10 years (!) ago one of my friends asked me about my opinion because he thought about starting a High End Audio shop. And only with real good sounding components, some which really moved something (he had good knowledge and the money for it). I said, that he will fail when doing it. The customers today (Y2K) are no more the same from 1980, today you will only survive with a pocket calculator, people want review winners, will catch your time and will look in the internet where they can get it cheaper. But that was only my opinion so I asked a well known professional reviewer about the way to go with such products (he has 2 opinions, one for business and one for his own) and his final comment was "Syntax, when your buddy really cares for sound, he will fail"
He was right, all my good dealers are out of business, very sad... |
Good dealers. Really. I think the issue with high end shops is they refuse to engage the public with any creative energy. Almost NO effort is put into actual music (very interesting musicians are available to play at their shops...for promotion only in many cases, or they could charge a small cover), seminars for gear heads, promoting and sponsoring concerts...they simply don't do these things, they don't care...they're LAME. They cater to their small world of the already converted, whine when they lose a sale to the internet, and pretty much get back exactly what they put into it. A nearby VERY high end place doesn't use a computerized mailing list to let you know about the rare occasions when they actually have a gear rep coming around, and one of their sales dudes once expressed how he hates the "audio societies" members as they're too opinionated or something. They also are often utterly clueless about local shows featuring world class musicians. Don't care, don't know...and they will remain that way as that's how it's always been. |
Harry Pearson 2013: Ironically, I had sold the magazine to save it, from my ineptitude in business manipulations, to someone accomplished in such matters and someone whom I presumed I could trust to put the love of music ahead of the love of considerable profits. In return, I was to put out a first class magazine that continued to define the art of high fidelity.
I was told I would still be in complete editorial control. But I was not. I had been replaced by those who had turned my magazine into something I would not subscribe to....
The Absolute Sound was no longer what I had dreamed it would be: A magazine about the love of music and the highway to an appreciation of the real thing. But the highways, the audio equipment, had become more important then the real thing, and had become an end in themselves.
Understand I have nothing against TAS. But it no longer seems to adhere to the principles for which I founded it: Namely, to promote music as the goal of all audio equipment. The audio gear is a highway that can lead to the music, not an end in and of itself. I also have nothing against advertising per se, just against its use in exchange for favorable reviews. And one thing as controlling editor for TAS, I had always refused to do, was arrange swaps of reviews for advertising.
... we decided to go at it online, and named it HP Soundings. I knew I had the reputation, based on long-time credibility. I knew I had the right partner in Mr. Weiss. I knew we shared the same philosophy to carry it on; that of the love of music itself. I believed then, as now, that the music needed me, but not, perhaps, as much as the other way around.
Well, what can I say? Never read anything better and honest in the last 10 years. Kudos Harry |
Sad news indeed.
I think the main goal of audio magazines and websites is to
create product awareness.
But we need to hear to believe what they say. |
Dear Syntax: He was and is part of the AHEE and he really was " punished " for his owns rules that belonged to that AHEE " cancer ".
Certainly that is sad that the " company/enterprise " you started and where you worked so hard is the one that gave " thank's " to you that are the owner.
Those HP words said it his huge emotional disapoint with the people that in some ways he " formed/developed ".
Regards and enjoy the music,
R. |
