WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HATE FOR THE HIGH END GEAR ON AUDIO GEAR?


It seems like when I see comments on high end gear there is a lot of negativity. I have been an audiophile for the last 20 years. Honestly, if you know how to choose gear and match gear a lot of the high end gear is just better. When it comes to price people can charge what they want for what they create. If you don’t want it. Don’t pay for it. Look if you are blessed to afford the best bear and you can get it. It can be very sonically pleasing. Then do it. Now if you are also smart and knowledgeable you can get high end sound at mid-fi prices then do it. It’s the beauty of our our hobby. To build a system that competes with the better more expensive sounding systems out there. THOUGHTS?

calvinj

I'm surprised that a dealer would need to ask this question if there's any real selling that takes place in his business.  Human nature dictates that the more comfortable we are with our decisions for everything from stuff to life's forks in the road, the less negativity we feel for differing opinions.  If anything, if we offer support to differing opinions about other folks' gear, we can learn from their experience and choices.  It could be as simple as differing hearing and listening abilities, one of which we cannot change, or they may have helped us find our next aha moment.  The past two trips I've made to high end stores have left me feeling really good about my two systems at home, even though they cost me a fraction of the $100k plus systems at the dealers.  Maybe my satisfaction comes from knowing I could easily spend a lot more, but am amazed at how good my gaggle of gear sounds to my ears.  But I will keep looking and listening.......

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“When it comes to price people can charge what they want for what they create. If you don’t want it. Don’t pay for it.”

 

Dead wrong. Economic systems are not something handed down from God: they are social constructs. If you don’t like $1.2M audio systems, instead of not buying it, change the system that caters to millionaires. You are just being an apologist for laissez faire capitalism nothing more.

That said:

I’ve been at this hobby for 55 years. There was a guy named Hafler who built Dynaco into a little juggernaut of high quality - affordable!!! - gear for the lumpen proletariat types like myself. Hundreds of thousands sold. Rebuilt Dyna units are still the best bang for the buck out there today. 
 

Prices today are a reflection of the (passive, like you maybe?) acceptance of the grossly unequal economic structure we have in the U.S. today. It doesn’t have to be that way. 
 

This is the main reason why I don’t bother with new gear, I just keep the stuff I have refurbished and in top running order. I’m here in audiogon mostly out of curiosity or FOMO. But I will put my 38-67 year old gear up against anything on the market today and while it may not be the best according to some, it will righteously acquit itself. 

Human nature dictates that the more comfortable we are with our decisions for everything from stuff to life's forks in the road, the less negativity we feel for differing opinions. 

Great truth! thanks ...

 

I’ve been at this hobby for 55 years. There was a guy named Hafler who built Dynaco into a little juggernaut of high quality - affordable!!! - gear for the lumpen proletariat types like myself. Hundreds of thousands sold. Rebuilt Dyna units are still the best bang for the buck out there today. 
 

Prices today are a reflection of the (passive, like you maybe?) acceptance of the grossly unequal economic structure we have in the U.S. today. It doesn’t have to be that way. 
 

This is the main reason why I don’t bother with new gear, I just keep the stuff I have refurbished and in top running order. I’m here in audiogon mostly out of curiosity or FOMO. But I will put my 38-67 year old gear up against anything on the market today and while it may not be the best according to some, it will righteously acquit itself. 

Great lines thanks!

unreceivedogma

Economic systems are not something handed down from God: they are social constructs. If you don’t like $1.2M audio systems, instead of not buying it, change the system that caters to millionaires. You are just being an apologist for laissez faire capitalism nothing more ... Prices today are a reflection of the (passive, like you maybe?) acceptance of the grossly unequal economic structure we have in the U.S. today. It doesn’t have to be that way. 

You're being silly because it's essentially impossible for any of us to change our economic system. But given that you're so dissatisfied with it, why do you remain a passive victim to a system you dislike? There are other countries that operate under different systems. Some are democracies, too. It's a big world!