commodity liquidity

I definately think that it's the economy. Many people are out of work, and those that aren't may be preparing for the possibility of being of of work soon. I myself have downsized my system significantly.

My previous system was Boulder L5ae preamplifier, Boulder 102ae power amplifier, Avalon Acoustics Symbol loudspeakers, Cary CD-303 cd player, Music Metre Canto interconnects, Chang 6400-ISO power filter, Basis 1400 turntable / Basis-Rega RB300 tonearm / Benz Micro L2 cartridge / Coda 03p phono preamplifier, Zoethecus rack.

My new system will be Linn Classik K reciever / cd player, Acoustic Energy AE-1 Series II loudspeakers, Sound Anchor loudspeaker stands, Cardas Crosslink interconnects and speaker cables, Basis 2000 turntable / Graham "Robin" tonearm / Benz Micro L2 cartridge / Musical Surroundings "Phonomena" phono preamplifier, Marantz CDR-631 CD recorder, Zoethecus rack.

It's about the money. I have chosen to spend less, in order to plan for whatever the future of our economy may bring.

Many audiophiles love changing gear. I am guilty of this to some extent myself. I also agree with the above comments re the weakening economy. Peace. Craig.

wow, there are some great points here. especially about leasing audio equipment.
if only the equipment makers had consciously employed the 'planned obsolescence' strategy of american carmakers, the industry would be in better shape? i suppose that means we can be thankful for the concern for good sound, rather than just profit.
the fact is, i think the market for used components kind of obscures the fact that a good sounding system is extremely easy to put together these days, even for under $1000. as someone above has suggested. obviously what keeps all the hairshirt super high end brands in business is the rather unrealistic pursuit of sound which is indistinguishable from live. this is truly a holy grail, in the sense of barely attainable, yet the idea sends the faithful out on crusades of buying, trying, trading, and tweaking, only to be disappointed by something, somewhere along the line.
still i admire the fact that so many talented people have ventured out into the business of making a better mousetrap.
meanwhile the companies big enough to have a business plan have come up with their version of planned obsolescence, that is, the constant mkII-ing and mkIII-ing and 30.5ing, companies like Audio Research and Madrigal. They're asking you, no, 'brown-mailing' you to be customers for life. Look at John Atkinson of Stereophile. He's been on the Madrigal upgrade path for over ten years, I can't imagine he has any spending money left (of course, he gets his for half price). I don't think Madrigal would have the cake to have brought out its reference series if they hadn't had a steady source of support and advertisement from the editor of a major, influential magazine. having heard ml gear, i honestly don't like the sound very much, even if it is very impressive. i even suspect that the fact that solid state just doesn't connect listeners to the music very well is responsible for the pentagon-like level of expenditure plowed into making solid state even palatable, thus cyanate ester circuitboards in ml amps. and still, does anyone actually enjoy their reference systems, as opposed to being able to hear a oboeist clear her throat while the trombones go full tilt?
i like the underground guys who make good sounding products at low prices, all the little SE tube internet direct guys out there who are telling us to wake up, get some sensitive speakers, and enjoy the updated technology of 1910.
am I rambling? sorry, I just figured it would be entertaining.
meanwhile, audiophiles discussing the viscissitudes of components and their sound has become rather like medeival monks heatedly discussing the number of angels who could cohabit a pin. interesting for the initiated, but irrelevant and decadent as far as the rest of the world is concerned.
meanwhile, our president is discussing the best and perhaps sneakiest way to the destruction of those dams muslims in the middle east who just don't seem too interested in signing on to the consumer economy.
i guess its as good an opportunity as ever to immerse ourselves in the trivia of audio system matching.
thanks and peace guys (and gals)

Great post Tacs!

I like companies that are doing this direct through online as well. I am not as tube oriented as you are (not adviseable to drive Maggie 3.6's with tube gear), but if I had some very efficient speakers my oppinion might dramatically alter reguarding tubes. I do have a tube preamp though (SF3SE... gotta love it).

I think companies like Perpetual Technologies, Outlaw, Odyssey, PS audio, etc.(companies that sell direct online) have a strong future in hi end audio.

The only problem is that this could be the beginning of the demise of most hi end shops if more and more companies go this online route. And this could very well signal the end of most hi end audio.

This occurs because hi end shops do serve an important purpose. This purpose being that they demostrate the products. They try to effectively to get people interested in these hi end audio products. Without these hi end audio shops, who will be left to get people interested in this esoteric stuff??? This would have a serious negative impact on the industry.

I think that hi end shops need to form different relationships with their manufacturers. Both parties need to pursue what both parties desire: the need to sell more product. [NO MATTER WHO SELLS IT.] Manufacturers need to be able to sell directly to consumers, giving their Dealer in the area of the consumer a commission on the sale (and for every sale in his area). This would probably save Dealers money (in the long run) and enable to make more money. Dealers would no longer have to keep much inventory. Keeping a lot of inventory is not cheap, and effectively eats into profits. It also saves Dealers shipping costs (to get the merchandise). Manufactuers would ba able to lower costs online and effectively sell more product.

However, selling more product takes us back to the ever growing problem of more and more used equipment out there.

As I said in my last post... this is a very difficult issue.
Extremely complex... with no easy solutions.

Speaker and CDP manufacturers and have the only good news... Speakers and CD players have moving parts that eventually wear out. Plus speakers are more prone to damage [in general] than other SS electronics.

Peace.

Keith

Good thoughts, all. I suggest that we have seen the end of product exclusivity in audio. Hi-fi is one of the last sacred cows in marketing, but soon to join ranks with profit
ravaged, eroded dealer base goods like fine watches, motorcars, cigars, computers, pens, ties, you name it.
My local Brietling watch dealer needs to fetch 30% more for the same timepiece I can buy via internet. Next time you fancy a bottle of Dom, ask your local shop owner to match Costco's $79. Won't (can't) happen.
Think of all the name brand audio that 10 years ago was strictly boutique, now found in the major chains or on line (or not at all!). Idealism in marketing methods is a luxury few companies can now afford. Levinson in TheGoodGuys? Dynaudio at Tweeter? Your favorite --- at ---? Manufactuerers will swear "Never!" until the very day the BestBuy ad breaks featuring their product. Let's not overlook the fact that just two corporations own the majority of our hi-fi brands, and corporate mandate is profit! When your strongest competitor puts his preamp into 300 stores and you have your preamp in 20, it's soul searching time. Too bad, I really enjoyed being able to hear a piece before purchasing it....