Are audiophile products designed to initially impress then fatigue to make you upgrade?

We should ask this question from another perspective:

How do I differentiate my product if everyone is making an excellent, neutral sounding device?

This is the product manager’s dilemma in a nutshell in audio. In the HT space there’s a ton of must-have features/brands that get associated with a purchase:

• THX
• Dolby
• DTS
• Atmos

but in audio, sounding different is actually key to a quick sale. Going to the store and finding something you don’t already have at home. Ragged frequency responses which accentuate some bands and not others are an easy win.

@erik_squires

Going to the store and finding something you don’t already have at home.

+1, if you already have a "stereo" don’t keep buying/upgrading MORE stereo.

Supplement (not replace) with an immersive audio layout.

BTW, anyone who decides to simply get better two channels, fine. Don’t max out your credit card, just get a pair of all in one, active speakers and you are done. For example:

Dynaudio Focus 50- Best Product 2022

https://youtu.be/uqeqwTW8y5I

I am a cognitive psychologist and worked most of my professional career conducting research to measure consumers'/users' perceptions of products. Designers and engineers are fascinated with novel product design features because they attract attention and differentiate their products from others. I had to constantly caution them to avoid seeking novelty alone because "different" is not necessarily "better". When the novelty rush wears off (and it always does) what remains might be revealed to be less pleasing.

I had to constantly caution them to avoid seeking novelty alone because "different" is not necessarily "better".

So I should stay married then?😁

cdc

Can you explain more? Agreed, I have been coming to the same conclusion and decided stereo is inherently unnatural.

 I'm saying when I turn on the stereo, my brain has to adjust from natural sounds of real life to this odd noise coming from boxes.

+ 1    Alex/Wavetouch