The advent of Bling

[DaveyF]

I couldn't help but think after looking at the interesting threads on the Kharma gear that a BIG part of the price justification would seem to be a certain amount of "Bling" that the designer adds to the product.
This aspect seems to be gaining popularity with manufacturer's of high-end gear. When i look at the MBL gear and the gear from Burmester among others, this is the impression I get.
This is particularly obvious when I look at the Kharma speaker cables....plenty of "Bling".
IMO, when I see "Bling" on audio gear, it tends to make me more suspicious of the value of the piece and I want to hold said piece to a VERY high standard. So much so, that all of the vaunted "Bling" pieces have completely fallen short to my ears. OTOH, I suspect ( strongly) that I am NOT the market for these pieces... a different culture is being sought after.Am I wrong

 

[Fast/Forward]

This is marketing at work (working on human nature). Eye candy vs. ear candy. If you walked into an audio showroom that had two pairs of mono amps on the floor, one pair of D'Agostino's new amps and one pair of new Lamms which would get your attention. I have no issue with creating an attractive product and I do understand pride of ownership but how much of your dollar goes into (usually) non functional bling. But then I'm sure more than one person has a pair of Wilson Audio speakers that matches their car. Myself, well I'll only buy a pair of Alexandria XLFs when they come in my Honda's black.

 

[Shaffer]

I couldn't help but think after looking at the interesting threads on the Kharma gear that a BIG part of the price justification would seem to be a certain amount of "Bling" that the designer adds to the product.
This aspect seems to be gaining popularity with manufacturer's of high-end gear. [...]

I can't help thinking this is an outdated model. This isn't to say that bling doesn't sell, it does, but I see a trend in the market, in the extreme/"underground" sector that seems to eschew grandiose metalwork for a simpler expression as a means of reinforcing exclusivity/sound quality/artisan hands-on/whatever. Historically, this part of the audio market - preferred and reinforced by the opinion leaders - serves as a measure of things to come.

If we consider how bling came about at a time when CNC time was expensive, as was the working stock, it became an indicator of exclusivity in no small measure due to its cost. Today, in 2013, that same cost is minimal by comparison. One simply has to browse the Chinese listings on ebay and witness bling upon bling that can be had for a (relative) song. As such, is it still an indicator of extreme quality? In some ways, today, the more bling, the less (sonically) serious a product appears.

 

[FrantzM]

I can't help thinking this is an outdated model. This isn't to say that bling doesn't sell, it does, but I see a trend in the market, in the extreme/"underground" sector that seems to eschew grandiose metalwork for a simpler expression as a means of reinforcing exclusivity/sound quality/artisan hands-on/whatever. Historically, this part of the audio market - preferred and reinforced by the opinion leaders - serves as a measure of things to come.

If we consider how bling came about at a time when CNC time was expensive, as was the working stock, it became an indicator of exclusivity in no small measure due to its cost. Today, in 2013, that same cost is minimal by comparison. One simply has to browse the Chinese listings on ebay and witness bling upon bling that can be had for a (relative) song. As such, is it still an indicator of extreme quality? In some ways, today, the more bling, the less (sonically) serious a product appears.

I don ot fully agree with you. There are indeed a few well sought after brands that eschew bling: I can cite Lamm and FM Acoustics, ese every single other brand is full of bling. All. There may truly have some "underground" brands that are going tthe other way but for the most part High ENd Audio is bling to the nth degree.

I am with you about the origin of bling but I also believe it is a stretch to state that the more bling the less sonically serious a product appears. I believe the perception is the opposite for a large and IMO driving sector of High End Audio.


P.S. I like the Burmester "bling" BTW

 

[DaveyF]

This is marketing at work (working on human nature). Eye candy vs. ear candy. If you walked into an audio showroom that had two pairs of mono amps on the floor, one pair of D'Agostino's new amps and one pair of new Lamms which would get your attention. I have no issue with creating an attractive product and I do understand pride of ownership but how much of your dollar goes into (usually) non functional bling. But then I'm sure more than one person has a pair of Wilson Audio speakers that matches their car. Myself, well I'll only buy a pair of Alexandria XLFs when they come in my Honda's black.

When it comes to eye candy vs. ear candy, in this hobby I'm all about ear candy. I haven't heard Dan's new amps, but I suspect that the one's that would get my attention every time would be the Lamm's.

 

[Elberoth]

There are indeed a few well sought after brands that eschew bling: I can cite Lamm and FM Acoustics, ese every single other brand is full of bling. All.

ARC also springs to mind.

 

[NorthStar]

-- What is "Bling"?

 

[FrantzM]

-- What is "Bling"?

or



or

 

[JonFo]

Good one Frantz

I could care less about bling, as I keep all my gear in an adjacent equipment room. My HT is for listening, not an equipment showroom.

This is my idea of bling:



My DBX DriveRack 4800 speaker processor I use to manage my active bi-amped front channels.

 

[JonFo]

Now, don't get me wrong, I do appreciate good design when used to support excellent performance. My favorite examples are the great products from Meridian Audio:

 

[microstrip]

(...) But then I'm sure more than one person has a pair of Wilson Audio speakers that matches their car. Myself, well I'll only buy a pair of Alexandria XLFs when they come in my Honda's black.

Joke flag on!
Bad luck. As far as I know their standard colors only match some Mercedes, Ferrari and Porsche paints. Honda must be considered a custom finish and should be more expensive.