. Obviously there are dedicated talented people who drive every industry. There are people who are in it just for the money.
My latest issue of the tas represents an abashed promotion of the industry, complete with interviews from the manufacturers.
Contrast this with another reviewer who has openly trashed two speakers without review. One hideously expensive from a company unknown to me and when from a very respected company.
While I refuse to refer to a product as "snake oil or "fraud", words or terms like incompetent, price gouging or ineffective don't bother me at all.
In the words of Frederick Douglas ,"You may not always get what you pay for , but you always pay for what you get." I can recall when the term best buy was the most coveted.
Should reviewers be the promoters of the industry or consumers/ hobbyists or both? They derive their income from both sides.
It appears that highend industry response is to embark on an unprecedented barrage of expensive products. it appears everyone has a high priced product. Even a mass market company like pioneer has $50k products. Also we are experiencing the return of the local audio show. The role of the audio press has always been to promote the industry. Despite the claimed allegiance to its readers, subscriptions don't pay the entire bill.
I'm prompted to write this because recently I renewed my subscription to Stereophile and the absolute sound. I regularly visit thier Blogs and Forums. What bothers me is the unadulterated endorsement of some very expensive products and the glowing endorsement of the industry as a whole.
For example you might read lines Like this, X company debuted thier new cable that was producing nice sound for kilo bucks, per meter. A new speaker ws producing good sounds in the x company room price $50k /per pair.To say that these prices make you blush for what appears to be average results is an understatement. The highend is not alone. I watch Home and Garden TV and see young couples struggle to come up with > $300 k for what is at best a mediocre house, only to watch the real estate agent advise them to toss another $30k on that just so they don't lose the house to a "bidding war. " It's always unclear who the real estate agent is working for. Higher prices mean higher commissions.
Speculation exists in every industry. Obviously there are dedicated talented people who drive every industry. There are people who are in it just for the money.
My latest issue of the tas represents an abashed promotion of the industry, complete with interviews from the manufacturers.
Contrast this with another reviewer who has openly trashed two speakers without review. One hideously expensive from a company unknown to me and when from a very respected company.
While I refuse to refer to a product as "snake oil or "fraud", words or terms like incompetent, price gouging or ineffective don't bother me at all.
In the words of Frederick Douglas ,"You may not always get what you pay for , but you always pay for what you get." I can recall when the term best buy was the most coveted.
Should reviewers be the promoters of the industry or consumers/ hobbyists or both? They derive their income from both sides.