No one wants a brand name until the company has earned a ruputation for having solid good sounding equipment. The key is to look for quality. If you find a piece of equipment with a name you have never heard before, take a look inside, see what's in there. Plug it in and listen. If it sounds good and is well built, does the name matter? To some people yes, to others, not so much. I admit I am partial to some brands more than others. Just because those companies have a reputation of good value/good sound and are well built. (atleast in my eyes) It all depends on what you like. Garfish brings up the "trophy equipment" idea and I agree with him. not about being old, about not really wanting stuff just to look at it. It has to perform it's task well.
How important is "brand name"?
How important is "brand name" when purchasing audio equipment? I noticed that some brands that advertise in the magazines have no Retailers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I have been getting referred to a Retailer in another state and so no auditions of any kind. Some brands have a very small following and so selling used equipment for this brand is very difficult if not impossible. The Retailers for some brands have limited other equipment so that auditions are not possible. Some popular brands that were hot last year and are no longer in business. Some Distributors change their distribution channels and Retailers get dropped (this happened to me on two brands that I own). Any comments? thanks..