All that is wrong with "HiFi"
- Thread starter SoundMann
- Start date
I see original poster said his objective make component both sound correct and reasonable price, we might drift from that.
Like what exactly? This discussion can lead to too many and different things. Is goal produce same current medium but improved, or new different, or same old analog components (which i want), or what else!
I can only extract analog, but how possibly achieve it! With crazy high, expensive, greedy companies!
I mention in my earlier post about mid 90’s, I'm pointing towered significant event in hi fi history, turning point which lead to current problem, when we sew first time new stuff and very expensive price, almost like buying house!
Component or interconnect or speaker cable or power cord cost up to $15.000! The disease spread to analog as well: vinyl TT or cartridge up to $14000!
How possible a component have nothing but cheap: metal, copper, rubber, … become like this! In fact there is BIG scam toxic everyone, even the supporters are victims as well!
Like what exactly? This discussion can lead to too many and different things. Is goal produce same current medium but improved, or new different, or same old analog components (which i want), or what else!
I can only extract analog, but how possibly achieve it! With crazy high, expensive, greedy companies!
I mention in my earlier post about mid 90’s, I'm pointing towered significant event in hi fi history, turning point which lead to current problem, when we sew first time new stuff and very expensive price, almost like buying house!
Component or interconnect or speaker cable or power cord cost up to $15.000! The disease spread to analog as well: vinyl TT or cartridge up to $14000!
How possible a component have nothing but cheap: metal, copper, rubber, … become like this! In fact there is BIG scam toxic everyone, even the supporters are victims as well!
Last edited:
there is a solution that IMHO would serve many and may even save some money....DIY
Along with some tinkering (and most of it really is not at the level of rocket science) you learn to develop listening skills that bring you further ahead as you also learn how materials and methods affect sound.
Manufacturers are in this for business, try do the math for selling some exotic stuff. (been there done that). A piece of great sounding, snake oil free, handmade cable with like 200/300 (euro/dollar) of decent stuff inside for a stereo pair will cost (depending on cable geometry) like 4-5 hours to make.
It'll set a customer back close to a thousand (euro/dollar). The maker may earn 30%, the dealer typically puts 50% on top of that (go figure what happens when there is an importer/wholeseller involved), and then sales tax goes on top of that. That situation is not any different for your washing machine etc. Taking into account how little folks you may know that are using cables north of 1K versus the amount of folks without a washing machine the view on pricing may change IMHO.
There is a place for the ultra high end too, for some DIY is not an option or need, for some it's just that they 'want that one' and can afford it. It does not make your own options for great sound that much smaller, through DIY it's possible to achieve the same level of gear.
At ETF I heard quite a few sets that sounded truly better than whatever (but for like three exceptions) at High End Munich two years ago, the majority of what I heard there started at the expensive of around 100K.
There are options , there is DIY, there is buying used gear and there is vintage gear (think old) as options...the well known great stuff stuff commands top dollar as well but there is plenty if lesser known gear out there that is affordable and very good.
For anyone on a mission to sell great sounding gear for around 1K per component I'd say kudo's and good luck as I like the idea, yet would caution to have a look at the large companies. I suspect it may be possible as a 'cottage industry' but getting stuff like CE and UL covered alone is a major effort.
Legendary Japanese hi-fi brand Onkyo files for bankruptcyOnkyo has called it a day after 76 years making hi-fi, unable to meet shifting consumer demand.
Along with some tinkering (and most of it really is not at the level of rocket science) you learn to develop listening skills that bring you further ahead as you also learn how materials and methods affect sound.
Manufacturers are in this for business, try do the math for selling some exotic stuff. (been there done that). A piece of great sounding, snake oil free, handmade cable with like 200/300 (euro/dollar) of decent stuff inside for a stereo pair will cost (depending on cable geometry) like 4-5 hours to make.
It'll set a customer back close to a thousand (euro/dollar). The maker may earn 30%, the dealer typically puts 50% on top of that (go figure what happens when there is an importer/wholeseller involved), and then sales tax goes on top of that. That situation is not any different for your washing machine etc. Taking into account how little folks you may know that are using cables north of 1K versus the amount of folks without a washing machine the view on pricing may change IMHO.
There is a place for the ultra high end too, for some DIY is not an option or need, for some it's just that they 'want that one' and can afford it. It does not make your own options for great sound that much smaller, through DIY it's possible to achieve the same level of gear.
At ETF I heard quite a few sets that sounded truly better than whatever (but for like three exceptions) at High End Munich two years ago, the majority of what I heard there started at the expensive of around 100K.
There are options , there is DIY, there is buying used gear and there is vintage gear (think old) as options...the well known great stuff stuff commands top dollar as well but there is plenty if lesser known gear out there that is affordable and very good.
For anyone on a mission to sell great sounding gear for around 1K per component I'd say kudo's and good luck as I like the idea, yet would caution to have a look at the large companies. I suspect it may be possible as a 'cottage industry' but getting stuff like CE and UL covered alone is a major effort.
Legendary Japanese hi-fi brand Onkyo files for bankruptcyOnkyo has called it a day after 76 years making hi-fi, unable to meet shifting consumer demand.
Similar threads
