Mike, here are some thoughts. Emotions aside, here's a business analysis of what's going on. Magico is a polarizing brand. Some are raving fans, while many abhor it. (Same with Wilson!) But why? Here are some thoughts:
- arrogance and superiority. Only wolf (and valin ) knows what is right, while every other designer is a fukking dumbshti and owner of every other brand is deaf mother fuyer who is listening to badly engineered , grossly colored gear. Your speaker designer couldn't hold up wolfs jock strap!
This is Only in wolf's (and valin's and Harley's) imagination, of course. Thankfully for ALL, the q series has been discontinued! After all it was the q5 that started the polarization of Magico and shattered the reputation of STERILE Jon, "Worthless to the audio fans" Robert Harley, and the TAS brand. (Amazing Tom Martin tas owner lets it happen! Too bad he doesn't care about tas. Although valin is untouchable, Worthless harley should have been booted a long time ago)
- Claims of best, which is insane, stupid, and insulting to the fans. Despite Magico's claim of outstanding measurements, we are participating in a subjective, experiential hobby. Audio gear is an experience , not just a set of engineering designs and measurements, and not every experience is going to appeal to everyone. Is a trip to Italy better than a trip to France?
- Sterile jon valin is Magico marketing representative to the audiophile world, and although a great writer at times, more frequently than not, he comes across as a pathetic used car salesman. People naturally respond to salesmen with skepticism - They Quibble and question and challenge the sales guy's every statement . But when people audition based on Sterile Jonathan's great writing ANd don't connect with "the sonic truth" in their imagination with what valin is describing, it's impossible to make the sale.
- Magico's ultra detail - resolving gear doesn't synergize well with most ss, and most tube amps can't handle it; for many tastes (and it's silly to argue about tastes), it just doesn't agree. So experienced and self-confident audiophiles, who are non- Magico fans (who don't buy by brand) , that stumble upon a Magico and hear all that detail, will encounter an experience that is a completely a different experience that sterile Jon is imagining in his mind and describing in his writing. Within a few minutes of listening, The moment of excitement and anticipation turns into a disappointing anti- wow! moment - despite all the hype . Instead of conjuring up images of dean Martin in the listening room, they just hear "unnatural sounds" and consider valin a deaf idiot and a panderer. High end audio is , after all, subjective. (If interested, here's some on theory of subjectivity-
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showt...Predictability&p=433756&viewfull=1#post433756
- Selling is hard. Selling subjective experiences outside your taste niche is a real bitch! Can't have a worse jobs on this than either an advertiser / marketer or a salesmen, but valin got 2 of them! If one wants to be disrespected, how's that for a double whammy?
- worthless to the audio fans Robert Harley calling Magico Q7 the best product he has ever reviewed, while neglecting its weaknesses, like inability to rock, sonic signature highlighting upper midrange/ lower treble, etc., while also neglecting to mention the relative strengths and weaknesses of q7 as compared to Wilson Alexandria, that was his prior reference, is an ethically shady move that spits in the face of the fans. (These weaknesses were finally admitted by "sterile" Jon valin - but only after the new m generation came out , and the weaknesses were also finally admitted by worthless Harley only after Q7 v2 was out)
- As a result of Worthless Robert and sterile Jon, the Magico brand is connected to tas and its reviewers, in general. And because audiophiles generally consider most reviewers as filthy, pathetic, worthless, and disgusting individuals who are the scum of the earth, this association negatively rubs off on the Magico brand (and also unfairly marks many good reviewers)
- Because of past misleading information from the reviewers about the discontinued Magico q series, reviewers are no longer trusted in reporting Magico's improvements in the most recent generation, and magico is hampered expanding their market to more people . It's like the Pavlov dog experiment: think of the Magico brand, and instead of feeling pride for their accomplishments and engineering prowess, people feel nauseating disgust because of the reviewers they are associated with. In a lot of ways it's not fair to Magico and it's fans , but that's the reality of marketing associations
- Wolf likes to work the room at audio shows himself. But he has the body language of a pack of starved Pit bulls , ready to tear apart the people visiting the Magico room. Maybe he should replace himself with someone who exudes babies and puppies instead? Or maybe just someone who pretends to enjoy himself ?
Furthermore , for many who may like Magico Sonic signature, spending $170k on speakers so only 600 well recorded CDs that exist in the world and sound good is asinine. Even to the multi-millionairies who can easily afford them.
Yet on he positive side, Obviously, this polarization created by wolf and tas increases brand awareness
Magico got a great niche of fervent fans who exploit and amplify this polarization. And wolf has reviewers, who Believe in his company and engineering approach with same ideological fervor and suspension of critical reason with which many religious folks believe in their faith. When someone is so intransigent, it is really hard to shake. So he is well set for the near future , or as long as valin is alive
So they can certainly make a lot of money from this niche. Great success indeed!