Are you manufacturer's paying attention?

Kitch, are you smearing our former Chief again? :-)

The pig that can whistle saying pre-dates BJ Bill,Snooker, but lot's of strange things from Arkansas.

I think the Bel Canto piece is going to push amp manufactureres into the digital age very quickly. Not only does the EVo series challenge some of the best amps around, it does it at a cost(to the manufacturer and consumer) that embarasses the old technology. Think about it...the 200.2 and 200.4 have made some major waves in amplification and are really just scratching the surface of what's possible in digital amplifier technology(remember early 80's CDs?). Makes you think where these things will be in a couple years doesn't it? No wonder "old style" amps are starting to get cheap. They may be a bit better for now, but wait a few months...

Tim

Although there are some genuinely good deals to be had on amps here at Audiogon, I think that there are just too many amps selling for more than they are worth on this site. Don't get me wrong- I realize everyone wants to do as well as they can, but some prices are simply too high. Try and understand that just because a manufacturer builds a $10,000.00 pair of mono-blocks with a gazillion watts per channel in pure class A , that doesn't automatically qualify it for classic status(except in their advertising). Perhaps someone can explain to me why we buy cars at nearly $20,000.00 these days and accept with great regularity that they won't be worth half that in five years after purchase, but we can't accept that our gear in most cases is worth less than half 18 months after we purchase it? Folks, this ain't the summer of 99' anymore, and whether we want to admit it to ourselves or not, people are getting their butts kicked in business, on gas prices, taxes, and their IRA's. And in a way, it's good for us. Helps us reprioritize and makes us stop being so wasteful. But in the vast scheme of where consumers will cut back spending, solitary pursuits of entertainment when you've got a wife and kids will almost always be first.(IE. STEREO) Now, give me the manufacturer who understands that, who builds great gear at accessible prices first and then releases cost-no object statement pieces second. And, who then can get their offerings HONESTLY REVIEWED in prominent audiophile magazines, and I'll invest my money and my loyalty into them. I do know of a few companies that are meeting many of those requirements, but they simply are not getting the exposure every fledgling company needs to survive in this business. DEMAND from the publications you subscribe to that they review these very products you discover in your journeys through this hobby. Remember, for us it is a hobby. For those who design, build, ship, and review the gear, IT'S THEIR LIVES!
Now, what cha' gonna do?

Patmatt. Good post, but, I don't see it happening. That's why so many of us keep coming back here. This is where the companies with integrity get noticed, by "word of mouth". As far as "demanding" from the publications; it's a hobby, it's supposed to be fun. When I get tired of a magazine, I let my subscription expire. At this point, I choose my battles, and trying to change a billion dollar industry, that is just like every other billion dollar industry, is not one of them. I guess my point is, when they start worrying about me, I'll be first in line to offer a helping hand.

Maybe I'm cynical, but I'm trying to be less distracted, and enjoy my music as much as I can. I am also willing to put in the extra work neccessary to be informed and not misled. That's the most I am willing to do.