2. amps-preamps
  3. 175246-155632

Do high end manufacturers need retail outlets?

Most of the preamp’s and amps I want to look at are not readily available in my Geographic area and many of times I have bought them without hearing them first. And even hearing them is problematic in a dealer if even possible because their systems are very different than your home system.

Further most hi end components are not on display anyway.

The hi end audio business is very small and don’t know why manufacturers don’t begin selling directly to consumers. PS audio does this end it seems there components are actually cheaper versus a retail store but I don’t like PS audio.

I think hi end market is undergoing a change. They really don’t need retail stores. For lower-cost mass market products you need retail stores. If I buy a  hi end product from a retail store it will be drop shipped from the manufacture often times. And further i don’t really like giving 40% of price to a retail seller when added value is very limited.

We all know high-end components are over priced and there needs to be a way to bring these prices way down and direct sales would go very far.

 

 

jumia

Showing 1 response by calvinandhobbes

calvinandhobbes
309 posts
 

If possible, I prefer the ability to actual listen to equipment before buying. If a direct to consumer brand can do that at a reasonable cost, I'm open to listening to equipment that way, but their marketing, professional reviews and consumer reviews need to be spot on for me to consider dropping $100+ to pay for an in-home demo.

I listened to 11 pairs of speakers when I last bought a pair of speakers in Jan 2020 and it was definitely worth my time to do so. 6 of the 11 speakers would have been non-starters in my system and for my listening preferences. 3 other speakers were not ideal. 2 speakers best fit my preferences. Both were Monitor Audio speakers. I couldn't have figured that out with as little effort by getting these speakers shipped to  me by mail.

 

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