Thiel Owners

andy2

IMO, the driving factor is the cost involved to reach the top of a two-channel system.

My five grandchildren  have excellent two-channel systems, and all have chosen to avoid streaming of classical music. Their main objections to upgrading from "excellent' to "superlative" are (to them) the exorbitant costs.  All five spin Redbook CDs on Bryston players and electronics and have speakers ranging from B&Ws to Bryston Mini Ts.  (I'm trying to persuade them to go for some 2.3s or 2.4s; however , they're contented with what they have.  All had "splurged" on their systems,
 and disposable income is now being socked away for their children's college funds.

Just a thought.

Sad to hear audio consultants is closing all my gear including my 3.6s were bought there.I cant say enough good things about my dealings with them!

The state of high end audio as far as local stores is really sad.  Not only have the number of dealers declined, but to me it seems that the ones that are not all that great and are still in business stick out more.  Many have also gone to cheaper rents in industrial parks with a policy of appointments vs. regular business hours.  Some of those are in quarters which don't have the capacity for as many listening rooms (and many also do more custom audio and home theater installations vs. deal in strictly equipment) as what many are accustomed to.  There seems to be more vendors that sell consumer direct and regional audio shows have increased to allow consumers to hear things they would otherwise not have an opportunity to do.  Some of those venues make it a bit more difficult to get a good audition (unless one stays at the venue and arranges an after hours session).  It's just the way it is.

Fyi.  In case anyone is interested.  Saturday Audio Exchange in Chicago has listed a pair of CS 7 speakers in rosewood finish for $2,199.

I can't believe Audio Consultants is going away completely.  They had 4 stores in the area only 2 or 3 years ago.  I live about 10 minutes from where the Libertyville store was and that's where I've bought much of my stuff over the years.  I'm in my early forties and it's amazing how much audio has changed just since I've been following it since the nineties.  I'm glad I got good quality stuff before the audio world got this bad.