Not to thread-jack this, but I've been seeing this a lot lately. Obscure luxury or vintage products in commercials or programming. Stuff (not only audio) that does not add to the "plot" or marketing message, IMO. (Acura ad notwithstanding). I have a theory; I think the art director/executive producer/whomever uses them as props for one of three reasons:
1. They will become surplus props and can be purchased cheaply by insiders.
2. They inflate the cost of the programming, which can then enter into Hollywood's infamous creative accounting to keep costs high and profits low to avoid paying taxes and "points" to actors with a piece of the action.
3. Both 1 and 2.
I know, I know, I'm, ignorant, cynical and paranoid!!!! Flame away. But I really can't see the point in using ultra-high end products as props on a set, unless they are referenced in some way. There are very few of us who know what this stuff is, so its not like they are establishing an ambience. To most people, a speaker is a speaker and a performance car is a performance car, but I have seen real rare/luxury examples of both turn up as props for no reason I can figure.
1. They will become surplus props and can be purchased cheaply by insiders.
2. They inflate the cost of the programming, which can then enter into Hollywood's infamous creative accounting to keep costs high and profits low to avoid paying taxes and "points" to actors with a piece of the action.
3. Both 1 and 2.
I know, I know, I'm, ignorant, cynical and paranoid!!!! Flame away. But I really can't see the point in using ultra-high end products as props on a set, unless they are referenced in some way. There are very few of us who know what this stuff is, so its not like they are establishing an ambience. To most people, a speaker is a speaker and a performance car is a performance car, but I have seen real rare/luxury examples of both turn up as props for no reason I can figure.