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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: WHY is "high-end" so expensive -- and getting more so? posted by Feanor on September 27, 2013 at 05:56:17:
That is the question of the ages.
But I think the Middle classes, which typically had been the strength of high quality stereo gear, have been squeezed for outlays and stagnant to falling for incomes, at least in the developing world. (Transportation, Housing, Medical, Education costs over the last 30 years have gone nuts)
Also, there are far more things to spend on entertainment now vs 30 years ago - TV's are MUCH better than before and cheaper than ever per square inch of screen (CRT and Projection to the flat panels of today).
But also transportation costs, housing costs and costs of raising kids (such as college education) have all been spiraling upwards over the last 30 years. Not much cash left to splash out on "just a stereo" unless you are an enthusiast.
Aside from lots of mergers and acquisitions, the big boys concentrated on reaching the biggest number of customers with feature laden mediocre sound to go with the flat screens. Most of them really stopped investing in the "high quality sound, inexpensive price" realm.
So we have a proliferation of small companies, who, frankly, have to sell at a high price to stay in business (or as a small division in a large conglomerate - such as the Harman group - you have to have your P&L and ROI to keep up)
If Yamaha, Marantz, Sony, and Pioneer decided to make "ne plus ultra" receivers like they did in the 1970's and sell them to everyone and their brother for 10-20% margins as mass market ... there won't be too many boutique players left serving the middle class enthusiasts and our new complaint will be "lack of choice" - since the boutique players would have to go up the food chain further or perish.
Given the DSD downloads and the Pioneer forays into killer-deal speakers that don't suck - it is conceivable that the big boys might just want to come back. And a future of good quality affordable stereo is not completely a fantasy. Except it will have a mass market label, not a boutique one. Those guys would have to raise prices and performance and chase the rarefied air even more.
(But don't worry the SET and Horn crew will always be there)
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Follow Ups
- Why? Small operations, boutique production, small R&D budgets. - Bromo33333 09/27/1307:07:08 09/27/13 (10)
- RE: Why? Small operations, boutique production, small R&D budgets. - morricab 14:26:47 09/27/13 (3)
- RE: Why? Small operations, boutique production, small R&D budgets. - Utley1 16:05:29 09/27/13 (2)
- RE: Why? Small operations, boutique production, small R&D budgets. - morricab 12:29:15 09/28/13 (0)
- RE: Why? Small operations, boutique production, small R&D budgets. - Utley1 17:01:41 09/27/13 (0)
- Yes and No - Feanor 07:46:33 09/27/13 (5)
- Yeah, and that is why so many are failing -t - Sordidman 12:58:01 09/30/13 (0)
- Sure it does - Bromo33333 12:00:07 09/27/13 (2)
- I think you're missing the point - Feanor 04:38:33 09/28/13 (0)
- $10,000.00 for a pair of speakers with specs like this! - gtfsr 14:25:53 09/27/13 (0)
- Less units sold equal higher production costs - Kloss 09:00:59 09/27/13 (0)
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