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Let's Play UpMarket • DownMarket...The audio game


You have an imaginary audio budget of your own choosing.

Will you choose the upmarket component of a modestly priced company, or the downmarket product from an ultra expensive vendor?

Examples from the speaker category.

Upmarket: Vandersteen Seven, Zu Dominance. Both statement products from companies known for selling reasonably priced products.

Downmarket: YT Carmel, Magico V2. Entry level products from upper echelon firms.

Which will be your choice and why?

The trickle down technology from the bleeding edge outfit or the value oriented firm freed from the constraints of cost?

Let's talk sonics and value, rather than resale value.
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Showing 1 response by bryoncunningham

bryoncunningham
903 posts
 
Your question has made me realize that I have a bias in favor of the "downmarket" products of higher end manufacturers. That is reflected in most of the major components of my system - preamp, amp, speakers.

I would like to say that this preference is the result of conscious deliberation and judicious reasoning. But it probably just means that higher end manufacturers have more persuasive marketing. :-(

I have noticed that, as I become more experienced as an audiophile, I am increasingly drawn to products from companies with a lead designer whose design philosophy I believe in, e.g., Pass, Merlin, Atma-sphere, etc.

Bryon
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