Purchase a new Boulder 866 for < $20k. You will receive a true Audiophile amp with the $20k-$30k casework included for free!
The death of ultra hiend audio
Verity and DarTzeel last year, now MBL, ultra high end audio manufacturers are facing their demise and they have nobody but themselves to blame. What do these companies have in common: too much investment in creating the very best and when that fails raising their prices bottom up to recover their losses and inevitably charging 2x what the same product cost just a few years ago. Ego, greed and poor management can only result in one thing!
- ...
- 41 posts total
We have certainly seen some ultra-high-end audio manufacturers struggle a good bit, but there are also just as many mid-fi manufacturers that have struggled or closed as well. It's true that in many cases the cost of ultra-high-end products has gone crazy, but there are a goodly number of ultra-high-end (and expensive) products that are actually a value for the money. Most people don't equate value with something that sells for $500K, but when you know what goes into some of these high-priced products you'll be amazed at the list of billable materials, not to mention the [very expensive] machinery that is necessary to build them. And yes, on the other side of the argument, there are many products that can't justify their crazy high prices. Having said that, the ultra-high-end as a whole is doing quite well (most notably with sonically amazing and groundbreaking products). In the lower high-end to mid-fi category of products, the same principle holds true - some are a rip-off, and some are truly worth it, regardless of their price. So, to say that the ultra-high-end is dying, NO, I don't buy it. And I work in the middle of it. |
@ddgtt +1 The current trend is negativity within the audiophile community, there could be many reasons which others can speculate upon. Appreciate the technology, resources, manufacturing and the time and passion that is required to create Ultra HEA. Unfortunately we live in a "clickbait" society where the main focus is on the cost not performance level of the product. |
The reason is that, for example, you can buy a Moon 891/861 combo for 1/3 or less than the price of some of these uber high end brands and get excellent sound. The sound of these $100k plus set ups is not likely 2x to 3x or more better. The customers willing to pay multiples higher for improvements is limited. There are also fewer dealers and opportunities to actually audition the uber high end equipment, and it is hard to spend multiples of money relying solely on good reviews from respected publications. Even more concerning is that one of these companies goes out of business and there is no ability to repair or warranty. |
- 41 posts total