More potential bad news for some big names...

grislybutter

2,991 posts

11-21-2024 at 02:39pm 

@nonoise Yes Andrew Robinson is a fraud. Honestly I don't know why anyone would review contemporary Marantz gear in the audiophile category. It's cheap mass produced, mass market stuff

Nonsense.

I have never been to his house/store. I've never met him, and have nothing to say positive or negative.

His store- Don Better Audio

His brands are very niche, and he's retail + tax kinda guy.

I do know a couple people that have bought from him. They had no complaints, and all agreed he's very knowledgeable.

@krelldog You mention there’s no demand for high-end audio and mid-fi gear. I am experiencing the same impression but in a different way.

A lot of people over at AVS think all DACs sound the same, all preamps sound the same. And all amps sound the same. Amps in AVR are as good as any external amp. This is not an exaggeration, they really think that. Some make claims such as "I have tried external amplification, no difference from my AVR". No context what amp was tested.

So in a nutshell, a lot of them think everything sounds the same. What about cables? Forget about it, purely snakeoil. The quality and purity of the metal don’t matter. The connectors don’t matter. They all sound the same.

So let me ask you this, in a world where everything sounds the same to these people, how are legacy companies going to thrive? BTW, I don’t think these companies in the discussion are good and worth keeping around.

We have new companies popping up that are extremely talented. Many from Denmark. 

krelldog is correct. I live in Cuyahoga Falls OH and have bought audio from that one guy selling audio out of his house. Audiophiles are a very small group IMHO. Maybe krelldog wants to give him a plug?

The young folks are in the headphone space for the most part. Some of them are slowly moving up to the audiophile headphone space from mass produced gear.

Tomorrow I will be selling a $5-6k headphone amp. I will have no problem selling it since there are a lot of young people pining after top end headphone gear.

I want to use the funds to buy a $10k headphone and that thing is back ordered for a few months (it is catching up now)

I would bet that the as people in their 30s turn into 40 and 40s into 50 they will keep these companies busy

Just my experience..... I live in Cleveland ,Ohio. For at least the last 5 years...We have 1 Audio store, and that is run out of the guys house. He carries very expensive extremely niche brands.  Cleveland has a population of 375,00 and regionally its well over 1 million people. We used to have at least a dozen brick and mortar stores, and now 1 out of some guys house.

My point is, at least in my neck of the woods...there is no demand for high end audio, or mid/fi gear. I believe it is a generational problem. I think as us dinosaurs get old and go deaf...there is no one behind us to pick up the slack.

Also all the young people grow up with music on their phones/state of the art ear buds/and blue tooth speakers that blow away what we had, and its so much easier and convenient.

I don't see this changing for the better. High end audio will always be around , but at a much smaller scale. Which will certainly eliminate Audio manufacturers and Audio stores.

@nonoise Yes Andrew Robinson is a fraud. Honestly I don't know why anyone would review contemporary Marantz gear in the audiophile category. It's cheap mass produced, mass market stuff

The sky is falling, the sky is falling, it just hit me on the head. 

While it's not impossible that major legacy brands could fold, we have to be careful of internet click-bait.  The fact that Masimo lost money does not mean the brands are failing.  I recall when the camera industry was negatively impacted by smart phone cameras and many sites claimed that Nikon, Fuji, etc., were in big trouble and might fail.  Some reporting sites didn't even look at the fact that the sale of cameras and photo lenses wasn't the majority of those companies businesses (they had substantial business in the medical field, copying field, etc.).  With some smart re-posturing both camera divisions are doing just fine, thank you very much.  Let's see what actually happens here. 

Instant increase in sales... Meters, the bigger the better. They don't have to be accurate, just moving. Who cares about driving 2-3 Ohm loads, as long as it's got meters.

You can't get in a restaurant here.

Andrew Robinson (hate him if you want to) recently reviewed Marantz's new line of speakers and streaming integrateds for the Gen Z crowd (see other contentious thread on that) and pointed out the poor and light weight build quality of it. Performance was nothing to write home about either and they're still asking a "Marantz" price for it. 

Sign of the times gents.

All the best,
Nonoise

Very simple: Denon, Marantz, Klipsch, and other legacy audio brands are facing potential disappearance by 2025 due to declining sales. The market for home theater products has been challenging, with production moving overseas and competition from advanced soundbars.

These brands are owned by Masimo, which is experiencing financial difficulties partly due to legal battles with Apple. The shift in consumer preferences towards more affordable and compact audio solutions has significantly impacted these traditional brands.

FYI:  Denon, Marantz, and Klipsch are implementing several strategies to boost sales:

1. Product Innovation: They are focusing on integrating advanced technologies like Dirac Live for room correction in their products, enhancing sound quality and user experience.

2. Targeting High-End Market: These brands are appealing to the high-end market by leveraging their legacy and reputation for quality, focusing on premium products that cater to audiophiles.

3. Aesthetic Appeal: Understanding the importance of aesthetics, they are designing products that not only sound good but also look appealing to attract consumers who value design.

These strategies aim to address changing consumer preferences and maintain their market presence.

Out with old, the world keeps turning. Did you feel the same way about Plymouth, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury…… Time marches on.

Cannot confirm but someone mentioned to me that since the pandemic almost every national election has resulted in changes due to the aftermath.

The aftermath of the pandemic is still being felt all over the globe economically. Makes sense.    But nobody seems to want to talk about that. Political slogans won’t do it. It’s a global not a US thing.

Just Let me know when it’s all over.

Yup not looking good for more run of the mill products that traditionally occupy the middle ground. But never fear, Bose is here! 😉
 

The “Audio science Review” factor may also be at play.   Measure well or else!

What might tariffs do to chifi?

The only thing constant is change.

Many countries in the world experienced economic impact from Covid-19 and the pandemic after effects that occurred. Pew research indicates 44 advanced economies experienced a rise in consumer prices. Western democracies took a bit hit (maybe unjustly) since incumbents lost leadership positions. How much we forget...

@samureyex 

Adjusted for inflation, restaurant sales declined 1.3% in 2024 vs 2023. 2023 sales were up 5% over 2022 and 2022 sales were up 4% over 2021.The sky isn’t falling.

How about promised tariffs.

I have noticed since 2021 and 2022, when every gear went up in price and never went down. In 2022-2023, I noticed much less sales across the board. Everywhere. Even restaurants in 2024 have much less people than before. Restaurants that used to have a wait time of 30-45 minutes now are barely filled. 

Generally speaking, people don't even have enough money for groceries let alone electronic gear. This article comes as no surprise and people are more savvy than ever. Who wants to pay 50% extra to the dealer...