|
General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
|
|
|
General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
|
In Reply to: Was high-end audio ever a big audience? posted by Budrew on May 23, 2008 at 16:12:10:
My educated guess is that for every guy who could drop a bankroll on a Thorens/Shure/Marantz/AR system for $2000 1966 dollars, there were hundreds who bought Eico, Heathkit, Knight, or Lafayette. My first component stereo system, from Lafayette, IIRC cost $179 for two speakers, integrated amp, Garrard TT and a Shure cartridge.
And for every person who wanted components, there must have been many who were happy with all-in-ones, some of which, like Fisher and KLH compact stereos, did not sound bad. But the $399 KLH system was sold by the same store that sold McIntosh.
The "High End," such as it ever was (read Ken Kessler's book) was a reaction to the marketing decisions of the former pathbreakers such as AR, Marantz, and Fisher, many of which had been acquired, to subordinate sound quality to specmanship and convenience.
But from circa 1954 (or 1948, if you go back to proto-McIntosh), through at least 1970, "hi-fi" was a term that was understood to mean something--exactly what, opinions differ. At the least, better fidelity than a table radio or a Mediterranean Walnut console.
In the August issue I write about at least one reason why those days are gone and not coming back.
JM
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- No, hi-fi was the large audience, if that - John Marks 05/23/0817:46:24 05/23/08 (2)
- RE: No, hi-fi was the large audience, if that - Todd Krieger 17:55:36 05/23/08 (1)
- Thanks - John Marks 09:35:13 05/24/08 (0)
Top of Page ]
[ Contact Us ]
[ Support/Wish List ]
[ Copyright © 2025, Audio Asylum, all rights reserved ]
