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Digital, Low Mass, ClassD, Less expensive, Let it happen!

Well here we are! Not that you can't go back and buy boat anchors, but now we know sound is better with low mass designs. Digital source? Yep, the tide has turned. ClassD amplification is also here to stay. Lower mass speakers, on their way back too. The audiophile hobby is getting less expensive and better sounding.

I guess we can debate this, but it's happening anyway. The hobby is simply growing up and becoming more aware of how to get great sound, and get it smart. There has been a lot of myths passed down when we only had paperback magazines, mostly for marketing, but the internet has finally caught up with audio reality. Instead of $20,000.00 components we have $20,000.00 whole systems (including all the trimming). Shoot, there are $5,000.00 systems that excel. The Trade Shows are changing, the market is changing and we are changing. Want to stay old school? No problem, there will always be old school and plenty of used gear (at least for our lifetimes). There will also be smaller niche companies that spring up to tempt us.

The hobby is entering a new era for the extreme listener. It will be a hobby of doing and exploring Electrical, Mechanical and Acoustical as equals. Components will be much smaller and more flexible, and more time will be spent on playing our whole music collection, and not just a few recordings. Many HEA debates will be making their way to the archives as the hobby grows closer to mainstream. Mainstream as in higher quality audiophile mainstream.

Are you ready? I sure am!

Michael Green


http://www.michaelgreenaudio.net/

128x128michaelgreenaudio

Showing 8 responses by erik_squires

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Let's not forget headphones and desktop systems.

I'd venture to say more headphone high end systems are being sold than living room stereo.

Best,
E
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
It appears that Parts Express alone is selling more amplifiers than most of HEA amp sells combined here in the US.

Hey @michaelgreenaudio
Where do you see data to suggest this?

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
What’s HEA?

@geoffkait,

High End Audio

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Also the sky is falling, the aliens are coming and the world is ending soon so now is the time to repent!


Trust ClearThink to misrepresent an entire thread.

No one is saying this either. I think what we are saying is that we've been in a bubble, and it's time for a correction. Those of us who like music and the gear to reproduce it would like the market to suffer a gentle correction instead of a sudden implosion.


Rather than saying it is the end of HEA, I'm saying it is time for HEA to address the median enthusiast more consistently.


Best,

E
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Trust me though when I say HEA is in free fall.



I believe you. I just got off the phone with a secret source who makes speakers, and his sources are saying the same thing.

I’m just wondering how specific a number you are getting from Parts Express and the HEA land.

It feels like we are in the same sort of market as SUVs were in before the gas price crisis (2009?). Gas prices shot up, the market for SUVs crashed, and several big name car makers went into free-fall.

For HEA to survive, it needs a new paradigm, a new, more inclusive world that takes into account the flat or lowered buying power of the median worker, rising rent and health care costs. That’s our new economic reality.

We need more commuter vehicles to excite us, not exotic vehicles attainable only by a shrinking number of listeners.

I remember some one threw some shade at me by saying "I don’t see you spending a lot of money." Guilty! I am not going to. I also think I’m the best example of the middle class enthusiast. That is, I’m well read, informed, make above median income, and I’m worried about money, and not about to shell out megabucks, period, and I’m sure not going to shell out money to impress my (non-existent) friends.

Thrill me, dammit! I’m waiting to be thrilled.

Best,

E

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
but a 3K faceplate doesn't cut it for me anymore. For those that want the jewelry go knock yourself out. If I can beat a $3500 headphone amp for under $500 then that leaves me 3K for other things.



Hahahahah! Well said.


My plan is to spend all my money on women and stereos, then squander the rest.


Best,
E

erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
I'm going to say that class D is pretty much for those who just don't know better.

That is the most contrived list of supporting evidence I've ever heard!! Hahahahahah.

I'm going to go with my ears instead, thank you for playing.
erik_squires
5,268 posts
 
Contrived? Do you know what that word means? That

Caught me, I guess my vocabulary isn't nearly as good as your cherry picking of data to suite a particular view.

I think we don't realize how many more devices can play music today than in the past. Telephones, laptops, televisions. Above probably 10 watts, I'd be willing to guess that the majority of devices the average consumer listens to music with are Class D, and 99% of that from a digital source.
If we want to talk about HEA as a club, of which some people may be allowed to enter and others not, then sure, let's define it as linear amplifiers only club.

I'd rather talk about where most music listeners and lovers are going though, and Class D is going to be it for many of them.
Best,

E


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