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If you had to pay full retail, would you...???

I recently got the Music Direct catalog in the mail. Lots of cool gear, interesting tweaks, awesome LPs. Looking over the catalog several times, I said to myself, "man, there are a lot of expensive tweaks which the un-initiated must think is simply crazy". What also struck me is that all the stuff I want, is ultra expensive and the stuff at "real-world prices" are nothing really spectacular. Even at the low end side of "high-end" gear, I would be laying out considerably more than if I went to Best Buy and bought an All in one system.

So, here is where I am headed. I have put together a pretty nice system, almost entirely found here on Audiogon, over back in the day at Audiomart. I scored my amps which retail for $13,000 for $4000. My speakers retailed for $7500 and I got em for $1500. My turntable was $500, which retail was $2500. If, I bought a new $500 turntable, I would get like a Music Fidelity MF, entry level one.

if you bought most of your system used, if you had to start from square one and had to buy Full retail, would you still be into this hobby?

Entry level high end gear really does not interest me. it lacks pizzaz, like the Avid Reference has. For what I paid for my AudioLogic tube DAC, I could only afford a Mid-level Marantz. I beleive I would still be a Music lover, but if forced to spend Full retail for high end gear, I think I would opt for mass market mid-fi, or simply do a laptop based digital system through a mass market company.
justlisten

Showing 3 responses by vitalik

vitalik
22 posts
 
D_Edwards, if you had told the customer that you can't give him 20% because of such and such, but you will give him 10% or 5%, you might have had the sale. Some people--many people, though I'm not one of them--can't be happy unless they feel they are getting an "edge" somehow

Agree. Doing sales on a side I learned that it's better to make some money then no money. There always will be people who want some kind of a discount and if I see that I can make some money I'm selling it and moving on. Just my opinion.
vitalik
22 posts
 
However, the audio hobbyist (this does not include most buy-and-hold stereo owners) is no different than an automobile or model train enthusiast...constantly tweaking and improving the object of desire. :)
Tvad

Can't agree more. We even can take this statement to the next level. If everyone would hold on to their equipment forever, people like John Bowers, Richard Vandersteen and thousands of other researchers could retire and keep making money by building same design forever.

To build your own system is same thing since it consists of various components. People change components to find sound that they looking for of to experience something new. But it's not for everyone. Not everyone has time for it or passion towards the same hobby that would last forever. For some it's until they find the sound that they can live with for the rest of their lives, for some it's a hobby, and some like to be informed about technological progress and constantly try something new.

The answer to original question is yes; because my love for music is greater then love for money. If I had to I would pay for it full price and still be in this hobby. My system would not sound as good as it is now and I would take small steps to improve it. So far I didn't pay full retail cause I'm a student.
vitalik
22 posts
 
Onhwy61,
Speaking of motorcycles;
There are people who ride motorcycles and have no clue about mechanics, some may understand basic principles of mechanics but never work or fix them. Some motorbike owners like to play with their toys, fix them up (or pay others to do it), etc. and that’s their hobby. Some like the sun, the road, scenery and even some like the speed with it. Look at the life of Burt Munro who constantly working on his Indian bike to make it go faster and faster. There is a great movie about him - The World's Fastest Indian. He never wasted his money at dealerships or mechanic shops and did all modifications himself. On a bike that was intended to go 50 mph and set numerous speed world records (190mph official record, 205 –unofficial). All of us here have various hobbies and some of us trade gear quite frequently and some not. Some improvements are good and some is just waste of money. All amount to how much homework someone has done and how much he understands about electronics. I like to learn about various designs and find those greatly underrated or unknown pieces of equipment to build good sounding system at a fraction of a retail price. For me to pay full retail for audio gear is like buying new car – waste of money. As far as paying full retail price – Yes I will: at gunpoint.
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