Is this the end of HEA?


http://www.cepro.com/article/is_this_the_end_of_high_performance_audio_at_ces

This last year has made my ears perk up. Honestly I didn't even know the article above had been written until now. What I did know was listeners have been in touch with me about the future of HEA and their future as advanced listeners. It's been nice to see folks getting in touch with me and even nicer that they are doing so because they wish to settle into their final system sound. To say things in their words "it's been an expensive ride" and most of these folks aren't sure they've gotten a fair shake always from the hobby. Many feel they have bank rolled a part of a hobby that hasn't always delivered the goods. Basically instead of telling listeners that this is a variable hobby the "experts" pushed a very expensive game of component Plug & Play onto the discrete audio generation. I remember those days of guilt buying where a dollar amount was used as a representative for quality, when it meant no such thing. I knew first hand this was not the case as designers scrambled to make up-sell products that sounded less musical than the original products that put their name in audio fame. I also could see the HEA decline happening but still was giving the benefit of the doubt to those saying HEA was just fine and growing. Mom and pop stores for the most part have vanished in the US with the exception of a few creative thinkers. New expensive products are being adored but I don't see many actually buying them. Now I've got my eye on T.H.E. Show (Richard's show) and wondering if it's happening or not. Richard and I have talked many times about what will happen to HEA in the US if T.H.E. Show and CES cease doing their thing in Vegas. I wonder what Richard RIP is thinking now sitting in the clouds.

I am very excited to see the next few years come about even though I know some are still buying into the old paradigm that the HEA is the cutting edge with only a volume control to adjust and a fork lift included with every purchase. Going to the CES web, I have my answer for Vegas. Going to T.H.E. Show website I'm still in question. If these two are no more, in terms of HEA, who's next?

Michael Green

michaelgreenaudio

Watching the pendulum swing from expensive, high mass and complicated back to simplicity, low mass and thoughtful is exciting.

mg

Exciting? Well, I suppose, unless you’re a high-end audio, brick and mortar retailer. At least the next generation of audiophiles will be able to spend a smaller portion of their income on decent sound.
Invite young people to hear your high-end system. What they don't know exists doesn't exist. 

Frank
Most high end systems I ever heard, and I’ve heard a bunch, were disappointing. I’d say they probably fall under the category, Looks Good on Paper. I certainly wouldn’t consider allocating a huge amount of 💸 💸 💸 If I thought that’s the sound it would buy me.

I think it all started around 1980 when the big audio show was in DC. Somebody was demonstrating the humongous Infinity Reference System with a big RTR tape deck and AUDIO RESEARCH tube electronics. The dude on stage announced proudly, “see if this sounds live music to you.” Unfortunately, when the sound came on and filled the auditorium it was so bad everyone immediately got up and walked out.

A rich man 💰 has about as much chance of getting into audio heaven as a camel 🐪 has of passing through the eye 👁 of a needle. - old audiophile axiom

"Exciting? Well, I suppose, unless you’re a high-end audio, brick and mortar retailer."

I think if someone is a creative marketer they can profit. But their existing paradigm will have to be flexible and adapted to a newer style of listening hobby. Keep in mind HEA brick and mortar has been on the decline since the late 1990's. They've had a lot of time to reinvent themselves. It's not like someone yanked the rug out from underneath them.

mg