1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 1053112000

What's more important; sound or brand name?

I have had several people leave comments about my inability to hear things with my system because of quality of one or more of the parts. They seem to think it's not good enough to reproduce whatever sound is being discussed on that particular thread. The issue I have is I think my system is pretty good inspite of the fact that some of the componants might not be a popular enough name.

Many of the comments were based on my choice of speakers. I cannot describe how happy I am with the sound quality of the Sony SS M9 speakers inspite of the name on the grill cloth. Yes I have heard many other 'Hi-end' speakers over the years. Some have sounded better than the Sony's, most have not.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not whining because someone else doesn't like my gear as much as I do. I just wonder if people care more about the name on the product than the sound of the product.

If Sansui made a great product I would consider it inspite of the fact that I consider their stuff to be mostly junk. Maybe Sansui is a bad example since I prefer to buy American but you get the gist...

Any opinions? Have you noticed this happening?
nrchy
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
I am a true believer that the LABEL is what counts. As in clothing... Ya cut out a $1,000 dress label and stick it on a decent Goodwill special ($3.00) and you got a dress!!!
Same with audio equipment.I got me a Mercedes benz hood ornament duct taped to my amp. Impresses the H out of my friends. I got a Alienware bumper sticker on my cheapo comp. an' it looks like a gazillion bucks.
I got Krell medallions on my speaker grills, fools em' EVERY time. I ground off the "Sony" from mah SACD and glued on a magazine picture of President Bush!
Ah know you all think what's on the inside is what counts... but ah disagree!!! Superficiality is where it is at. Why my Stereo can't even play, but mah friends all cry, "Please, please can't we listen even fer' a minute?" And I SNEER, and say "You tin ears ain't got no love in your hearts for mah eQuipment, an I will NOt sully it's good name pandering to your decrepit ears!!! Begone!!!"
Then when I'h is alone, ah gets out mah Radio Shack table radio alarm clock an' CD player and ENJOY ENJOY ENJOY
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
Elizabeth, I think you have discovered the true meaning of life!
sean
6,229 posts
 
Either that, or she's gone off the deep end : ) Sean
>
psychicanimal
1,738 posts
 
What a bunch of hyppocrites! *****************************

How much flak have I gotten for defending the Absolute Power Cord and the modded Technics 1200?
trelja
3,215 posts
 
Just stand up to the barrage Psychicanimal, and hold your ground!

I personally heard of a group of "real" audiophiles(not us) getting together and listening to a bunch of powercords, and The Absolute Power Cord did quite well. Quite well. To the point of the consensus(not everyone) preferring it to at least one which cost was at least an order of magnitude higher.

Sound should always be the number one goal. For example, the Music Hall turntables sound a lot better than most people would believe, but there is zero wow factor/pride of ownership in them.

However, I can see factoring brand into the equation. For example, you know you are going to get great customer service from a certain brand, and that is important. Track record also comes into the equation. I knock off price for a company who hasn't proven itself.

So, I apologize for looking like I feel strongly both ways, but in the end, it's the sound!
More to discover