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I think you are wrong on both counts

Hi-

1. NAGRA builds their stuff in Switzerland, and they seem to have amps and preamps that cost half what darTZeel's do. And, Tenor amplifiers, which are made in Canada, cost a lot more. In both the cases of Tenor and darTZeel, I have heard qualities I frankly haven't heard elsewhere. If people have that kind of money, God bless them and I wish them well, and I am sure they will enjoy the units.

Someone could claim that every dollar of difference between a Subaru WRX and a Porsche 911 is a ripoff. In such cases, I don't bother trying to explain.

I actually think that the largest factor is darTZeel's cost here is the weak US dollar; the amp debuted at $12,000 and is now $20,000.

Have you actually ever heard any dartZeel stuff? If not, fundamental fairness might suggest that you start such postings by admitting so.

2. Please look up and read my Fifth Element Stereophile coverage of Meridian's Ferrari-branded F80 boom box. I flat out said that it was not the best way for a music lover to spend $3000 on their sole serious stereo. What more would you want?

High-performance audio is a luxury good. Many buying decisions are made on taste and personal judgment calls. I am one who happens to think that all of Egglestonworks' Ivys, KEF's Muons, Wilson's Alexandrias, and JM Lab's Grande Utopia Be are fairly priced, given the hugely inefficient marketplace for such items, and the crushing diseconomies of scale involved.

You can post a lot of verbiage, but, I'd appreciate being pointed in the direction of commercially-released recordings that have been reviewed by non-fanboys and which you recorded or produced. Or where your conservatory degree came from. Or some real accomplishments in music or audio, not just spraying opinions. I for one think it would be pretty funny if you went up to Bob Ludwig and told him he was a fool for owning loudspeakers that cost $100,000 a pair.

I don't think Bob is a fool, and as a journalist for an enthusiast magazine, I think from time to time it is my job to explain why I believe that.

At the same time, I have spent almost two years covering budget systems, which hasn't seemed to change the perceptions of those whose shibboleth is that Stereophile is in thrall to advertisers who make hyper-expensive stuff.

By the way, have you ever seen a darTZeel ad in Sterophile? I sure haven't.

JM

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