Amarra for iTunes at RMAF...

I didnt mean to turn this thread into a bashing of audiophile vendors or manufactures. Everyone is trying to make a living. It is a niche industry.

I guess we all here on the 'gon love this hobby, one would hope that people within it would show some respect for that. I am sure most manufactures and vendors are involved for the same reason as us. A love for music and music playback.

In my experience most people within this hobby are honest and make worth while products and are doing the best they can. The pricing policies I guess reflect the small market.

There are some cynical repackaging jobs that go on, for sure, especially with cabling. Zero offence taken.

For me, I was a long time member here under the name Redkiwi, till I got to the point where my own cables were better to my ears than my favourite brand Jena Labs. So at that point I more or less stopped posting here and began producing my cables in the weekends. At that stage I bought everything in, but the cables were unique in terms of using what I call our antipodal geometry - very simple but effective. Then I researched every part of the cable and developed my own view as to what sounded best. So we now make our own wire, make the insulation and make the sleeving. The only thing we don't make from raw materials is the connector - though that will be next.

It has been maybe an obsession, but definitely based on my enthusiasm for audio and my love of music. Making it into a business was mainly a way of funding the obsession, not the other way around. As you say, I think a great many audio firms start out like this.

Redkiwi! That you might be one and the same crossed my mind.

Antipodes_audio,

good luck to you. One of my best friends lives not too far from you. A beautiful country.

I had a quick look at your cables. I would normally be up for trying a set out, but I am very happy with my cabling at the moment.

I use the Analysis Plus Golden Oval which I think is a very fine cable, especially as an IC. Everywhere else I use the difficult, but great sounding Virtual dynamics cables. They have an ultra low noise floor and the finest bass and dynamic freedom of any cable I have tried. I was toying with the idea of moving to Stealth cabling, but when I priced it up I lost the will...

I guess we are drifting off topic. Apologies. I think I can save the thread though. Amarra works great with itunes on none compressed files via firewire. You gain fine detail, air, and a sense of naturalness. Phew!

Chadeffect,

Don't get me wrong. I am not saying audio manufactures and vendors are all dishonest. I know it is a niche market and I have no problem paying $13,000 for a pair of Vandy 5 and $8,000 for a BAT preamp, both are in my system. Because I know there are R&D involved and they can't sell thousands and thousands of units to keep the price down. As you said, they need to make a living. But I do have problem with someone repackaging and rebranding common items and reselling them as audiophile specials for 5, 10 times the normal price.