there’s a lot of competition in what is a very small slice of the market. I don’t think high end will go away, but I definitely think it will change. Over the next 5 to 10 years. I think we will see a very significant migration to all-in-one solutions like the focal diva. The technology will improve and younger folks are going to be less interested in eight boxes and a rats nest of cables.
MBL Insolvent
I apologize if someone else has started a thread I missed, but reports indicate that MBL has initiated insolvency proceedings under German law. Not all businesses succeed- its a feature not a bug in a free enterprise system- but hopefully new investors will come in and save the company. This seems to be following the way of Audio Research (fortunately saved) and others-lots of uncertainty surrounding Dartzeel, Krell, etc, which is unfortunate. So many of these manufacturers are small businesses, obviously without huge capital reserves and sometimes without a good succession plan when the founders move on. I hope MBL successfully restructures, it makes great products. I think we all benefit from a healthy, vibrant group at the top end that has the resources to create and innovate. Good luck MBL.
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@lalitk Thank you. I don't think these products are indispensable, I do think they make a subtle but discernible improvement-a bit more clarity and presence. When I've removed them, its not as good but certainly not night and day. The better power you have, I suspect the less advantage derived from the grid protector. The dealer taking me through this (last I suspect) significant upgrade cycle wanted me to try them and others who I know that use them are big fans. I think my dealer is excellent, and I hear a positive difference with these in my system I'm a bit of a cynic about some of this-I couldn't hear a difference with audiophile switches for example, not to say that others don't-not for me to judge, but I hear a difference with these. If someone says its a placebo, well, I'd say maybe so, that's a real thing, No reason to be dogmatic. I just know my experience. Most improvements I've made produce incremental, not night and day gains to my ears. The exceptions are moving up in speakers-always rendered substantial gains-mechanical devices with moving parts. The other is room treatments which change the way actual sound waves interact with physical structures. For me-only speaking for me-improving electronics produces positive results but not on the same scale. We all hear differently. |
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