Due to difficult financial and other challenges to life over the last few years I have been away from my favorite of passions. Even though it has been about 5 years I find the comfort (a little sarcastic) in the fact that the argument is exactly same. Nothing has changed in the argument of equipment is too expensive or the tried and true you can't hear the difference. I was reading an article here and the discussion was about needing an organization but among the difficulties was the fact of divisiveness. Really!! When things are very bad for the audio community?
I live in the Houston area, the 4th largest city and there is little to no high end retailers. Try to find a Conrad Johnson in the city or even the state, it's almost impossible and this is true for most high end gear. How can they sell anything if you can't listen to it?
A major part of the problem is the manufacturers themselves and the lack of dealer support. Requiring huge investments for each brand and without dealers no one can "Hear the difference." When I was young I went to an audio dealer, I couldn't afford any of the gear. I didn't need an appointment to listen and the salesmen were more than happy to show me the possibilities of audio reproduction. This exposure started me on my quest for great sound and it is still with me. But where do young people go today, to the non existent shop or to the elitist snob fest of many shops today.
I can't believe that the industry has gotten worse but it has.
Due to difficult financial and other challenges to life over the last few years I have been away from my favorite of passions. Even though it has been about 5 years I find the comfort (a little sarcastic) in the fact that the argument is exactly same. Nothing has changed in the argument of equipment is too expensive or the tried and true you can't hear the difference. I was reading an article here and the discussion was about needing an organization but among the difficulties was the fact of divisiveness. Really!! When things are very bad for the audio community?
I live in the Houston area, the 4th largest city and there is little to no high end retailers. Try to find a Conrad Johnson in the city or even the state, it's almost impossible and this is true for most high end gear. How can they sell anything if you can't listen to it?
A major part of the problem is the manufacturers themselves and the lack of dealer support. Requiring huge investments for each brand and without dealers no one can "Hear the difference." When I was young I went to an audio dealer, I couldn't afford any of the gear. I didn't need an appointment to listen and the salesmen were more than happy to show me the possibilities of audio reproduction. This exposure started me on my quest for great sound and it is still with me. But where do young people go today, to the non existent shop or to the elitist snob fest of many shops today.
I can't believe that the industry has gotten worse but it has.