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Art Dudley Calls B.S. but without naming names - PLEASE DO!

Hey all,

As someone who hasn't been reading the audiophile press for all that long, I stumbled upon this article that I'm sure it lit up these airwaves when it was first published: https://www.stereophile.com/content/skin-deep

It's a great article and one that any knowledgeable person would most likely agree with, but hey, spending your own hard-earned (or inherited) money is a right and a privilege.  Art does call out some brands that he perceives to give great value:  AMVR, VPL, Conrad-Johnson, DeVore and Harbeth and Kimber and Peachtree and Quicksilver and Rega and Rogue and Spendor and Wavelength.  Shouldn't NAD be on this list?  

But what he doesn't do and I think is warranted, is name the companies that are most egregious in selling high-end products where the performance is far below the cost.  

I, for one, would love to see a list of those manufacturers from the people who read this forum.  You can group them by what they manufacture or just put them in order as you see fit.  I think it would be most helpful in calling b.s. but with "added-value", which is what this whole article was all about.  Right?

128x128lgoler
bigkidz
1,784 posts
 
It is only expensive if it does not do what it is supposed to do which is Sound Better than what you own.  Yesterday a friend of mine called me to say he was comparing something and going back and forth to see what differences he heard.  I remember doing the same thing years ago.  Today I feel that when I put something new in my system that I should hear that difference immediately.  Building my own components now, that is what I want my customers to hear.  I want them within the first 30 seconds to say, I want it.  I tell them that if they have to go back and forth to hear a change for the better, send my stuff back.  BTW, that is what happens when they plug in my components.  I love the look of their faces.

So price can be justified is something does what it should do and the parts inside should be top shelf!  I also understand that there are bang-for-the-buck components that sound good but they should not compare to a higher priced unit that does what it should do. 

Happy Listening.   
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. A rich man has about as much chance of getting into Audio Nirvana as a 🐫 has of passing through the 👁 of a needle. 
roberjerman
2,086 posts
 
@mrdecibel : When I posted "So Mr.D, go for it!" I was referring to Dan Da'Agostino - not you! More power to him if he can sell these monuments to extravagant consumption!
kahlenz
168 posts
 
I wouldn't call out products that, in my opinion, are bad values.  That is far too subjective, and would likely be unfair to the manufacturers and distributers, and hurtful to those that own the equipment.  On the other hand, I fully endorse promoting products that I feel are good, or even great deals.  Further, I think it's within the scope of civil discourse to point out perceived flaws and disappointments in equipment one has had experience with, but not disparage the entire line with blanket negativity.  It takes years to build trust, but one flaming statement can ruin that overnight.
kahlenz
168 posts
 
Those D'Agostino mono blocks (which I am quite sure are great amps and well worth the investment to those that want them and can afford them) have nothing on my Stuart Hughes Nintendo Wii SUPREME!
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