Not a total zero but not always what it appears for sure. Has as much to do with glitz and bling as it does the sound quality. It does not cost much to get top notch sound these days in most folks rooms at home. These are luxury items that appeal to people for various reasons like any luxury item. If you pay well above and beyond it had better at least sound good. After that what sounds better or best becomes pretty much a totally subjective determination. There may be something quantifiable to justify high cost in some cases but often not. So high end is pretty much anything a vendor can get someone to pay for that most would not.
Hi-end audio is a big zero
This is no knock on dealers, It's just how hi-end audio is.
I go listen to some speakers. He has them set up like crap - jammed between 3 other pair. Running on electronics I would never choose so I have to try and compensate for what I imagine they are contributing to the sound. Then after 30 minutes, I am expected to shell out the $4,500.00.
I narrowed it down to two transports from an online retailer. And who knows if those 2 are even a good choice? Told point blank, I am not allowed to buy both and return the one I don''t want. Just pick one and buy it. Shell out $1,000-$3,500 based on what?
One e-tailer will allow purchase 3 speakers totally $12K and return the two I don't want. Sorry, i have a conscience and can't do it to him.
Read all you want. Talk all you want. Listen at dealers all you want. But unless you listen in your own room, it's all meaningless. I'm talking even just 5 to 30 minutes can be all it takes. But that is basically impossible.
Sure you can buy and sell on A-gon or Ebay if you find what you want have the time to go through the process.
If the prices weren't so high or I did not care about sound quality maybe it would not matter.
Showing 4 responses by mapman
@kota1 gets it. |
Most successful hifi dealers these days offer useful personalized purchase advice and also have some kind of reasonable return policy. I would not buy expensive hifi gear otherwise. It’s not as bad as buying a car and having no ability to return it for a reasonable cost if not satisfied. I suspect even buying jewelry and most other luxury items is similarly worse. |