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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
High End is Dead?

I hope not if it stays real. Maybe dying because of BS like below.

But many non-audiophiles I know who still love listening to my system, really look sideways when I show them some of the "snake oil" products that get peddled EG: fuses, mpingo discs ect ect.
And that can’t be good to get new audiophiles interested in hiend audio.

Cheers George
dill
2,538 posts
 
IMO; anyone that uses the phrase "snake oil" to describe some item that may or may not provide a difference in sound in one's system has either not tried it or dismissed it because of bias based on an concept of "it can't possibly work". In the audiophile world there are not 2 systems that are alike, no two ears alike and interpretation alike. Who are you George, do you decide what we hear or don't hear? Your negative and narrow minded view does a disservice to the advancement to HEA.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Who are you George, do you decide what we hear or don’t hear? Your negative and narrow minded view does a disservice to the advancement to HEA.
Same back at ya, for not having the ability to be able to recognise many, not all "snake oil" products when it bites you on the ****.
Anyone one that doesn’t believe there’s "snake oil" products in hi-end audio, and that's it's harmful to the integrity of hiend, is so gullible they can’t see the forest through the trees.

Cheers George
dill
2,538 posts
 
Come on George, that's just silly talk, expand your mind. Makes me think you might have an agenda ...
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Think what you like Dill.
"Snake Oil" products are only harmful to credibility of hi-end audio.
Makes me think you might have an agenda ...
Yes I’d love to rid the "snake oil" shysters from Hi-end audio.
Just yesterday I read about a $3k 1mt, $5k 2mt, $7k 3mt iec power leads, really!!!!!.

Cheers George
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