MBL Insolvent

“These are small companies making small profits”

@ghdprentice 

That may be true, but what seems to hurt many of these high-end audio companies in the long run is affordability. As prices continue to climb, they risk alienating a broader base of music lovers who simply can’t justify or access this level of investment, no matter how passionate they are.

Yes, quality costs money, and I respect the craftsmanship and engineering involved. But if the entry point keeps moving further out of reach, the future customer base gets smaller and that’s not a sustainable model for long-term growth. Their entry-level floorstander, the 116f is priced at $40K. Let’s be honest — how many here can realistically afford a $40,000 pair of speakers?

I understand the impact of distribution costs and dealer margins, but the speaker category in particular has gotten out of hand in terms of affordability. It’s starting to feel like high-end audio is drifting further from real-world accessibility, and that’s worth questioning.

All of the brands you’ve mentioned, have one thing common….small businesses driven by passion. I hope MBL survives cause I really like their speakers, they are unquestionably iconic, unconventional and produce gorgeous sound. 

@kerrybh 

Not to get off topic but I have noticed two interesting products in your amazing system….Schnerzinger EMI & Grid Protector’s. Do you find them indispensable in your system? More specifically, if one has dedicated circuit to audio room, would you still recommend Schnerzinger Grid Protector? 

@kerrybh
Thanks for your grounded take, I appreciate that and it really resonates with me. I think you’re spot-on in acknowledging that improvements in audio are often incremental, and that the most dramatic changes usually come from mechanical or acoustic factors like speakers and room treatments. I’ve had a similar experience, power-related tweaks and cables sometimes bring a welcome refinement, but rarely the kind of leap you get when one takes time to optimize speaker placement or carefully navigate through acoustic treatments. 

I also appreciate your openness about the placebo effect. There’s a lot of ego in this hobby, and it’s refreshing to see someone say, may be it is placebo and that’s A-ok in my opinion. At the end of the day, if it improves your enjoyment, that’s all that really matters.

We really do all hear differently, and approaching the hobby with curiosity rather than dogma makes the experience richer for everyone, IMHO. 

PS: I have added Schnerzinger EMI Protector to my wish list to try someday! 

@ghdprentice 

I am digging the updated LS series. The chassis build quality went up few notches and appearance, subjective as we know, looks is pretty solid and inviting. 
 

@yesiam_a_pirate 

”A sad fact is that the 2 channel high end audiophile is aging out and dying off.”

That’s hardly a ‘fact’ ….I believe there’s hope. There are younger listeners who are getting into vinyl, tube gear, or desktop systems, even if their entry point looks different than ours. Maybe the future of this hobby won’t be exactly what it was but that doesn’t mean it’s gone. It might evolve into something more diverse and accessible, and maybe that’s not a bad thing.

Still, for those of us who value the 2-channel experience, there’s definitely a sense of time passing and a responsibility to share what we’ve learned while we still can to somewhat shape the narrative for future generations.