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The hi-end audio business has ALWAYS been lame. You've got a market depending on anal-retentive people with too much money and who are never satisfied, no matter how good it sounds. That and those who have too much money and just KNOW they are entitled to "the best" in whatever it is they own.
Then there's the rest of us mere mortals who are careful as we can be in trying to get value for our limited audio dollars.
The biggest problem hi-end audio has is not only are brands competing with each other, they're also competing with themselves. That Rowland Research amp which sold for $10,000 20 years ago is still every bit as good as the day it was new and you can get it on the used market today for $3000 instead of buying the current model which is $18000.
I love the sound of Avalon loudspeakers. Their top-line floor standing loudspeaker a few years ago sold for something like $25,000. That same speaker today can be had on the used market for $10,000 or less, whereas the current top-line floor standing loudspeaker is selling at nearly $50,000. You can't tell me it's $40,000 better.
The hi-end audio business has ALWAYS been lame. You've got a market depending on anal-retentive people with too much money and who are never satisfied, no matter how good it sounds. That and those who have too much money and just KNOW they are entitled to "the best" in whatever it is they own.
Then there's the rest of us mere mortals who are careful as we can be in trying to get value for our limited audio dollars.
The biggest problem hi-end audio has is not only are brands competing with each other, they're also competing with themselves. That Rowland Research amp which sold for $10,000 20 years ago is still every bit as good as the day it was new and you can get it on the used market today for $3000 instead of buying the current model which is $18000.
I love the sound of Avalon loudspeakers. Their top-line floor standing loudspeaker a few years ago sold for something like $25,000. That same speaker today can be had on the used market for $10,000 or less, whereas the current top-line floor standing loudspeaker is selling at nearly $50,000. You can't tell me it's $40,000 better.