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Flavor Of the Month

I've recently seen the phrase "flavor of the month" used to put down a component. While it clearly implies that the subject product doesn't have staying power or won't deliver long term satisfaction, it's my observation that a component has to be pretty darn good to attain FOTM status. Sure there's an element of hype, but internet forums such as this one are excellent at separating the real deals from the pretenders. Can anyone name a component that was the Flavor Of the Month that turned out to be a turkey?
onhwy61
beemer
444 posts
 
I associate FOTM most always with CD players. We've had every kind of technobabble possible tossed at us in regards to redbook playback. One thing I've found: My BAT VKD5SE has staying power.

You all got to remember there are only 44,100 samples per second. That alone will tell why good analog still make you smile. There are certain instruments whose "aura" just cannot be captured at such a rate.

Personally FOTM makes me smile. Audiophiles can be like lemmings rushing off to buy the latest and greatest. It's not for me to tell anyone how to spend their cash, but my traditionalist ways have resulted in a time-tested system that still satisfies even with some speakers that are better than 10 years old! LOL!
twl
3,251 posts
 
I agree that "Flavor of the Month" in my way of thinking, refers more to the mind-set of the purchasers than the product. There are some who just have to go with the latest, and most-hyped products. Most FOTM products are pretty good, but you can bet that most of their buyers won't have them for too long after they read the next Stereophile Class A recommendation.
jadem6's avatar
jadem6
1,074 posts
 
Sony DVP 9000 ES

There is another thread started that states this is being replaced in October. In that this will be the third in the 9000 family, with no real new technology I'd nominate Sony as the #1 "Flavor of the Month" manufacturer.
ohlala
1,243 posts
 
Flavor of the month usually pertains to good sounding, quality products. But the quality gets snowballed in to a belief that everything sonic will be better as long as I have this thing, bypassing the component-matching area of the audiophile brain. Its all just Western consumerism overriding one's coolness. I love the way the flavor pushes down the used cost of components that the flavor is replacing. I just bought a mint $3k CDP for $1075 b/c the v.2 came out. I like the phenomenon.
fineberg
151 posts
 
I agree that as a buyer the FOTM syndrome is great. I bought the phenomenal Muse Two Ninety Six DAC in Mint condition for one-third of its price because they came out with a 192 kHz oversampling DAC. It is very difficult for manufacturers of products without wear parts (which can last for a long time without service - sometimes decades). They need to convince you to replace a functioning unit with one that performs the same function. The better their products the worse it is, because besting it will become more difficult and the differences less glaring. So we should at least take heart that for those who decide not to follow every trend the phenomenon works in our favor.
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