The Insane World of High End Audio! Is it All a Scam?

I thought Randy's video was ridiculous and the comments worse. He's just playing to his crowd, stoking resentment, cynically trolling for clicks. If someone wants to buy a $60k or $600k set of speakers its their business, not mine or yours. And how the hell would he know what motivates a particular buyer of audio equipment? And why would anyone be bothered if someone wants to spend their money to get a 5% increase in performance? 

The many comments ridiculing those who choose to spend their money for higher end products reek of jealousy in the same way that those who ridicule buyers of inexpensive products reek of arrogance. I'll never own a million dollar system, but I don't resent the few who do. I also don't delude myself into thinking that I'm so smart that I've assembled a system for a fraction of the cost that is "just as good," because I know that will not be the case unless they have chosen very poorly.

We all have a budget that we are willing and able to spend on audio equipment. Its enough for me to take care of my budget-yours is none of my business. Its an absurd video.

@mahgister I didn't miss your point. Your thoughts concerning "psycho-acoustics" are well documented and I simply have nothing to add to your well stated views.

I saw Cheapaudio's video-the one you posted-and found it insulting. He actually referred to businesses selling $60k speakers as predatory. The vendors I know offer a quality product which you are free to buy-or not. Just like we are free to buy a Porsche or a Smart Car-neither good nor bad, just a different choice depending on the consumer's preferences and needs. Not sure speaker vendors deserved having their character maligned.

I don't think Cheap is ignorant-far from it-he's built a very successful channel catering to the lower end of the market and that's great, a good service for an important market segment. 

I think this video, however, is simply a calculated effort to solidify his brand with his target audience by cynically affirming their choices while denigrating choices made by others. His message is that the ones who buy at the lower end, out of choice or necessity, are somehow smarter than those who buy at the higher end because their cheaper system sounds just as good, maybe even better. The message is that if you buy the kind of stuff he reviews you are shrewd, but if you buy stuff above his price segment of equipment, you are a fool.

One thing I've learned is that audiophiles yearn for affirmation of our choices.  Randy gave it to his audience in this video, thus building loyalty to his "brand." I find that distasteful, but likely effective. Each to their own. That's what interested me on the topic, and of course, I may be wrong and anyone can disagree.

Cheap may be trying to recover from his video of a couple weeks ago wherein he seemed to favor the tariffs, or least downplay their importance. His audience turned on him on that one and that video was quickly banished to the cornfield. 

Cheers.

@deep_333 great points and well made. The very high end is well above what I’m willing to pay, even if I had the ability, but I see no reason to create resentment towards those who buy in that segment of the market. When I hear someone call them fools for spending their money in a way that brings them joy, I think it says a lot more about the name caller than the purchaser.

I also think there’s a lot good to say about the state of affairs. There is more quality equipment available at the lower end then I can remember. I put together a system for a friend for under $3000 and it sounds really good and it’s bringing her a lot of enjoyment. I paid a lot more for my system and I don’t think anybody would say that it doesn’t sound better, but it’s great that there are quality products available at most price points. I guess we all look at things differently. When I see someone driving a Lamborghini, I think, man what a nice ride. I don’t think the guy who is able to buy that car is a fool. We can have interesting discussions about what works, and what represents value, and we can disagree, but I thought Randy and his viewers who commented presented a mean spirited tone that is unhelpful and unnecessary.