Snobbiest audio websites

Courant, You should take a courage on your own to try to recommend $14k power cord. Why sell wire for $14k when you can simply take money in the name of God: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y1xJAVZxXg

I don't care if someone reviews a 14K power cable. It's fine by me. I won't be buying one so what the hell. I can also choose to read the review or not. I try not to let such trivial things bother me.

@Rja: You're missing the point. As per your own words, by choosing to cover what they do, TAS is inviting people, potentially LOTS of people, to ignore them.

Part of how I earn my living is via analysis of market segmentation and brand perception. What you call "trivial" I call a "case study" in creating an alienating brand. By understanding the why of factors that lead to market indifference, one can, in theory, avoid some of the mistakes of others.

Granted, VW is proving to be "the definitive" example of brand suicide, but this is an audio forum.

Also, the opposite of "love" isn't "hate," but "indifference." I pretty much ignore TAS because of what they choose to give coverage. If enough people begin to ignore them, they will go away...

Case in point, the best selling audio component of all time was from a company that's no longer around: Dynaco (specifically, the ST70). For a number of reasons, the make became irrelevant, and went away... Having a good perception on how to have that NOT HAPPEN to your clients can do things like pay your mortgage, and finance your HiFi habit. :-)

Oh, OK, I guess I forgot.

The only thing I would find interesting about a $14K anything is if someone thought it sounded bad. Especially a wire.

I do find beneficial innovative new features interesting.

"Sounds really good" is passe. Most of us have been there, done that and many for much less. Some just rave about things better than others.

And even if someone says it sounded bad, I would still be skeptical. How bad can anything that realistically cost 14K sound? Maybe the user screwed up and has no clue. That might be more likely.

Value is another thing. I'm sure there are some who might have even found a coat hanger to sound pretty good. As long as its metal that is. :^)

Its products that many people rave about and think sound good that catch my interest. There is power in numbers. If enough people actually buy and like something, there is probably something to it. With uber expensive niche products, there is typically not many data points to go on.

When you buy something expensive, the pressure is usually on to like it a lot accordingly. Or else, try to sell and take a big financial hit. Nothing unique to audio there.