MBL Insolvent

@lalitk Thank you. I don't think these products are indispensable, I do think they make a subtle but discernible improvement-a bit more clarity and presence. When I've removed them, its not as good but certainly not night and day. The better power you have, I suspect the less advantage derived from the grid protector. The dealer taking me through this (last I suspect) significant upgrade cycle wanted me to try them and others who I know that use them are big fans. I think my dealer is excellent, and I hear a positive difference with these in my system

I'm a bit of a cynic about some of this-I couldn't hear a difference with audiophile switches for example, not to say that others don't-not for me to judge, but I hear a difference with these. If someone says its a placebo, well, I'd say maybe so, that's a real thing, No reason to be dogmatic. I just know my experience.

Most improvements I've made produce incremental, not night and day gains to my ears. The exceptions are moving up in speakers-always rendered substantial gains-mechanical devices with moving parts. The other is room treatments which change the way actual sound waves interact with physical structures. For me-only speaking for me-improving electronics produces positive results but not on the same scale. We all hear differently.

I had an interest in the speakers for a while but they look too weird.  Every time people come to my home they would seem to provide a distraction and I don't wanna break out into conversation every time someone steps into the room about the speaker.  That was kind of annoying to deal with the speaker if I did buy it.

Speakers kind of weird maybe that's why they're not doing very well despite how good they might sound. 

As long as companies like MBL and Audio Research ignore the consumer market, their demise (or acquisition by companies that do NOT ignore the consumer segment) is certain. 

There is a massive audience for great music. The diversity offered by streaming services is proof. Ignoring every customer with less than a 7 figure+ nest egg and under-retirement age is a death sentence. Some will turn up their noses at manufacturers that dilute their aura with affordable products.  Letting passion dictate your entire business model may be admirable, but not very wise. 

@jasonbourne71 You have a point, these are discretionary products that we can all live without. Of course there are folks who are content to listen to music on a $50 bluetooth speaker who would say people who buy a $200 set of bookshelf speakers are just showing off-its all relative.

Creative destruction is part of the system, but I hate to see businesses like this go away (hopefully a white knight appears) because employees suffer, dealers suffer, and we lose the benefit of an innovator. I know I have benefitted from trickle down technology from products I wouldn't spend the money to buy. I've heard the big MBL extremes a couple of times in 7 figure rigs. I thought the technology and sound was amazing. No way 'll ever own anything like that, so be it. I think this hobby is about deploying the resources we are willing and able to put into it in the way that brings us the most joy-that's different for each of us. The way I look at it is if I have a negative emotional reaction to someone who chooses to spend their money to buy an ultra system, well that likely says more about me than them. 

It is, in many ways, a strange hobby, and the rest of the world, if they think about it at all, think we are all nuts. 

Would love to see some “trickle down” of mbl technology to smaller and more affordable products designed to work better in most people’s rooms.