CES 2013 Coverage Has Started
- Thread starter Jeff Fritz
- Start date
Hi Jeff:
I always enjoy your show reports. Especially this year, since I sat at CES...I have
6 reviews running concurrently and not a spare moment.
Using the word "madness" to describe where the hobby is going is an understatement.
If there are even $2000 worth of parts in that $38,000 CD player the I am the President.
What really has become frustrating for many is that pricing seems TOTALLY ARBITRARY...with no
rhyme or reason. Art Dudley touched upon this in his recent infamous editorial. At the New York show he
walked around asking how much this new preamp, or speaker, or turntable was, and each time, more often
than not was given the answer "$20,000".
The problem is that there are many companies entering the field that are basically low volume vanity businesses..
+1.
Andre, the pricing of so much gear these days is clearly arbitrary.
However, I suspect that this pricing strategy will come back to haunt those that practice it. The old saying of " a fool and his money is soon parted" is appropos here in regards to many of the desired customers...BUT not all Buyer's are of this type and those that aren't will I suspect ultimately prevail.
IMHO, in order for the hobby to prosper and to survive into the future, the current business plan will have to change in order for that to happen.
Agree with what you say.
Pertaining to these high priced components, when I see "companies" whose FIRST products are prices in the mid to high five figures, it seems to me they are CLEARLY capitalizing on the fact that the rich have not been effected iota by the economic downturn. They have continued to spend freely on what they desire.
Look how many folks on this board are shopping around for Magico Q7s, ARC Reference amps, Wilson XLFs, or other insanely priced gear.
It is not that difficult. Hire a consultant to design the circuit, put in a fancy aluminum chassis, throw in some exotic parts, and name it after
a Greek god, a famous composer or Jazz musician, and charge $25,000.
Or if it is speaker use a well worn driver configuration, design a functional enclosure, put some WBT binding posts on it, name it after a bird of prey or
some land predator, charge $60,000, and off you go. LOL.
Great the new zanden 120 SS phonostage .
That might be the one for me , as much as i love zanden tubes , tubes in the phono stage can be a bit noisy generally speaking.
Any news on the loadingcapabilties ????
http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_igallery&view=igcategory&id=73&Itemid=366
By the way nice girls in vegas!!
That definitive technologies studio monitor 45 bookshelf is indeed stunning for the price.
That might be the one for me , as much as i love zanden tubes , tubes in the phono stage can be a bit noisy generally speaking.
Any news on the loadingcapabilties ????
http://www.soundstageglobal.com/index.php?option=com_igallery&view=igcategory&id=73&Itemid=366
By the way nice girls in vegas!!
That definitive technologies studio monitor 45 bookshelf is indeed stunning for the price.
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