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High End is Dead?

Browsing used audio sites such as Audiogon and the Marts, high end gear ads are dominated by several dealers. Non-dealer ads are usually people trying to push 15+ year old off-brand junk at 60-70% of MSRP (when they were new). They don't sell anything. You could slash Wilsons, Magicos, etc, 50% off retail and no one will buy them.

No one buys if it costs more than 1k. It's not that they're not interested -- the ads get plenty of views. It's that the asking prices are just way over the ability of buyers to pay. Fact is, if you see a high end piece for sale it's probably by a dealer, often times trying to push it at 15% off retail because its a trade in, but also often they are taking a good chunk off the price 30, 40 sometimes 50% off. They can be famous brands with a million positive reviews. No buyers.

Are we just poor, and that's all there is to it? 
madavid0
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Hi ghasley

"A multi box shrine with its sundry rituals to some aspiriation that no one else aspires to can get pretty lonely."

I have heard people say this before in HEA, but I've never personally experienced the lonely side. Maybe it's just me and the friends I attract or am attracted to. I have never hung out with people who didn't do music, or who didn't have these cool listening rooms. Whether it be a recording studio or playback room. I don't see how this could ever get boring, lonely or anything but exciting. In fact we go so long it runs into the next day many times.

I'm an artistic type and have always been around folks who couldn't wait to get to their listening room. Last night for example, four of us were sitting down in our outside common talking about what we were going to be listening to later. When we were done gossiping I'm pretty sure we were all grooving on our choices for the evening. I know downstairs was cause he was vibrating my floor :)

How can music ever get lonely, one? And what's wrong with wanting to do nothing but music? HEA audiophiles many times sound like listening to music is a chore. I don't think I have had one day in my life where I have ever felt that way.

Michael Green

www.michaelgreenaudio.net

ghasley
2,502 posts
 
@michaelgreenaudio

I agree with everything you’ve said and the reason is its the music that moves you and your crew. Thats cool. It also sounds like you live around others who share the passion and thats really cool.

You also have to admit that the extreme stereotype I was describing exists in the wild. When I lived in Southern California, I would occasionally swing by a dealer’s shop who will remain nameless. He or she(yeah right) would encourage people to bring their own music. How many (insert the stereotype of your choice) different high end enthusiasts does it take to figure out that the various nuances of a Diana Krall album where you can hear her breathe between phrases or the merits of the various pressings of Kind of Blue are not too relevant to most people. LOL

I recently visited a shop owned and operated by some 30 something bearded, workshirt wearing dudes spinning some vinyl by the Avett Brothers and there was plenty of craft beer being consumed and the conversation among the people, of both sexes, was off the hook. Now Im 55 years old, but I can easily pass for 52! It was inclusive and lively. There were tubes and solid state harmoneously living together like we could only dream of for the Middle East. No fuse talk, no cable talk, just music, humanity and fun. Not one of them was bemoaning the end of HEA, they were enjoying HEA but were doing so differently than their parents. Its no different than any other time in history, each generation believes the old rules don’t apply to them and they are right.
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
So it's not dead, it's just ... pining for the fjords.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
What’s it called when it’s dead but still walking around? Oh, I know! A zombie! 🧟‍♂️ It’s kind if a zombie jamboree!

Back to back, belly to belly
I don't give a damn, I done dead already
Oho back to back, belly to belly
At the Zombie Jamboree

david_ten
5,480 posts
 
Hard to beat a dead parrot pining for the fjords. : )
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