How to Revive High-End Audio

[Andre Marc]

It's not so much a lack of interest as it it a changing landscape in terms of how people want their music delivered. The old days of a dedicated 2-channel listening station (no matter what the price-point) are gone. People want convenience.....they want a one-stop system that meets all of their music, video and gaming needs. One room...one place.

I think that is a bit of an over simplification. What would you say is different in the way people want their music delivered?

 

[still-one]

Our room stayed full.

Not to disparage other vendors, but many need to do something in order to attract attention. How many rooms have you gone into only to forget what you saw and heard in a space of five minutes? Dr. Harvey "Gizmo" Rosenberg had it right when he mixed daiquiris in a blender powered by his amp at the 1985 CES. To top it off, he did it while wearing a kimono. People remember that to this day. For a vendor, being remembered should be the point of doing a show.

If vendors would concentrate on making their rooms more interesting, rather than making excuses about why theirs sucked, shows would be packed. Not taking any risks at a show is the biggest risk of all.




That 50% decline may be misleading. It is true that dealers have shuttered their doors, but the cottage industry has grown. And, a lot of the cottage industry is off the audio grid, as far as statistics are concerned. Many operate as a sideline to a machine shop, a cabinet shop, a design firm, etc., etc. Others are simply unofficial, and do business under the radar. Then, there is the matter of money changing hands. Cottage industry guys are much more likely to barter with their products, so a fixed dollar amount can no longer be applied to the high-end audio industry. All bets are off as to its true size.

Your room may have been full and there were several others that were difficult to get into at times. I still stand by my comments that the crowds were way down this past year and this was the consensus of everyone I spoke with.

As far as vendors doing something to entice attendee's to enter or stay in their room, in the end it comes down to having products we might be interested in. I use the RMAF Catalog to make comments after I leave a room or cross off ones that did not interest me. Sorry but 9009 just received a cross off for me. I will try again next year.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I think that is a bit of an over simplification. What would you say is different in the way people want their music delivered?

People don't care about creating a dedicated space with amplifiers, preamps, dacs, speakers, etc to listen to music or to create a dedicated space for it. They'd rather just integrate it all in one system, and they do.

 

[KeithR]

Actually, interestingly enough, I think our views are converging. I DON'T think prices are keeping people
away from the hobby.

It is a LACK OF INTEREST and the reason interest has not expanded is MUSICAL IN-CURIOSITY among current audiophiles.
which make it impossible for them to ever possibly mentor the uninitiated.

IF there is an interest in a household, then the inexpensive, high quality system is important because it gets them in the door.

You mentioned something about China in connection to entry level gear...which I really don't know how that ties in...

People buy $2000 Mac Book Pros made in China as well as $2000 TVs without blinking. Non factor IMO.

Yes- we are indeed converging on the same thing.

re: China. I trust Apple gear more than most high end audio products as they have much more say in quality control. But we are talking small companies with much higher incidents of product error. I'm sure you have heard many manufacturer horror stories of gear made over there as have I (I've personally experienced it twice in the past few years). And I don't feel like paying 3k for a pair of monitors made in China, when 10 years ago the same monitors were made in the USA or England. Luckily, in general, more stuff is starting to come back across the pond.

 

[Andre Marc]

People don't care about creating a dedicated space with amplifiers, preamps, dacs, speakers, etc to listen to music or to create a dedicated space for it. They'd rather just integrate it all in one system, and they do.

I can see that. But they are obviously choosing plastic crap from Big Buy or Best Wal. They certainly are
not buying their "one stop shopping" set ups from dealers. This tells me the music equation is a low priority
as compared to video.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I can see that. But they are obviously choosing plastic crap from Big Buy or Best Wal. They certainly are
not buying their "one stop shopping" set ups from dealers. This tells me the music equation is a low priority
as compared to video.

That's my point exactly. Music is less important today. The question now is...how do you change that? I don't think it can be.

 

[Andre Marc]

Yes- we are indeed converging on the same thing.

re: China. I trust Apple gear more than most high end audio products as they have much more say in quality control. But we are talking small companies with much higher incidents of product error. I'm sure you have heard many manufacturer horror stories of gear made over there as have I (I've personally experienced it twice in the past few years). And I don't feel like paying 3k for a pair of monitors made in China, when 10 years ago the same monitors were made in the USA or England. Luckily, in general, more stuff is starting to come back across the pond.

I have news for you, I have reviewed many components made in China..Peacthtree, Marantz ("hifi" series), KEF, the list goes on and on. Not ONE has failed or showed issues with QC.

As a matter of fact, even a Brit will tell you the shift to Asian manufacturing in many cases was an IMPROVEMENT!!

Yes, for me my preference is to buy gear in the country of origin, but you paint with too wide a brush.

Sorry, a KEF LS50 at $1500 is a pipe dream made in the UK.

 

[Andre Marc]

That's my point exactly. Music is less important today. The question now is...how do you change that? I don't think it can be.

I have ideas. And I will be writing a column about it on Chris Sommovigo's sight soon.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

I have ideas. And I will be writing a column about it on Chris Sommovigo's sight soon.

Cool. Please share the link as I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

 

[Andre Marc]

Cool. Please share the link as I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.

Essentially the industry (don't know about the hobby) is shrinking because of major cart before horse problem.
Gear before music. Sorry, but this has proved unsustainable.

 

[Andre Marc]

http://positive-feedback.com/Issue71/skoff.htm

Thanks for link, I will read this evening.

 

[microstrip]

IMHO, articles and opinions on the net are welcome, but will not change much. In my opinion, the high-end manufacturers should create an association and this collective entity should then properly organize the gathering of reliable data, analyze it and then actuate together with a good strategy to promote the high-end.

The US model hobby industry already did something similar - the Hobby Manufacturers Association
http://www.hmahobby.org/

Professional audio has the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance, does a specific High-End Alliance exist?

 

[Andre Marc]

IMHO, articles and opinions on the net are welcome, but will not change much. In my opinion, the high-end manufacturers should create an association and this collective entity should then properly organize the gathering of reliable data, analyze it and then actuate together with a good strategy to promote the high-end.

The US model hobby industry already did something similar - the Hobby Manufacturers Association
http://www.hmahobby.org/

Professional audio has the Professional Audio Manufacturers Alliance, does a specific High-End Alliance exist?

Very interesting question Micro..I don't believe there is.
Question, have you ever seen an add like this?

Would you like to hear your favorite albums the way the artists and producers intended?

Then may we suggest an alternative to this?:

 

[mep]

As far as vendors doing something to entice attendee's to enter or stay in their room, in the end it comes down to having products we might be interested in.

I have seen a few companies that use sexy women standing in the hallway outside the door to their room to entice the mainly male crowd to come into their room.

 

[Mosin]

Essentially the industry (don't know about the hobby) is shrinking because of major cart before horse problem.
Gear before music. Sorry, but this has proved unsustainable.

Exactly. Bravo!

 

[rockitman]

Looking at all the rooms/ gear at CES, high-end seems to be doing pretty well to me.

 

[Andre Marc]

Looking at all the rooms/ gear at CES, high-end seems to be doing pretty well to me.

Then why are dealers closing, manufacturers laying off staff, and firing their PR firms?

Even when the auto industry was at its lowest point, they still filled The Javitz center with shiny metal.

 

[rockitman]

Then why are dealers closing, manufacturers laying off staff, and firing their PR firms?

Even when the auto industry was at its lowest point, they still filled The Javitz center with shiny metal.

The boutique market...the real pricey stuff will always be around as long as there are people with money to buy it. They pretty much build to order and carry little inventory compared to the mass market HT and 2 channel gear sold at best buy, ect. A high-end storefront needs to be in a sophisticated big enough city with money in order to succeed.

 

[puroagave]

Looking at all the rooms/ gear at CES, high-end seems to be doing pretty well to me.

except for the total absence of buyers...back in the day when JG Holt was still roaming the halls in his signature tattered sneakers and torn jeans, you could hardly maneuver for a chair or breath because the rooms were always packed with dealers making deals. In these pics I only see the occasional press person with backpacks.

 

[mep]

Should we hold the funeral now or wait until we have a body?