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Who's the Cadillac of Hi-End Audio?

In "Get Shorty" John Travolta's character arrives in Los Angeles and the only car available at the rental agency is a minivan. Throughout the film people question why he's driving such an "uncool" vehicle and his character's response is "It's the Cadillac of minivans." By the end of the film everybody is driving the Cadillac of minivans.

Being that cars and hi-end audio have absolutely nothing to do with each other, notwithstanding so called hi-end auto systems, what company do you think is the Cadillac of hi-end audio? What's the Porsche? What's the Dodge Dart? Is any hi-end company as quirky as Saab? For that matter, what's the Harley-Davidson of hi-end audio?

My vote for the Cadillac goes to McIntosh. Both are old school companies with proud histories. Yet each offers products that while not cutting edge, are quite modern. Still, there are no documented cases of anyone under the age of 50 having purchased either brand within the last 30 years.

Except for my answer there are no wrong or right answer responses. Use you imagination and freely express your biases and preconceived notions.
onhwy61
scottht
398 posts
 
Hands down: BOSE. no exceptions!!!
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61 OP
5,300 posts
 
Car & Driver recently compared six luxury sedans (Jaguar XJ6, MB S430, Lexus LS430, Audi A8, VW Phaeton and BMW 745). They highly rated all of the vehicles as great cars to own and drive, but the Lexus nosed out the Jag for top honors. Except for best highway ride the Lexus didn't excel at anything, but at the same time it did absolutely nothing wrong. It's overall excellence won it first place. That plus it's the only car with rear seat headrest massagers as standard equipment.
clbeanz
192 posts
 
I think Caddy's new image is like Jaguars new image.Plus a good many pop,rock,hip hop,rap and sports stars own them now.

I assume most of them are under 50.Considering Cadillacs corporate direction just a few years back,I am impressed with the turn.
clbeanz
192 posts
 
Lemme' see here...

Cadillac;One of the old guard manufacturers,part of GM corp
who badges several brands,Cadillac branding had appeal to older buyers who trust it,re-invents itself,flood of new rigs aimed at more demographics.

Cadillac vs Panasonic?Hmmmm?
cwlondon
1,210 posts
 
The Cadillac of Hi-End Audio?

I would start with a brand that had one or two memorably audacious products.

Then, a brand best known for pretentious, over the top styling, medicore build quality, low performance, mass markeeting as a luxury item and coveted by lower income customers to the point of parody.

After that, a brand that fell off the face of the earth, only to be "resurrected" by sticking the badge on someone elses products and hyped by overpaid celebrity endorsements.

For the early years, we could take early to mid 90's Bang & Olufsen packaging wrapped around Chinese SS amplifiers with speakers subcontracted by Bose, maybe adding some neon lights, multiple LCD screens or other features borrowed from the car stereo industry.

After that failed miserably in the end, we could take any half way decent, middle of the road product, stick on the badge, hire an ad agency, NBA star and/or hip hop "artist" for the relaunch.

So, in my opinion, there is no "high end" equivalent.

Cheers.
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