2. misc-audio
  3. 172619-159065

Where the heck are all these manufacturers coming from!

After being out of the HiFi hobby for about 15 years, covid lock down found me playing with some of my stored equipment. After being in the HiFi business for over 40 years, I though I knew who all the players were. A few forums, such as this, and a subscription to Stereoplile has me scratching my head over the plethora of super highend HiFi manufactures that I've never heard of and the unlimited number of inexpensive Chinese HiFi products. Near every day that I peruse these forums or YouTube channels I'm introduced to yet another amp, preamp, DAC, speaker manufacturer I never heard of.

And the prices.....Folks throw around recommendations for $10,000 and much more products with abandon. I just recently saw a 3.5" jumper cable for $39,000 and an 8' piece of speaker wire for $59,000.........I guess I should have stayed in the business instead of retiring!

rbertalotto

Showing 2 responses by noske

noske
783 posts
 

Its "just" supply and demand, and whatever that causes by way of consequences. In this particular case, the cycle of diversity might be at play.

Although, anecdotal evidence would suggest that this is nothing particularly novel in the audio landscape.

Prices are all relative to general price levels and peoples incomes and wealth. A reasonably affordable yet kinda swish Sansui amp in about 1972 (when the Dow Jones was about 900) was perhaps a few hundred bucks.

How does that translate to today’s environment?

 

noske
783 posts
 

I’d query whether people who buy cables priced at 59K even ask or care about their price.

I query, because I don’t personally know any people even remotely in that socio-economic bracket.

Edit - I was recently reading about Warren Buffet.  In 2014 he traded in his 8 year old car for a brand new $44,600 Cadillac.  I'm not sure if that has any relevance, but just sayin' anyway.

 

More to discover