By Juan C. Ayllon We've gained quite a reputation for vivid imaginations, unsubstantiated claims, puffery, and outright chicanery in the audiophile world -- and some of it is well-deserved. As a sometime writer who went from covering boxing to hi-fi, the similarities are sometimes uncanny. Like many boxers I've met, there are a lot of decent, hard-working designers and businessmen in audio just trying to get ahead; however, as with the slimy handlers, managers and promoters who infiltrate and give pugilism a black eye, there are those in audio who lie, cheat and fleece its denizens to turn a profit. Some time ago, when I was considering upgrading my speakers, I spoke to an audio manufacturer whom I'd known for several years. He proceeded to pitch me on a returned pair that he manufactured. Unlike some in the industry, he didn't come across like a used car salesman; he does good work and has a good reputation. Nevertheless, he claimed that these rivaled the performance of well regarded reference speakers selling in the upper five figures, that they had over $4,000 in costs alone, but since they were trade-ins on a more expensive set in his lineup, he'd be willing to sell me for $2,500. Moreover, he assured me, their performance absolutely trounced mine. Wow! That sounded amazing to me.
The only problem was, I had seen and heard them previously at AXPONA (Audio Expo North America) and although they were good, I didn't recall being bowled over Then, with a little online research, I discovered that just several years earlier they retailed for just under $4K. What? So, in that short span, his Cost of Goods Sold rose to his sales price? Right. Then in an audio forum, one poster really caught my attention: its author offered that while they sounded very nice, but the markup for their decent, but not spectacular cabinets (which surely a carpenter could make for several hundred dollars), the internal wiring, capacitors and relatively inexpensive drivers was excessive and obscene. That was disappointing but, sadly, not the first time I've been lied to in this pastime. Granted, in a competitive niche market like home audio, you have to be creative to survive and compete. But the fabrications, downright lies and deception sometimes get to me. I am reminded of a common, turn of the century publicist storyline: after chopping down trees, a boxer in training rescues a drowning maiden while jogging past a nearby lake at 6:00 AM. Things really haven't changed that much. A speaker builder who burst onto the scene several years back with his colossal burnished wood monstrosities pushing six figures spoke of leaving a very lucrative business to pursue his dream of making the end-all system, that he turned down an international movie star's offer to buy them at the Expo because he didn't feel the love; they would sit unappreciated amongst the trophies in this celebrity's mansion (I heard later from an insider that the rejected party was actually an elderly couple who offered him $50K for his whole setup). His "babies" deserved better than that. "Speakers are just boxes that move air," a successful audio/video store proprietor told me in his office several years ago. "That's all they are. Tell me, would you rather spend $300 thousand on an insane set of speakers or a top of the line Ferrari?" When I mentioned that the speakers were hand-built using choice components, he said, "So is the Ferrari," adding that the Italian sports car is infinitely better engineered and more complicated than the speakers. Decrying spiraling costs of high end audio, a friend underscored the point. "Do you honestly think a hundred thousand dollar set of speakers cost anywhere near that much to make? It's not even close!" Things had indeed gotten out of hand since the 80s and 90s, he groused. Disillusioned, he's simplified his system, spends less time obsessing over audio and listens to a pair of Klipsch Cornwall IIIs when he's not focused on his computer business. "Do they have their limitations," he asked. "Of course they do! But, they sound musical and, bottom line, I'm enjoying the music." Outside, I hear the faint sound of a cawing bird and the rumbling of a garbage truck making its rounds. Sitting here drinking my last cup of coffee in my makeshift home office before my workday starts, I'm thinking that times are hard and I'm thankful for what I have. Surely by our very nature, us audio nerds are obsessive and prone to making rash purchases to feed our addiction. If you're a builder, reseller or retailer in the industry, go ahead. Build and promote quality products, differentiate and sell them, but please, please, don't take advantage, and do not lie to us. Make a profit, but don't fleece. It's not conscionable or nice, and while we're at home enjoying the music, at some point, you're going to have to live with your legacy -- or lack thereof. And, bottom line, us and our babies deserve better.
3 Comments
4/30/2020 07:50:13 am
Would like to have a discussion with you. I am the Brand Manager USA for Audiovector, NSM for Bel Canto and NSM for Antipodes Audio. I reside in PHL. Thanx.
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4/30/2020 12:37:54 pm
Hi Pedro,
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5/7/2020 04:21:39 pm
Nice article. Good writing. I disagree with the Ferrari comments. For one thing, the Ferrari will either break constantly or require to be maintained constantly. I Didn't buy one, years ago, for just that reason the estimated cost per mile driven was mind-boggling! Speakers are certainly nothing but air movers, but so is a fan. The difference is in the outcome. Reproducing music accurately is difficult and expensive, and requires far more than just good speakers. It takes not only a great entire system, but also a great room and a great recording -- all together, fully as difficult to engineer and produce as the Ferrari, and vastly more reliable and long-lasting.
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Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
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