Is High End Audio Market in Recession?

[ssfas]

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I would say check out Rush, but most everyone here will tell you otherwise.
"Moving Pictures" is your starter for ten.
We're big fans of the Blakeney-Cley circular walk, with a handily placed pub, you can go around and around like an LP playing all day.
Our classical music venues are Burnham Overy Staithe/Burnham Market, Wells Maltings, King's Lynn: Corn Exchange, The Minster, St. Nicks, Guildhall, plus West Road Cambridge, Ely Cathedral, South Creake, Binham Priory.
Plenty of variety, and vastly different acousticals.
Re selling gear for peanuts, this has been a critical reason why I've gone for value added on gear (plinth, motor, isolation upgrades on TT, wiring on tonearm, fancy LPS and stylii on Straingauge, internal mods to CDP/amps/Zus, Airblades addition to Zus, acoustical treatments and dedicated breakers), rather than selling up for the next best/new thing.
Thus a fraction of the cost of new gear.
A few items I could sell off, I won't even get 30 pence on the Pound, they're sitting gathering dust as I type. Only my surplus to requirements balanced power transformer would I like shot of, I'll take 25p on the Pound on this one.
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Our trips to Norfolk and Suffolk are normally to see something at Houghton Hall or Snape Maltings, both of which usually include a trip to the seaside. A nice day trip from North London. Done the Blakeney Cley walk in the marshes a couple of times. We accidentally visited Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge one Record Store Day and there is a nice vinyl store almost next door. There are other pleasures up your way.

 

[gleeds]

A POV
Interest in digital advancements remains strong in this forum. Having heard the Taiko XDMI/Lampi 360 setup at Steve's recently, I can confidently say that this is the most significant advancement in audio in decades, and less costly examples are sure to follow.

High-end manufacturers have benefited from soaring stock portfolios and our generation's interest in premium gear. As an industry insider with a background in manufacturing economics, I can assure you that top-of-the-line products generally sell in small quantities compared to mid-range models. While flagship products have higher profit margins, their development costs often exceed returns for at least the first three years when new technologies are introduced, and a new round of advancement is necessary.

I take pride in representing small brands pushing the envelope with innovative technologies at relatively affordable prices.
Examples include:
Westminsterlab Rei amplifiers
Ars Machinae M1 turntable and arm
Rockna's new Reference DAC (under $25,000)
Trafomatic's superb tube amplifier/pre-amplifier combination (also under $25k for the pair).

Our most recent project involved assisting with Von Schweikert's newest speaker, the vr.30, which, at $49,000, competes effectively with many six-figure speakers. The Wand turntable and arm, Val Acora's latest granite speaker models starting at $8k and many others demonstrate that the industry is not just making more and more expensive products with little to offer except exclusivity. Smaller firms still bring their passion and break new ground at reasonable prices. If this continues, the high-end audio industry will remain relevant and faithfully carry on.

 

[PeterA]

A POV
Interest in digital advancements remains strong in this forum. Having heard the Taiko XDMI/Lampi 360 setup at Steve's recently, I can confidently say that this is the most significant advancement in audio in decades, and less costly examples are sure to follow.

How does this digital presentation compare to the latest WADAX? Is it really the most significant advancement in audio in decades? That is a long time. Why do you think so?

 

[gleeds]

How does this digital presentation compare to the latest WADAX? Is it really the most significbert's analog to be sure but no less ant advancement in audio in decades? That is a long time. Why do you think so?

Yes, Peter. Here's how I describe the sound: there is a complete absence of digital artifacts—just music.
The best analog I have ever experienced was in Robert Harley's room. The system was AJ Conti's eponymous Transcendence table and 12" Superarm. The cartridge was an Air Tight. A complete Wadax system was also there without the newly added power supplies. The Wadax was excellent, but the Transcendence was on a different level in forgetting we were listening to electronically reproduced music. The same thing happened when I heard the Taiko Olympus/XDMI/Horizon at Steve's. It's different than Robert's analog, to be sure, but no less impactful, simply DIFFERENT. You have a statement-level turntable rig, but I urge you to seek out and hear this combo. I, for one, would be curious to see what your impressions are.

 

[gleeds]

Peter, let's PM I think we are off-topic

 

[tima]

How were the electrics on the Lagonda, Lagonda?

Lucas, Prince of Darkness ?

 

[the sound of Tao]

Lucas, Prince of Darkness ?

That’s funny!. Back in the day I when I was working in film and commercial television I used to regularly work with a lighting director whose nickname was Prince… ie Prince of Darkness. Some awesome memories of his great but lightly gunja fuelled lighting skills… ahhh yes the magic of the eighties

 

[tima]

That’s funny!. Back in the day I when I was working in film and commercial television I used to regularly work with a lighting director whose nickname was Prince… ie Prince of Darkness. Some awesome memories of his great but lightly gunja fuelled lighting skills… ahhh yes the magic of the eighties

Funny.



They hold the patent on the short circuit.

 

[spiritofmusic]

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Our trips to Norfolk and Suffolk are normally to see something at Houghton Hall or Snape Maltings, both of which usually include a trip to the seaside. A nice day trip from North London. Done the Blakeney Cley walk in the marshes a couple of times. We accidentally visited Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge one Record Store Day and there is a nice vinyl store almost next door. There are other pleasures up your way.

View attachment 140394

Did not know about those record stores. Will check out.
Also looking to seriously boost my classical vinyl collecting next year.
Need to put a decade of serious system building and spending to good use.

 

[Lagonda]

Lucas, Prince of Darkness ?

Is that the guy from Lampi ?

 

[Tangram]

“I can confidently say that this is the most significant advancement in audio in decades…”

@gleeds As an industry expert, please know that hyperbole like this strains credibility for some humble non-industry experts (i.e. customers).

 

[TonyW]

Funny.

View attachment 140399

They hold the patent on the short circuit.

You know why Brits like their beer warm? They have Lucas refrigerators.

 

[Tonari]

If I invest 100K on a turntable I would be pretty confident that this is a lifelong investement. If I do the same with Streamer and DAC I know for sure that it will not take 3 years before comes the need to upgrade. If that was not for this I would be happy to upgrade the digital front-end of my system !!

 

[PeterA]

If I invest 100K on a turntable I would be pretty confident that this is a lifelong investement. If I do the same with Streamer and DAC I know for sure that it will not take 3 years before comes the need to upgrade. If that was not for this I would be happy to upgrade the digital front-end of my system !!

Yes, and some highly regarded turntables actually increase in value over time. Other stuff loses value like a new car being driven off the lot. Digital is all about upgrades, format changes and improvements. It seems a bit like the computer and software industries, always changing and “improving”. It is a better business model for the industry but maybe or maybe not for the consumer.

 

[Lagonda]

Yes, and some highly regarded turntables actually increase in value over time. Other stuff loses value like a new car being driven off the lot. Digital is all about upgrades, format changes and improvements. It seems a bit like the computer and software industries, always changing and “improving”. It is a better business model for the industry but maybe or maybe not for the consumer.

Yes the Lampi and Taiko guys are definitely driving the gravy train and have realized the existing customers are much easier to get fresh money from than new customers .

 

[PeterA]

Yes the Lampi and Taiko guys are definitely driving the gravy train and have realized the existing customers are much easier to get fresh money from than new customers .

I first noticed it with constant upgrade paths from VPI turntables, modular MSB digital gear, and of course the cable and footer industries. Magico and Wilson are pretty good at it too and the magazines play right along.

The power of choice is held by the customer, and it seems they are now speaking. I do not see many threads devoted to $10K+ cartridges any more, and this is the What’s Best forum where the audience is.

 

[wil]

Yes, and some highly regarded turntables actually increase in value over time. Other stuff loses value like a new car being driven off the lot. Digital is all about upgrades, format changes and improvements. It seems a bit like the computer and software industries, always changing and “improving”.

It actually is improving!
No quotes needed!

 

[Al M.]

It actually is improving!

You don't say

 

[wil]

“I can confidently say that this is the most significant advancement in audio in decades…”

@gleeds As an industry expert, please know that hyperbole like this strain credibility for some humble non-industry experts (i.e. customers).

I do think there’s too much hyperbole in this business, And while the above statement is on the over-enthusiastic side, imho…
…. i’ll say, as one of the few owners so far of the Taiko Olympus and XMDI, that the sound quality is a wonder.
And this is using the very basic analog-out daughter card that Taiko provides (instead of an elaborate stand alone DAC).

 

[TonyW]

When my dad bought something it was for life. He drove his cars until the wheels fell off. When I was a kid we had a small, B&W TV. When that TV finally died in 1968, my Dad bought a 25” Philco Color TV. Boy was it grand. Nine years later I remember coming home from college and my parents were still using that same TV but the picture was just a narrow band across the screen. Fast forward to 2018 and I go visit my dad. He is still using his Sony DLP TV from around 2003 maybe? The picture is so dark with a blue tint. I offered to buy him a new TV but he refused. This one was still working. Best I could do was to get him to buy a new bulb- $450, almost as much as a new TV. The new bulb improved the picture quite a bit.

So sometimes I wish I was like my dad in that way instead of me always wanting to chase the wind. Ie. Gotta upgrade when the new and improved version comes out. I’ve tempered that desire a lot these days thanks to old age and decrepitude. I haven’t changed DACs in almost a year now and I haven’t bought a new car in just over 4 years. A new record for me.