If you go to an audio, go with friends. Have a beer or two. visit some brand/distributors talk to people in the business but DO NOT expect a great sound. Audio shows are more of a social gathering then it is about the audio itself.
The wrong speaker for the room ?
I have been reading some comments about the most recent North American audio show,Taves,and with RMAF fast approaching I thought I would add some comments to the comments of the Taves show and audio shows in general.
First of all,I wasn't at Taves,prior musical committments prevented me from attending.
My first prioroty is to play live music ,followed by listening to live performances and then listening to reproduced music via a hifi system.
Sorry HP,but the absolute sound just can't be replicated,it was only real once.
But I do believe that the illusion of that moment can be captured,as in a photograph or moving picture is but an illussion of reality.
And I believe that some gear pull off the illusion better than others.
So why do some manufacturers or dealers try to dispell their best efforts at rerieving the illusion by showcasing the wrong sized speakers at audio shows?
From what I've just read, all the mega buck systems got slammed again(as usually is the case)and the small mini set ups were the crowd pleasers.
But some folks come to these shows just for that very reason and bad sounding mega buck systems is just more fuel for the fire and further proof that high end audio is all hype and no substance, and anything built after 1970 outside of Japan is a ripp off.
My belief is that if you attend an audio show with a closed mind, it most likely will stay that way.
So why do some people continue to throw caution to the wind, damage future sales, and further discredit the hobby by playing the wrong speaker?
Why cram components that cost the equivalent of a new home into a room that is only the size of a bedroom?
I think it would be better to have them on static display with a nice written disclaimer stating that "this level of equipment is on static display, due to the fact that the size of the venue will severely compromise it's performance.For demonstration,please consult with the dealer."Or something like that.
I know that's part of what going to a high end show is all about, hearing the high end gear, but what good is it if it's not sounding the way it should?
It does more harm than good.
Like I've mentioned, if your mind was made up that everything about this hobby is over priced nonsense and poor sound quality, then surely this type of demo will do nothing but reinforce those beliefs.
I've always attended audio shows with the mind set to be one of learning.
What was he using to get that sound I so liked? Was the gear plugged straight into the wall with stock cords, or was there a conditioner or aftermarket power cords?
I've seen only one such comment about a power product in the comments on Taves, and it was for a discontinued $60.00 product you plugged into a vacant wall socket.
The poster was quite pleased with the demo and purchased the product and it appears to work as intended in hos own system.
But what would it be if that product's price was $600.00 or even $6000.00?
Probably dismissed again as over priced hype.
And that's what audio shows and this hobby is up against it seems even more so in the new economic times we are in.
People are value conscious.Some are cheap.
But some folks still can and will buy the big ticket items, but only if they are displayed in environemnts that compliment not compromise them.
First of all,I wasn't at Taves,prior musical committments prevented me from attending.
My first prioroty is to play live music ,followed by listening to live performances and then listening to reproduced music via a hifi system.
Sorry HP,but the absolute sound just can't be replicated,it was only real once.
But I do believe that the illusion of that moment can be captured,as in a photograph or moving picture is but an illussion of reality.
And I believe that some gear pull off the illusion better than others.
So why do some manufacturers or dealers try to dispell their best efforts at rerieving the illusion by showcasing the wrong sized speakers at audio shows?
From what I've just read, all the mega buck systems got slammed again(as usually is the case)and the small mini set ups were the crowd pleasers.
But some folks come to these shows just for that very reason and bad sounding mega buck systems is just more fuel for the fire and further proof that high end audio is all hype and no substance, and anything built after 1970 outside of Japan is a ripp off.
My belief is that if you attend an audio show with a closed mind, it most likely will stay that way.
So why do some people continue to throw caution to the wind, damage future sales, and further discredit the hobby by playing the wrong speaker?
Why cram components that cost the equivalent of a new home into a room that is only the size of a bedroom?
I think it would be better to have them on static display with a nice written disclaimer stating that "this level of equipment is on static display, due to the fact that the size of the venue will severely compromise it's performance.For demonstration,please consult with the dealer."Or something like that.
I know that's part of what going to a high end show is all about, hearing the high end gear, but what good is it if it's not sounding the way it should?
It does more harm than good.
Like I've mentioned, if your mind was made up that everything about this hobby is over priced nonsense and poor sound quality, then surely this type of demo will do nothing but reinforce those beliefs.
I've always attended audio shows with the mind set to be one of learning.
What was he using to get that sound I so liked? Was the gear plugged straight into the wall with stock cords, or was there a conditioner or aftermarket power cords?
I've seen only one such comment about a power product in the comments on Taves, and it was for a discontinued $60.00 product you plugged into a vacant wall socket.
The poster was quite pleased with the demo and purchased the product and it appears to work as intended in hos own system.
But what would it be if that product's price was $600.00 or even $6000.00?
Probably dismissed again as over priced hype.
And that's what audio shows and this hobby is up against it seems even more so in the new economic times we are in.
People are value conscious.Some are cheap.
But some folks still can and will buy the big ticket items, but only if they are displayed in environemnts that compliment not compromise them.
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