Opinions on the current market

The big difference of late is there is no place to go to listen to hear before buying. No shops or shows. Not sure what effect of any that has on the market overall but has to be bad for anyone selling new stuff.

@mapman I heard an interview with Jeff Joseph on Stereophile's Youtube channel and he said that while he is selling things, with something of a return policy, business is undoubtedly slower. I was even entertaining some Ohm/Walsh speakers, which sound like a good deal -- free shipping. But only free shipping TO me, not free shipping back to them. So, not cheap to try. PS Audio pays the shipping each way, so that's a nice way to really try things without risk.

All that said, it really doesn't take long to rule something out in a store. If I listen to 5 sets of speakers in an hour, I at least narrow it down. The idea of paying and having things shipped to me seems like a good approach -- if I have already narrowed it down, first. But, as you point out, that initial listening experience is SO key.

I was in a local hifi shop just before things started shutting down. The owner was saying how shipments out of China were coming to a halt due to the pandemic at the source.  I would think most every maker in most any country must be affected that way by now. Not to mention the economic impact to buyers. Add that all up and it would indicate markets are slow currently but supply and demand both affected.