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If you had to pay full retail, would you...???

I recently got the Music Direct catalog in the mail. Lots of cool gear, interesting tweaks, awesome LPs. Looking over the catalog several times, I said to myself, "man, there are a lot of expensive tweaks which the un-initiated must think is simply crazy". What also struck me is that all the stuff I want, is ultra expensive and the stuff at "real-world prices" are nothing really spectacular. Even at the low end side of "high-end" gear, I would be laying out considerably more than if I went to Best Buy and bought an All in one system.

So, here is where I am headed. I have put together a pretty nice system, almost entirely found here on Audiogon, over back in the day at Audiomart. I scored my amps which retail for $13,000 for $4000. My speakers retailed for $7500 and I got em for $1500. My turntable was $500, which retail was $2500. If, I bought a new $500 turntable, I would get like a Music Fidelity MF, entry level one.

if you bought most of your system used, if you had to start from square one and had to buy Full retail, would you still be into this hobby?

Entry level high end gear really does not interest me. it lacks pizzaz, like the Avid Reference has. For what I paid for my AudioLogic tube DAC, I could only afford a Mid-level Marantz. I beleive I would still be a Music lover, but if forced to spend Full retail for high end gear, I think I would opt for mass market mid-fi, or simply do a laptop based digital system through a mass market company.
128x128justlisten
justlisten's avatar
justlisten OP
489 posts
 
I guess my Original Post wasn't clear as it appears only a few understood the intent of my original question, ..JMCGROGAN2, his answer was what I was looking for.

It is not a question if you would or not pay full retail, but whether you would still be involved in specialized, expensive, low production gear if it was only available New and at full retail. I for one, based on my financial situation would only be able to afford pretty much the entry level oferings from most companies which do not really interest me. I therefore would sink more of my money into Software and puchase a more mainstream form of hardware.
bryanhod
211 posts
 
There is a real advantage to buying equipment from local dealers that you can establish a level of trust with over years. The difficulty on high end equipment is finding a great dealer. Then you will not be paying full retail because a good dealer will give you a discount. I have a great system but I would have rather found someone local to get it all from. Here in Denver, I can't demo gear like Lamm, Dynaudio, Avalon in my house - so why not just buy it on line? I guess the answer is no, never pay retail.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
>>the notion that a manufacturer's retail list price is even valid today is 'imaginary'<<

To a large extent I agree with Jaybo although some retail prices are closer to actual selling prices than others.

As an example, I represented a company whose costs to me varied from month to month depending on their existing financial problems. Occasionally I was able to purchase new products discounted over 70%. Ultimately the used prices of their products have reached such low levels that the retail prices have become as Jaybo says "imaginary".

Disclosure: retailer
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
hi tvad:

my personal best stereo system was stcked quads, mac c22 preamp, 4 quad mono amps, a thorens td 124 turntable with ortofon cartridge.

i had that system for 7 years and would have only replaced the cartridge and kept that system forever except for a slight problem, namely the fragility of the quad panels.

i have a friend who owns magnepan mg 3s, dyna gear, a cary preamp, etc., who has kept his system in tact for over 5 years. his speakers are over 20 years old.

the idea is to find some components that create a sound which satisfies you and then there is no reason to replace components. i still think the original quads are the best speaker ever made.
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