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Why is the industry so lame?

I'm a 40+ audiophile who just can't understand why the industry is so tied to the past. Countless audio manufacturers will eventually go the way of the buggy makers if this continues. Consider:

In 1998 the Diamond Rio was introduced and Diamond was sued by the RIAA.
In 2001, the Ipod was introduced and it held 1000 songs.
In January 2003 Flac was introduced.
In 2003, Sonos was founded.
In November 2003 the Squeezebox was introduced.
In April 2004 Apple introduced its own lossless codec.
In 2005, Apple sold over 20MM Ipods for the first time.
In December 2007, Apple sells its 125 Millionth Ipod.

As we head into 2008, this is where the industry finds itself:

A growing number of mfrs now have proprietary Ipod docks to enhance their revenues to the tune of $100-300.

Krell now has a dock dubbed the KID that includes a preamp for about $1300. Matching power amp TBD.

The vast majority of preamplifiers have no DAC or DAC option.

Bryston and Naim have integrated DAC's into one of their integrated amplifiers (Bryston's is an option).

Only Outlaw has a 2 channel receiver with built-in DAC.

Rather than seeing the emerging new technology as something to be embraced the entire industry seems to regard it as something to ridicule. Sure, not everyone wants a DAC in their amp but how many are buying $2500 CD transports these days or even $1000 phono cartridges.

When will the industry wake up and smell the coffee?
wdrazek
wdrazek OP
100 posts
 
Reubent: I'm not an audio designer or manufacturer. But I can read the writing on the wall. 125MM Ipods and computers hooked up to every one of them. Year after year of declining sales of CD's and double digit growth of music downloads. Can you wrap your head around that? It really isn't that hard. The recording industry feels the ramifications. But the audio industry continues to ignore it.

There are a few innovators like RWA but mostly it's about new sheet metal, a design tweak here and there and a new model number. Not to say innovations like class D amps don't come around occasionally.

Michael Fremer gushes over a new phono stage in Stereophile when Ipods outsell turntables by probably 1000:1. BTW, when did the press ever review your beloved Reali-T? Does that tell you anything?

These boards are for freedom of expression. If I offend you try climbing up another tree.
stevecham
3,340 posts
 
Eventually high end, in whatever form implementation takes place, will return. Things cycle; I am an optimist. Good sound and good music will always be in demand. The key is finding the correct format/configuration to address changing market demands.
ckorody
643 posts
 
Check out the review by Scott Faller in the 12/07 issue of Enjoy The Music

http://www.enjoythemusic dot com/magazine/equipment/1207/consonance_cyber10.htm

A SET amp with a USB DAC built in

Better yet, Scott found it quite decent

Not everyone's cup of tea perhaps but it certainly suggests that some people are looking at the market with fresh eyes
wdrazek OP
100 posts
 
Hello. Is there anybody out there? 2007 Album sales down 15%. Down in every category. Downloads up 45%.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119941157827866649.html?mod=mm_media_marketing_hs_left
kthomas
911 posts
 
I'm with you Wdrazek - I read the music sales statistics in USA Today this week. I don't get it either - it seems plain as day that things like CD transports are dead, and should be deader than dead. It amazes me that any CD player is produced today without a digital input, much less a USB port and a thumb-drive input. Whether a computer / thumb-drive is the absolute last word in audiophiledom or not isn't the point, even though my guess is that they match any transport mechanism ever produced.

I do feel like we'll get there, slowly but surely. I'm sure there are commercial issues that are cumbersome. But for anybody who has boxes and cables strewn all over the place, the notion of not being able to consolidate / minimize space and reduce cables in this day and age just seems unacceptable, especially when accompanied by the constant woe-is-me din of declining sales.
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