As a brit living in the US I have noticed that US audiophiles seem much more obsessive-compulsive than the UK ones ... obsessed with obtaining perfection. On the other hand many brits will happily buy a complete system at the demo if it sounds "really good". They'll then live with the system for years and years.
The UK dealers will often demo complete systems from one manufacturer, e.g. Naim, rega, meridian, cyrus and often the customer will buy it. I guess it's mid-way between the "Best Buy" and high-end experience in the US. The UK purchaser will also be less worried that perhaps a slightly better system could be obtained by mixing and matching.
Thus there's a good market in the UK for systems all from one manufacturer, whereas there is maybe less of a market in the US.
A similar example would be buying a sandwhich ... in England it's either a cheese, chicken or beef sandwhich. In the US one must choose the type of bread, the cheese, the meet, the condiments and which bits of produce all separately. Consumer convenience versus consumer choice.
For the record I have always mixed and matched components to get the best sound ... but then I keep it for 10 or more years. So I guess I'm midway between the two ... isn't that Greenland !?
The UK dealers will often demo complete systems from one manufacturer, e.g. Naim, rega, meridian, cyrus and often the customer will buy it. I guess it's mid-way between the "Best Buy" and high-end experience in the US. The UK purchaser will also be less worried that perhaps a slightly better system could be obtained by mixing and matching.
Thus there's a good market in the UK for systems all from one manufacturer, whereas there is maybe less of a market in the US.
A similar example would be buying a sandwhich ... in England it's either a cheese, chicken or beef sandwhich. In the US one must choose the type of bread, the cheese, the meet, the condiments and which bits of produce all separately. Consumer convenience versus consumer choice.
For the record I have always mixed and matched components to get the best sound ... but then I keep it for 10 or more years. So I guess I'm midway between the two ... isn't that Greenland !?