When someone tells you it's a $40,000 amp, does it sound better?

@milpai 

Yes, Jay was very defensive, even though I asked members (not him), the question is a courteous way. I was interested to know how many here find his advice worth paying for. After all, this is a man who just got into audio a few years ago, and now considers himself to be an authority whose advice is worth paying for. Even if he had a background in electronics or music, his opinions would still be purely his opinions, which are worth no more than anyone else's.

Of course, he's being protective of his income stream, so he immediately got defensive and came off like the bully on the playground. If I was peddling that nonsense, I might do the same thing.

Veblen Effect

Abnormal market behavior where consumers purchase the higher-priced goods whereas similar low-priced (but not identical) substitutes are available. It is caused either by the belief that higher price means higher quality, or by the desire for conspicuous consumption (to be seen as buying an expensive, prestige item). Named after its discoverer, the US social-critic Thorstein Bunde Veblen (1857-1929).

https://www.monash.edu/business/marketing/marketing-dictionary/v/veblen-effect

One example I've seen given to showcase this is college tuition. Colleges found that if they decrease tuition enrollment goes down and goes up when they increase it.

Another example is Campagnolo, a well-known bicycle parts brand. Rather than price according to a formula, they price according to what the market will bear. 

roxy54

... this is a man who just got into audio a few years ago, and now considers himself to be an authority whose advice is worth paying for ... he immediately got defensive and came off like the bully on the playground. If I was peddling that nonsense, I might do the same thing.

It's one of the strangest threads on A'gon. Not only is he defensive, but so are his minions. It's really a fan club. The guy promotes the uber-expensive Stromtank battery system, but attacks those who point out problems with his electrical system. He's a wannabe guru and it looks like there are quite a few of them on Youtube. "Jay" charges top-tier "members" $600 a year for benefits like private "raw" zoom meetings. Weird.

Cults and their members are where one finds them. This is simply a general observation based on keen observation of human behavior. All in a historical context of course.  :)

@cleeds 

No matter what level you subscribe to on his site, all you're really getting it to see this very expensive gear; you can't hear it in any real way because it is replayed over inexpensive computer speakers. So, it's like a type of voyeurism, with the addition of his opinion of this or that being "this year's model"; and of course, that always changes.