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What's more important; sound or brand name?

I have had several people leave comments about my inability to hear things with my system because of quality of one or more of the parts. They seem to think it's not good enough to reproduce whatever sound is being discussed on that particular thread. The issue I have is I think my system is pretty good inspite of the fact that some of the componants might not be a popular enough name.

Many of the comments were based on my choice of speakers. I cannot describe how happy I am with the sound quality of the Sony SS M9 speakers inspite of the name on the grill cloth. Yes I have heard many other 'Hi-end' speakers over the years. Some have sounded better than the Sony's, most have not.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining because someone else doesn't like my gear as much as I do. I just wonder if people care more about the name on the product than the sound of the product.

If Sansui made a great product I would consider it inspite of the fact that I consider their stuff to be mostly junk. Maybe Sansui is a bad example since I prefer to buy American but you get the gist...

Any opinions? Have you noticed this happening?
128x128nrchy
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Kool39, I like mine to, great tuner. I have the au717 also but have not used it for a while.
kool39
53 posts
 
Sogood51, I believe we share the same passion of the vmps line as well. I have an older pair of Tower 2/R's and i am just completely amazed at how involving they are. I see more VMPS in my future. Sorry to drift from the topic at hand Nrchy.
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
In truth, I see somewhat of the reverse phenomenon around here more frequently. There is a large contingent in this hobby for whom the most un-hip gear you can mention are the well-known establishment audiophile brands (the validity for many of Kinsekd's point notwithstanding). Paulwp nailed it: "If sound were all that mattered...there wouldn't be much of an industry."
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
wow. If you like what you got, stop! I sometimes joke with my wife about--what the hell was his name(?) Favio or was it Fabio---the long blond haired italien hunk of a guy form the early eighties. The guy some (many) women closed their eyes in certain critical times and imagined him rather than that which they had.....

anyway, be mature. If you like what you got, don't bother with what someone else thinks, markets, etc. go for it. It is your music. It is your ears....enjoyment.

Under no circumstances, should you buy this because you think someone else will pay mor for 'this' than 'that' when you go to sell it.

The best woman is the one that makes you happy. She doesn't want to make someone else happy. When you are thinking of upgrading your stereo-----remember: Is what you got r-e-a-l-l-y worth less than the $1,500+ a replacement system will cost?

ps: same goes for divorce.....etc!
detlof
1,899 posts
 
Zaike, thanks for getting me unto Paulwp's post. I also feel that he is dead right with his final statement. It was Sean who first pointed out in these pages, the difference which exists between audiophiles and musiclovers. Possibly the latter are more immune to advertising hype and can be equally enthralled by a musical performance, when listening to their car radio. I consider myself as a "hybrid" by the way, as probably most of us here are, but I will buy by ear, my own or through the advice of those, whose ears I trust. As for resale value, well, as RCprince has stated so well above, once you've found your gear, you tend to stick with it for good.
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