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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

128x128michaelgreenaudio
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

I spent a lot of time in high end emporiums when such places existed, and many of the people were middle income, who explained to me, that it's a matter of priorities; they would rather have HEA than an expensive car like their friends. I don't believe even those middle incomes are in abundance like they used to be.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Another clue was the decision by John Curl and Bob Crump around twenty years ago - my how time flies! - to design and produce what are probably best referred to as entry level high end, I.e., more affordable, products like JC-1, and abandon their efforts as CTC (Crump, Thompson and Curl) the last year they showed their fabulous but expensivo Bar B Q amplifier and Blowtorch preamp way back in 2000, having had the foresight to realize that dog won’t hunt. 🐩
mustbethemusic
17 posts
 
The "audiophile" designation has absolutely nothing to do with my ability to hear; I gave a friend of mine that designation because he could hear even better than me. Are you saying just because a piece of gear is ARC, or CJ, or Sota, that it’s supposed to sound good?


The challenge or opportunity is can we set our own refined taste aside long enough to allow others to enjoy their version of low-high end audio?


I have absolutely no idea what you meant by that statement?


My statement meant precisely what I said; those three refined names produced "crap", but it was at a low price.


My taste has nothing to do with someone else not being able to recognize that fact, and if they didn’t, I fail to understand how that would further the cause of HEA.


In regard to music, I am the OP of the thread "Jazz For Aficionados", that has been on this forum for years; my credentials in regard to music speak for themselves.

Orpheus10 - Dude - I was supporting your statement generally. My point is that in many areas of interests, music, cars, food, too many of us decide that any variation from our own standards deem everything else a piece of s---. What I understand best about this hobby is that "sounds good" is quite subjective and differs from what people have been exposed to or what they are willing to invest. I’m saying that we should allow them to enjoy their audio experience at a level below what is considered HEA by others. That would reduce the intimidation factor and encourage more folks to participate without fear of being shamed because they have no idea how great $100,000 speakers sound.

The fact that you need to roll out "your credentials" like some cock measuring contest may attest to your music acumen but otherwise indicates that you are pretty tone deaf to varied opinions, even when they support your premise.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 
We all have good days and bad days; maybe that was my tone deaf day.
lhasaguy's avatar
lhasaguy
339 posts
 
I have been watching this thread with interest as I reflect in my own history.

When I was in the Army 50 years ago, I got hooked on “good” music by a friend.  To me at that time it was a system of a Dual turntable, Sansui Sp100 speakers and a seperate tuner and amo/preamp combo.

It was light years above the all in one cheap turntable combo I had.  An Akai reel to reel was added and I was in heaven.

It was a qunatum leap beyond what I had ever had or owned.  Returning home, I lusted after the McIntosh gear, but it was Far beyong my means.

Over the years I has decent stereo, that always pleased me.  Gear came and went, nothing seriously expensive, but I was always about the music, not the gear.

Fast forward to a successful career and disposible income.   I make a killing in a side hobby of selling rare coins about 13 / 14 years ago and had the funds to but McIntosh 501s to drive 3.6 Maggies.   

I Love the sound and the music in dimensions I had not experienced before, yet I love the same music no less.  It is all about the music for me.  I am just blessed to be able to afford some great gear!

Money has fiven me extra pleasure, but I was happy with decent gear before I coukd afford a more expensive system.

It is anagous to cars in a strange way.  I was happy with a Honda Accord, but you will have to rip the Mercedes E400 out of my hands.

At the end of the day, it is about what you can afford in the things that are important to you.  I would still be happy with my former toys, and appreciate them for what they were.  I am just lucky to have othet choices.
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