Stereophile Article - Holt telling it like it is.

the industry has alienated 'the everyman'. the expensive esoterica that is sold today,(for the most part),does not capture the imaginations of most people who still find music important. it is 'preaching to the choir' and the audience grows smaller each day.

you could put an ar xb on a marantz receiver on a pair of boston acoustic A100's in a hotel room at THE show or RMAF, and pretty much impress the daylights out of everybody. the hobby has come off the rails, and i don't think it will correct itself......hundreds of other cheapy wonders could compete as well.