It is amazing how many there are. Those companies that promise improved sound and advanced engineering. All you get is shiny drivers bigger and more complex crossovers. Less cohesion, and muddy bass.
Having said that isn't that what we in America really want. To be told a bunch of lies.
I'm curious as to what folks say but here are some quick ones based on my ears: totem, B&W except for the uk made higher end products, focal, and gallo
Overrated in what? - To transform the signal to real thing reproduction? - Reliability? - Bang for buck? - Design done right (Tonearm Geometry, Energy Transfer...)?
Agreed Elizabeth. The "value" of all the responses so far are absolutely worthless without putting the choices in some type of context as to WHY the respondents think they are overrated. What is the point anyway? Too many of these type trolling threads in the archives to yet add another one.
This type of thread only invites "cheap shots" by those with various motives and experiences we are not fully aware. Thus, those who indulge this type of pseudoinformation may diss some very credible manufacturers.
Quicksilver? Really? Mike Sanders has been making superb gear for years and obsessed with quality and affordability. And no, I don't work for him. Like any manufacturer, his gear may not be a perfect fit in your system. So, do some research.
"07-04-14: Elizabeth The op did not even bother to list any of his own. So I call 'Troll'."
Actually, the OP did give some input.
"07-03-14: Lse I'm curious as to what folks say but here are some quick ones based on my ears: totem, B&W except for the uk made higher end products, focal, and gallo"
Sounds you are getting a bit cynical. Easy to do isn't it. I used to work for a big hi fi shop in Denver back in the mid 70's. 8 tracks were just leaving and cassette tapes on the way in and vinyl running strong. The interesting thing is that after all these 40 years the thing that has improved the most are the magazines touting expensive gear.
audio note and ayre in my very honest opinion. I had nothing but trouble with these two companies and the dealers who sold them. Look at other manufactures instead of the above.
Really SRA? Stereophile use to be a real thick audio journal with much data and detail. Now it's just a shell not worth my time and effort. So, respectfully, I have disagree with you here. And TAS no longer captures my attention.
Also to throw Sennheiser products into the "scrap heap" is a joke. That just trolling as Elizabeth stated.
Actually I would have answered the B&W Diamond series and the B&W CM series. But I got the top of the line of both and ended up getting rid of my overpriced Thiel CS 3.7s. The 802D sound wonderful and the CM10s give you 90-95% of the same sound as the 902D offer. And with that the CM10 is the proverbial high fi bargain, Problem is many B&W users mate them up with mid hi Home Theater receivers. They like power and need hi end components. Yes BOSE is a marketing company and sounds low fi
To Soundsreal, cynical? really. What is more cynical than dissing a manufacturer without providing any real world experience with that product or manufacturer, very unfair. Case in point Quicksilver for one. A manufacturer that has been around for many years and offers excellent value. If you don't believe it look at the used prices on their gear. Not SOTA but solid, fairly priced and well designed and dependable.
Some come to this site to gain real insight and information. Unfortunately often things get bogged down with these worthless threads that provide little to no value. The OP asks for "thoughts". So far I haven't read a thoughtful response from those that have taken the bait.
Precisely my point tubegroover I was being facetious. This thread is as many have said is pointless. Even if everyone of us could agree on say Bose, there are thousands of people who love the stuff and would completely disagree.
Dealers overrate everything they sell ... Audiophiles overrate everything they own ... Writers overrate everything they review. (Oh and dealers UNDERRATE everything they do not sell and audiophiles underrate everything they do not own - vicious cycle).
Of what I have OWNED the Zu Druid Mk IV was probably most disappointing as compared to the glowing reviews. Never sure if a component is just not playing nice with my ancillary gear or not as MANY others have had positive experiences with these speakers.
Hype alone is not the evil. This reminds me of a book called "Bad, or The Dumbing of America" (Paul Fussell) published in 1991, where he describes the real sin being the 'delta' between the hype and the reality. So many of the products mentioned above may have hype or buzz, but actually deliver and have had or still have many satisfied user/customers over many years. So, by that standard, they aren't overrated. I may not like them, they may not be my cup of tea, but is that overrated? I know there is a tendency for product 'groupthink' sometimes- whether it is reviews or marketing, or both (some claim reviews are marketing), but knowing how fickle audiophiles are, that doesn't translate into long-term business. And given the intra-web, including this place, you'd hear about it (whether it is product failures, lack of good support or just general dissatisfaction with the product or its company). And those products often just fade into the sunset. So, the market 'corrects' this, even if there is 'buy in' initially. To me, the cool thing about this industry, unlike many others, is that it is still in many ways a cottage industry. Yeah, there are big corporate conglomerates that own some of the companies, and black box/consumer electronics, but think about how many of the products that are still around, year after year, or pop up fresh and get a following, that are made by little companies, tinkerers, or long time enthusiasts from other industries who have transferred their skills, etc. Not many businesses like that, in my estimation.
Whart, you're over-thinking this maybe. Anyway, in the overrated category, one that I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned yet, but then again most of you folks probably haven't heard any Emotiva gear. And that's not a bad thing! What makes them overrated is: 1) Their audio quality is very entry level for the most part. 2) The company's wild claims which are in total opposition to #1. 3) Unbelievable delays for new products after the company president has promised they'd be released(the latest example is the XMC, and several tube based products).
Ayre?? Not my experience! Sound quality, reliability and customer service from Ayre are absolutely superb IMO. All my Ayre gear (and I have a lot) was purchased used, so value is excellent as well. However, I don't like dealing with their dealers.
Runnin, maybe that's true, but what you just described is perfectly consistent with what I was referring to~ the 'delta' between the hype and the reality.
I suppose I hold the view that the hype and the reality should match for these higher end manufacturers. My example about Emotiva may be an extreme case. They have promised the XMC for over 4 years now. People have been on a waiting list for that long! They are late by at several months for many of their products, and anything with firmware usually has some issues that haven't been dealt with by beta testers.
I can't think of any other manufacturer that REGULARLY treats the consumer this way. At any rate, you seem to accept this delta, to explain/understand it and hold the view that the market deals with it. I'm not sure about that, because there's a sucker born every minute. The uniformed with a credit card, keep the delta in existence.
So, the market 'corrects' this, even if there is 'buy in' initially.
+1 Whart
the cool thing about this industry, unlike many others, is that it is still in many ways a cottage industry... think about how many of the products that are still around, year after year, or pop up fresh and get a following, that are made by little companies, tinkerers, or long time enthusiasts from other industries who have transferred their skills
+2
Considering home audio is an industry with new stuff coming to market all the time, created by both artisans and larger manufacturers, that offers a wide range of buying options from dealers to web-based sellers, a wide range of audition options from showrooms to audio shows to home demos, and the ability to achieve stunning sound from even modestly priced home systems, audiophiles sure find a lot to be critical about.
To Sounds Real....calling out Elizabeth for cynicism in your post, that ends, "Isn't that what we really want in America? To be told a bunch of lies?" Takes chutzpah.
As to the OP, I'd add any manufacturer that charges more than $100 for a meter of HDMI.
Ayre? Really? I have nothing but good things to say as they were helpful and patient in helping me solve a hum problem. Turns out it was my doing (placed my Oppo 105 over some ICs feeding my Ayre P5xe phono amp). Ayre is first class all the way (they sound good too).
Paladin: Unfortunately, even a Bugatti today isn't a Bugatti in the sense of the original marque. The pre-war ones, particularly the racing cars, are truly special. (And without trying to sound condescending, because I'm not and actually love old cars, if you look up Shakespeare and Bugatti, you'll find some amazing pictures of the guy who was heir to the Shakespeare fishing reel company fortune who collected a huge number of the early cars and sold them for almost nothing back in the day. There are some fabulous pictures that should be on the web showing the cars being loaded onto a train after the sale, including a Royale). Syntax: you crack me up. I'm glad nobody got too torqued here. And the OP did a hit and run, right? Over and out.
You must have a verified phone number and physical address in order to post in the Audiogon Forums. Please return to Audiogon.com and complete this step. If you have any questions please contact Support.
