"One, two or more systems"...yes, we can all recognise that. One can lose count of how many systems one goes thru to find "the one true love".
I’d think that the internet has changed not just the way we shop but also what we aspire to buy and how much we are willing to pay.My opinion and nothing more than that is that MANY of the middle level audio buyers are "sort of" with different degrees of being audiophiles.
If they are audiophiles they already have one, two or more systems. Audiogon, for the most part is dead. It's REALLY hard to sell what you have to get something new.
NOT ENOUGH new younger people coming into the market, one reason is the prices have gotten crazy. You can get GREAT sound for not many $$$, but I know a lot of 20/30 and even 40 year olds and they have family and life responsibilities and they don't have this history in the audio world that a LOT of us on this forum do.
A lot of the middle level also got burned out with buying several systems and finding out that they usually end up with something different vs. better. I think a lot of people are just set now with what they have other than a new server, dac, cables etc.
That's just my two cents.
Went to three (just to find out) and now getting back to two systems. One for the everyday and background and to share with others and then one just for me, the private and cultured (as Daniele from AlsyVox so delightfully and adroitly put it) and completely committed music lover and occasional full on gear junkie."One, two or more systems"...yes, we can all recognise that. One can lose count of how many systems one goes thru to find "the one true love".
Bob, I can't even post links. How can I be trusted with a tablet and 93 million tracks Lol?!
Sure, but since I wasn't taking his comment in any way out of context, I'm not sure that's mandatory.Just press this button from the bar when writing the post and copy the link there.
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Just MHO, please take no offense, but quoting a minimal part from a text without a proper reference is poor style. As you are quoting an internet article the link should be mandatory.
Well, polyamorous apparently is the next social taboo to be broken, so maybe you should stick w yr multiple topologies (sorry if that sounds like an affliction Lol).Being polyspeakerus is so very last decade lol. Auditioning briefly is useful like speed dating. Living longer term simultaneously with horn, box and panel was a great way to understand some of the essential differences in topology that I was trying to get my head around. But to do justice to all would require more time (and more rooms) than I have. I’ll still try and get it down to a slightly more viable addiction.
If they are audiophiles they already have one, two or more systems. Audiogon, for the most part is dead. It's REALLY hard to sell what you have to get something new.
I feel audiogon is dead too. I also find it quite interesting that you are selling so many pricey systems, and good for you. I thought exactly because the prices have gotten so crazy and the appearance that the used market is waning that this would all be a hindrance; but on the other hand, there are plenty of deep pockets in NYC and the stock market is skyrocketing.
The thing is to a lot of customers a $100K gets eaten up very quickly with a $75K pair of speakers, an integrated and a source/cables etc.
I have often heard that the Asian market is driving sale prices. Is this true and if so what valid theories are behind it?
BUT no doubt the Asian market is a driving force for high end audio.
I have been told the same by the local dealers in the area; I've also been told they are driving the sonic requirements as well, at least to some degree.
It may be the bizarre anomaly that those who are well-heeled don't stress and just spend. The middle income people may feel the financial pressure more and don't spend around their 'affordable' level
Pretty much all of the larger sales and most of them are full system sales and are sold at list price basically because all of these people have a LOT of $$$. Several of them live in $50M+ townhouses in NYC, actually four of them out of the 11 do.
I don't think ANY of them read audio forums. Most are VERY successful people that have a LOT going on. They all have one thing in common, they DO love to listen to music. They don't really care much about the equipment other than when choosing their system that will fit their environment.
Half of these people have designers/architects/assistants that are also involved.