the viability of hi end companies

Have you noticed how many of these companies have come out with a new top of the line product in the last 5-7 years that is at least twice the price of their previous top of the line product? Practically every single one of them.

These companies are selling fewer units but taking higher margins. That is how they stay afloat in this top down economy. There are plenty of folks out there with FU money.

Any business venture, especially something on the line of a hi end niche market, begins with vision and passion. You feel you can offer that better "mouse trap". And in so doing you don't listen to the nay sayers of the bad economy or falling markets. No, you don't have you head in the sand, so you may keep you day job. But you dream and then work too make it come true

Nonoise, Elliot hasn't hosted a meeting in over a year. I haven't talked to him lately so I don't know what's going on with him. I have purchased gear from him in the past and he has always been very nice. I'm not very Impressed with Shelleys. They used to really cater to the 2 channel market but not anymore. At one time they carried Plinius, Audio Research, Sonus faber, Spectral and other high end brands. Now there mainstay is Mc Intosh and they are catering to the home theater crowd and custom installs.

I agree with most of what folks have put forth. Like many have expressed, including Roy, I also question the viability of high-end audio companies.

Of this list of highly-respected North American manufacturers, how many would survive were the one person in charge cease to serve in that role (retire, become incapacitated or worse) tomorrow - AtmaSphere, Audio by Van Alstine, Avalon, Ayre, Basis, BAT, Blue Circle, Canary, Coincident, Deja Vu, JPS, Lamm, Magico, Mapleshade, Merlin, Nordost, Purist Audio Designs, Quicksilver, Rockport, Rogue, Sanders Sound, Silverline, Sonist, Soundsmith, Synergistic Research, Totem, Tyler Audio, VAC, Vandersteen, VPI, Walker, YG Acoustic, and Zu.

Taters,
It's been that long? It didn't seem so when I last went to see him but I've always been bad at judging time. As for Shelly's, I'm sorry to hear they now concentrate on HT. I haven't been there in many a year but know they're still there. I bought my first major stereo gear from them. It was Rotel separates.

Looks like the internet is here to stay, which is not a bad thing.

All the best,
Nonoise