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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
uberwaltz's avatar
uberwaltz
13,381 posts
 
2psyop

No I do not believe so
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Of course not. That was Bo. The Tru Fi dude or whatever.  Fremer over at Stereophile also reviewed another expensive Audioquest power cord recently.
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
" the eccentric stamp collector is likely mourning that this new generation has lost its desire to send communiques ..."

Stamp and especially coin collectors probably don't care if there are new ways of communicating or if the U.S. Mint is minting new coins, they're content with the pleasure and satisfaction their collection brings because of the rarity and value in their collection.  Stamps and coins appreciate with time.  Same can't be said of HEA gear. 

Trust me -- we ain't mourning.
fleschler
2,021 posts
 
Wrong, I was a big stamp collector until the 1980s.  I loved the engraved stamps for their artistic merit.  Now, especially U.S. stamps, are photographs with self-adhesive backs, printed with a row of plate numbers which make buying sheets rather than blocks of old, collectables.  A sheet often has four or more pictures on it rather than a continuous loop of engravings.  I don't want to be a sheet collector and don't value the mere photo stamps versus the personally engraved stamps.   
lilmsmaggie
273 posts
 
@fleschler  are you in mourning?  Maybe you should switch to coins.  I've sold most of what I had collected (primarily U.S. coins and large currency.)  Helped pay for my audio rig.  I have a few stamps but quite honestly, I could never get into stamps.  Like you, I enjoy collecting for the artistic qualities.  I think coins are miniature pieces of artwork, especially coinage between 1700 - 1922.  Some coins and bills (educational series notes) can be quite breathtaking.  
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