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Nature of the current used speaker market

What do you think of the current market for used speakers above the $6,000 price point?  It seems to me like the market is soft, really soft, since I keep seeing the same speakers posted for sale over and over again by the same seller.  And these are top flight speakers from solid manufacturers such as Focal, B&W, Rockport, Sonus Faber, etc.  Does this mean the number of audiophiles and audio enthusiasts is on the wane, or is there just a glut of used speakers for sale out there? 
mtrot
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
643 posts
 

Hi inna, you said

"Those people buy new, some of them are even audiophiles."

I don’t see these guys showing up at the HEA trade shows do you?

I might be way off target but I don’t see the market the way some here are describing it at all. Let me give an example.

2 years ago we were approached by a HEA rep who wanted to push our products (happens often nothin new). My first question was "where’s your website" he didn’t have one. Next I asked how much did he sale at his last show of another product he carried? He bragged $47,000.00. I come to find out that the company he was talking about sold zero $$$$ at that show. The hype projected in HEA right now is desperate at best.

here’s another example

Talked with a designer (well known) about his price increases over the last few years. We asked "is the product better" to which he answered "nope, I’m selling 1/10 the product I did a couple of years ago".

What I’m saying is, the market has changed and the people who did buy $$$,$$$.00 are not being fooled anymore. 5k for an amp folks could deal with, 10k they even bought into it. But when the price and size race took off, and when you only got a volume control, the fate was sealed. Millionaires are rich, they’re not stupid. They’re not buying into a C Class selling for $40,000.00 jumping over night to $400,000.00. Not happening with Mercedes and for sure isn’t happening with HEA once reality sets in. Reality is setting in.

Audiophiles are fine, HEA?, is in the middle of redefining itself.

mg

lhasaguy's avatar
lhasaguy
95 posts
 
I believe the quest for the “Best” sound has gotten to a point where the marginal cost versus the marginal gain from the next level up is rather small.

High quality sound can be achieved today without being a millionaire.  That is especially true when factoring in the used market.

The market has split with far more home theaters being built than audiophile 2 channel systems.  I am a dinosaur and prefer great 2 channel sound.

I liken sound systems that cost the price of a house as analogous to the guy who buys a Million dollar car.  You are not buying transportation at that point, and the same is true for music.

my take is the companies making $80,000 speakers, amps, etc. will never make money on them in the long run, but having a “Flagship” product is more an exercise in advertising and also letting the engineers have some fun.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
643 posts
 

Audio eye candy and audio listening are two distinctly different hobbies and professions. It's easy to tell the difference. One looks like a showcase display and the other looks like electrical, mechanical and acoustical tools. The eye candy guy talks about audio systems in terms of dollars, the audio listener talks about audio in terms of tuning.

Typically the eye candy guy has never gone beyond component plug & play. They haven't quite got to the point where they use their system as a variable tool to play the music. The connection between "all recordings have a different code" and require a variable playback solution vs a set (fixed) one sound system has not been made a reality for them.

The HEA hobby started to make the next step but then stalled. That's when the audio listener departed from the scene. The internet has made it possible for a reconnect, but a lot of folks are still in that "fixed" mentality.

MG

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gdnrbob
2,421 posts
 
As someone whose profession (horticulture), has taken a beating over the past few decades(Namely, people who want their homes to be attractive and don’t care about price), I think the same can be said about high end Audio.
Like many things, it goes in cycles, and when the younger generations get older, their priorities change. So, instead of spending $2K at Jean George’s, they might just want their homes to reflect more of themselves.
Sure, it’s wishful thinking, but the sad part is I am probably not going to live long enough to see it happen. And, given the current state of our country, maybe I shouldn't get too worked up.
Bob
schubert
4,867 posts
 
Great post , Bob .At 80+ I have found that wisdom does come with age, but it knocks at the door and most do what they have always  done , refuse to open  the door .
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