Audio Kharma website

Taters said, "I can't see any well respected distributor-slash retailer attending the AK-fest."

I have attended AK Fest 3 different years. I have heard the following speakers at those shows (amongst many others I don't recall)
Dynaudio- Excite x-12 and x-16, Confidence C-1
Joseph Audio- Pulsar
Dali- Helicon 400Mk2
Classic Audio Reproductions- T 1 and a larger model I don't recall
McIntosh- x100, x200
Audio Note- AN-E/SPe
Vapor Audio- Cirrus, Breeze, Aurora, Arcus
Ridge Street Audio Designs- Sason
Selah Audio- Game changer (curved line array)
Fritz Speakers- Carbon 7
Salk Sounds- HT3, HT2TL, Song Tower, Archos, Soundscape 12 and Soundscape 8
Vivid Audio- Giya G1
Odyssey- Kismet reference, Lorelei
Hawthorne Audio- Rainier
Harbeth- 30.1, 40.1
Bogdan Audio Creations- Petra, Catalina
Tyler Acoustics- Woodmere 2, D1, D2, D10, MM5
LSA Statement
Fried- Studio 7
Bamberg Audio- Series 5 TMW

I guess all of these manufacturers should be embarrassed according to you. Just to give you a partial clue, these all range from very fine to outstanding against any standard. Only a couple of them retailed for less than $2000 and many were over 10k retail. When you post something like that try backing your statements up with something resembling facts. I am certain that I missed a large number of excellent speakers as well.

As far as the members themselves, I found all of them I encountered to be very friendly and gracious. The DIY factor was present there big time and my impressions were like Mapman's from CAF. Some of it was really good and some not so much. I had multiple discussions with members about cables (initiated by the members), not one of them contentious. In fact I would call the attitude I most often encountered was curiosity in regards to cabling.

Many of the member rooms used vintage gear that they did not pay a great deal of money for. So what? They did the most they could with the funds they had available and I applaud them for it. Quite a few of those systems did a fine job of making music and that is what this hobby is all about. If that bothers you as much as it seems, just ignore it and stead of complaining about it.

Phaelon, I see your point if all this thread is about is bacon, but it isn't, it's about AK as far as I can see, but yes, posting about bacon can be viewed as silly. Still, we've witnessed the Spudz Effect even in this thread.

"posting about bacon can be viewed as silly”

Essentialaudio, I agree. But it’s no less silly than the “mean girl" type ridicule that’s being posted about AK participants. In fact, I would consider a bacon discussion more beneficial.

A good many people, who have a passion for music but work hard for their money, read these forums for a time before plunging in with an actual purchase. I’m embarrassed to think that these prospective enthusiasts have to listen to the rantings of audio brats putting down those who can’t afford to make the financial investment that they can.

AK reaches a new high! Thread of the week: 16.00 rummage sale. It's hard to believe a company like Dynaudio displays at AK nerdfest. I will give the VP a call this week and ask him.

Taters, you're really stretching it. There's some bad apples on AK but for the rest of them, their heart is in the right place and if people are into something, its their right to have a place to chat about it. It says nothing about them other than that they're into something you aren't. On paper I don't fit in there at all, and I do have some issues with the place behind the scenes, but I have over $25k worth of gear, and was voted (co)member of the year...so it is possible to be accepted there even with a different outlook.

Much of life is how you present your point of view. If you shove it down somebody's throat, they'll barf it back up in your face.