Agreed, it is ridiculous, but, there was an article over at 6moons that dealt with this topic and one speaker builder wasn't selling as much as he thought he would and he noticed all the money was chasing the higher priced gear. He then went with another model that was basically the same but with a premium finish and and a premium (several times the original) price tag and he couldn't make enough to meet demand.
The rich will always have their way and couldn't care less what we mere mortals think. 😶
Thanks, Noromance. Entertaining if nothing else. ~$300 per cm for speaker cable.
To nonoise’s point, the often wrongly attributed FSF quote: "The rich are different than you and me." but better yet, read it here in (supposedly) full context...
I found the next to last paragraph of the TAS write-up especially helpful. I’m feeling so much less conflicted as I contemplate purchase...hahaha.
"Lest this sound like a dithyrambic paean to Nordost, I feel obliged to mention that there are pluses and minuses to the level of resolution provided by the Odin 2. For one thing, it will prove ruthlessly revealing of equipment upstream. This cable deserves to be allied with top-drawer equipment to really strut its stuff. It’s also the case that some listeners may prefer a more sumptuous cable. I don’t mean to imply that the Odin 2 is in any way sonically anemic. Nordost has handsomely overcome some of the deficiencies that constituted a kind of penalty for the speed of its earlier versions. It is emphatically the case that there is no hint of stridency with the Odin 2. In the crowded world of high-end cables, however, there are indubitably other competitors that will deliver more overtones around each note, a more overtly silky background and a grander bass."
@ghosthouse One thing about the rich is they live in a realm where normal purchases like cars and houses do not approach the ratios of cost to earnings per annum which we endure. For example, one earns $75,000 net and a car costs $25,000 - 1:3. The rich buy a car for $125,000 on earnings of $1m - 1:8. Etc.
Absolutely get it. The context in which they make buying decisions is just SO different than for (us) working stiffs. Honestly, though, I don't begrudge them any of it. Have at it, ladies and gents. In economics there's a concept called "the velocity of money". If I were one of these interventionist/socialist types who think it is the role of government to eliminate economic disparity, I wouldn't pass laws about earning too much or possessing too much wealth; rather I'd want to see penalties imposed for not spending some given % of total net worth fast enough! Just a half-baked idea that'll never come to pass...like reforming the tax code.
I am not a fan of Nordost, but in their defense, they are not doing anything different from all of the other audio manufacturers.
Just look at most other high end audio companies, electronics, speakers, cables, etc. Everyone's top of the line product today cost 3X-6X the cost of their top of the line product of 10 years ago. Wages haven't gone up 3X-6X in the past 10 years.
$100K speakers are common place today, as are $50K preamps.
It's not the manufacturers fault either, it's the consumers fault. Dealers are pushing manufacturers to come out with more and more expensive gear, as that is where the customer demand is coming from.
In the end, the manufacturers are only following the demand of the market. It's more a statement of the increasing separation of economic classes throughout the world than it is a attack on Nordost.
I can afford them and i would never buy them as to me Nordost was never musical.I had Stealth and lost much money on those ripoff cables which have 0 resale in the USA i am using Purist and Furutech and am very happy as it is about system synergy.Be happy be well enjoy.
So, ebm...I need a roof on my house and was quoted $15,000. Want to save a little money on that power cord you can afford? Just kidding. Signed, Broke in Florida.
No more silly then $500 interconnects - that is if you regard anything above 90% silly as just being plain silly and if you don't draw a distinction between silly and super silly.
This discussion has become a little bit supercilious. 😀 Analysis Plus is good stuff. Amazing you can get a Power Pro Oval power cord 3’ long with Wattgate connectors and hollow oval conductor for less than 100 bucks. Cannot beat with stick.
@noromance - it doesn't matter; it's not important & ultimately these discussions are ridiculously tiresome & puerile. Stop deprecating the affluence of others & enjoy your system.
Awhile back I had a discussion with the editor of a leading audio print magazine who privately maintains that manufacturers of hyper-expensive cables have led the way toward ruin of the high end industry. I tend to agree.
Awhile back I had a discussion with the editor of a leading audio print
magazine who privately maintains that manufacturers of hyper-expensive
cables have led the way toward ruin of the high end industry. I tend to
agree.
Because they have the highest profit margin in all of audio and lead the way in untethering price from value. This wouldn't be so unusual if audio could be classified as true luxury goods, but just try impressing your friends with your Vacheron, Murcielago, and, oh yeah, your $70K speaker cables.
Because they have the highest profit margin in all of audio and lead the
way in untethering price from value. This wouldn't be so unusual if
audio could be classified as true luxury goods, but just try impressing
your friends with your Vacheron, Murcielago, and, oh yeah, your $70K
speaker cables.
Purchasing decisions are personal whether to impress, SQ ... not a factor to survival of an industry. I counter high prices are a major indication industry is healthier than ever.
AGAIN, companies prices are driven by consumers demand. As long as there are demand to support a price, companies will oblige. Simple econ 101.
@joecasey The problem is that very little of that stuff is actually sold, and what is, at nowhere near the asking price. It's not indicative of a functional marketplace. Those cables serve other purposes for the manufacturer than to satisfy market demand. That's all from me for now.
If one is on the position to buy "price no object" equipment, why not?
Personally, I’m restricted to "value for your buck" gear and use Heimdall II for everything from the wall. Great stuff which gives you a sample of what the ridiculous ODIN is all about.
Nordost fans are like quality Chinese gear fans. There are either haters or believers.
If I had a $200k rig, I won’t be plumbing it with Blue Jean cable which by the way, is fine cable. I would be whipping out my Amex Black without reservation.
I recommend Canare Star Quad wire with XLR interconnects.
It is not widely understood but all the supposed wire problems/effects are actually because of poor equipment design, poor setup, incompatibility and malfunctioning gear. Properly designed and well built and correctly configured audio equipment does not need any special wires to sound perfect.
If you find audio cables are making improvements then it is time to change components to something that works without band aids or additional filters. Buying a good active EQ makes more sense than trying to change your sound with unusual wires that are intentionally designed to act as a filter to the signal.
How do Nordost prices compare to the Von Schweikert ULTRA Speaker internal wiring mod? How much was that? $35K or thereabouts, no? In fact, the Von Schweikert ULTRA 11 speakers are $300K. That's almost a Lamborghini Aventador. Hel-loo! Nordost cables are starting to look like a bargain. Everything is relative. - Einstein
There is a watch maker who made 10 prototypes that went for over $400K apiece. He went to a harbor populated by the kind of yachts one would see at a Formula 1 race and went from boat to boat to gauge reaction to his newest line. When he left, he had sold all 10 and had orders for 20 more.
There is wealth out there that most here simply can't wrap their minds around, myself included.
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.
