Audio4ever I do applaud your honesty in at least showing your link to Sim Audio, thus showing a natural bias that would be considered normal under the circumstance. Still, it does technically take away from a certain objectivity in your evaluation of the Sim gear, that other members that do not have this connection might have over you.
I am sure you understand that an individual that has purchased gear with his own money, above other brands, will be perceived as more credible when compared with someone else with ties, ( current or past) to a manufacturer. It does not mean the gear is not worth an audition, but I am always concerned about superlatives from one individual, on one manufacturer, as applied to the complete manufacturer's line of products.
Even professional reviewers are often credible. When you hear things like '' I like it so much I bought the review sample'' Hogwash. I too would probably like it if I was able to purchase, let's say, a Moon W5 amplifier at dealer price, or 50% off retail. Furthermore,do we really think that a reviewer can be taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Europe, at the invitation of a manufacturer, and then be taken seriously on a glowing review ? (Pathos comes to mind here)
When evaluating or even commenting audio gear, objectivity is key, starting with no ties to either a manufacturer or dealer, and certainly no kick-back of the likes that are enjoyed from reviewers.
This is why I feel Audiogon is getting to be a bit too much dealer and manufacturer dependent, at the expense of the individual who is not in it for profit only.
I understand that manufacturers have it rough with dealers, and that Audiogon may be some kind of a threat. If Audiogon is so appealing to so many, I think you can partly blame the manufacturer-retailer system for establishing a price structure and retailer system that no longer justifies paying some of the exhorbitant prices in high-end Audio, where the dealer and even the manufacturer, once they have you money, are wondering where the next sucker is coming from.
Not always of course, there are good manufacturers and dealers still around, but they are diminishing in numbers,the dealers are, at least.
I also feel that it is up to the manufacturer to design and implement the way they will treat the customer, as this is a chain, with the manufacturer being a first important link, the dealer being a second important link.
Some others still, are thinking of the ''after-link'' or the after life their product will have in the used market, and mostly the satisfaction and well-being of subsequent users of their products. Bryston, with their 20 year transferable warranty is an extraordinary example. One that others not dare to imitate. Ever wonder why? It would be too simple an excuse to just say that Bryston makes an ordinary built and ordinary-sounding product and that the price is hyped for warranty coverage. While their is surely some provisions for this, I think the plain truth is even easier to extract. They are worth every penny on build quality and sound, have a loyal following, and are very reliable as their units plainly to not break down that often, as to not be a burden on warranty expense for the manufacturer. Talk about a winning proposition for everyone involved, including respect for subsequent owners.
Speaking only from my own humble direct experience, some manufacturers do not care much about the strength of these links, ( manufacturer and dealer) and prefer to spend big bucks on reeling the customer in, in a marketing show of ''galactic proportions'', from product sexyness that has cosmetic changes to their products faster than the time it takes for you to spell ''Moon'', to glossy ads in magazines and buying ''reviews'' in influencial magazines.
Many manufacturers do this of course. Some don't, if only because they do not have the economic means to afford it, or to have big-budget ad programs. All the better for us, I say. May take us longer to find out about worthy products by word of mouth and by actual, objective users of products on Audiogon and other sites, but sometimes this longer road is worth it, as long as people commenting are actual users having spent real money, and that their opinion is given in true objectivity.
I am sure you understand that an individual that has purchased gear with his own money, above other brands, will be perceived as more credible when compared with someone else with ties, ( current or past) to a manufacturer. It does not mean the gear is not worth an audition, but I am always concerned about superlatives from one individual, on one manufacturer, as applied to the complete manufacturer's line of products.
Even professional reviewers are often credible. When you hear things like '' I like it so much I bought the review sample'' Hogwash. I too would probably like it if I was able to purchase, let's say, a Moon W5 amplifier at dealer price, or 50% off retail. Furthermore,do we really think that a reviewer can be taken on an all-expenses paid trip to Europe, at the invitation of a manufacturer, and then be taken seriously on a glowing review ? (Pathos comes to mind here)
When evaluating or even commenting audio gear, objectivity is key, starting with no ties to either a manufacturer or dealer, and certainly no kick-back of the likes that are enjoyed from reviewers.
This is why I feel Audiogon is getting to be a bit too much dealer and manufacturer dependent, at the expense of the individual who is not in it for profit only.
I understand that manufacturers have it rough with dealers, and that Audiogon may be some kind of a threat. If Audiogon is so appealing to so many, I think you can partly blame the manufacturer-retailer system for establishing a price structure and retailer system that no longer justifies paying some of the exhorbitant prices in high-end Audio, where the dealer and even the manufacturer, once they have you money, are wondering where the next sucker is coming from.
Not always of course, there are good manufacturers and dealers still around, but they are diminishing in numbers,the dealers are, at least.
I also feel that it is up to the manufacturer to design and implement the way they will treat the customer, as this is a chain, with the manufacturer being a first important link, the dealer being a second important link.
Some others still, are thinking of the ''after-link'' or the after life their product will have in the used market, and mostly the satisfaction and well-being of subsequent users of their products. Bryston, with their 20 year transferable warranty is an extraordinary example. One that others not dare to imitate. Ever wonder why? It would be too simple an excuse to just say that Bryston makes an ordinary built and ordinary-sounding product and that the price is hyped for warranty coverage. While their is surely some provisions for this, I think the plain truth is even easier to extract. They are worth every penny on build quality and sound, have a loyal following, and are very reliable as their units plainly to not break down that often, as to not be a burden on warranty expense for the manufacturer. Talk about a winning proposition for everyone involved, including respect for subsequent owners.
Speaking only from my own humble direct experience, some manufacturers do not care much about the strength of these links, ( manufacturer and dealer) and prefer to spend big bucks on reeling the customer in, in a marketing show of ''galactic proportions'', from product sexyness that has cosmetic changes to their products faster than the time it takes for you to spell ''Moon'', to glossy ads in magazines and buying ''reviews'' in influencial magazines.
Many manufacturers do this of course. Some don't, if only because they do not have the economic means to afford it, or to have big-budget ad programs. All the better for us, I say. May take us longer to find out about worthy products by word of mouth and by actual, objective users of products on Audiogon and other sites, but sometimes this longer road is worth it, as long as people commenting are actual users having spent real money, and that their opinion is given in true objectivity.