Are we being hoodwinked?

[bigfish786]

Hearing a component does not qualify how it sounds. Put 10 wammers in a room and play them something, then ask them to describe how it sounds.

This deserves an explanation or am I missing something here? I thought that listening to something was pretty much the only way to qualify how it sounds!

 

[TIU]

This deserves an explanation or am I missing something here? I thought that listening to something was pretty much the only way to qualify how it sounds!

It depends on its location and other components. How many of us have home demos? Most of us buy blind, including me but I always read up a lot first.

 

[martinpix]

I believe you get what you pay for in general, however the higher you go the less difference it makes per £ . There is however a lot of snobbery in HIFI and some companies charge 2x what other would simply because they can Linn being case and point they are decent but the engineering and sound is no better than other makes that are way cheaper, the LP12 for instance is a great turntable but ive owned a few turntables and my sme 15 / V combo blew my LP12 klimax se out of the water for much less money, however the Linn did look nicer. I guess companies will charge whatever people are willing to pay, and most of this comes down to snobby hifi dealers that push these makes that are high value and bigger markups.
I don't trust many Hifi dealers they are like car dealerships these days.

 

[TIU]

I believe you get what you pay for in general, however the higher you go the less difference it makes per £ . There is however a lot of snobbery in HIFI and some companies charge 2x what other would simply because they can Linn being case and point they are decent but the engineering and sound is no better than other makes that are way cheaper, the LP12 for instance is a great turntable but ive owned a few turntables and my sme 15 / V combo blew my LP12 klimax se out of the water for much less money, however the Linn did look nicer. I guess companies will charge whatever people are willing to pay, and most of this comes down to snobby hifi dealers that push these makes that are high value and bigger markups.
I don't trust many Hifi dealers they are like car dealerships these days.

Pride of ownership goes a long way. People become attracted to a brand and it can become an obsession (Hello Adam ).

 

[uzzy]

Hearing a component does not qualify how it sounds

Well that is the benchmark for me - I have to listen to a component to qualify how it sounds

 

[TIU]

So you're saying that in the case of an amplifier, it will sound exactly the same regardless of the source and the speakers and the room?

How many times has a wam show exhibitor said they cannot get their tried and tested system to sound as they expected?

 

[AngelIan]

Sometimes, price is a reflection of perception, not performance.

 

[uzzy]

Most of us buy blind, including me but I always read up a lot first.

Unless you know the person giving the good reviews and know you like what they like, reading a lot gets you nowhere.

My rule for buying blind is, only do it if you are getting it for a price you know that you can then move it on, if you do not like it, for little or no loss.

I am not so sure that most of us buy blind (I know for me it is a rarity and to date most of the stuff I have bought were at a good price and very few retained but moved on as they did not meet my demands. Last one was a Nord Class D amp which unfortunately did not live up to my expectations. I did not lose any money on it though so it was a worthwhile exercise.

 

[TIU]

Unless you know the person giving the good reviews and know you like what they like, reading a lot gets you nowhere.

Yes it does, it strains my eyes after a while.

But reading the views of many users, you can form an opinion. Not all reviews are fake or are you a conspiracy theorist. The whole country is actually run by secret people under a large mountain.

 

[uzzy]

But reading the views of many users, you can form an opinion

No you cannot form an opinion but what you do is make an assumption. I was once told to assume makes and ASS of U and ME.

We form a lot of assumptions based on media, from the news to articles etc, but the only way to ever know the facts is to do your own research.

With audio the facts are how does it sound and how well is it made and reliable will it be. The last two (make and reliable) we can form an oppinion rather than an assumption from reviews (assuming the reviewer has good technical know how) but on how it sounds, as I said unless you know the person reviewing likes the same stuff you can come unstuck.

Each to their own but the major point is when buying unheard is to make sure that you can re-coup your money if you do not like it and want to pass it on.

 

[Alister M]

Speak for yourself I'll have you know I'm perfectly normal I have a certificate from the asylum that says so ok

HAHAHA - I have a scan that shows I have a brain. Still doesn't work as I'd like it most of the time though!

 

[MVJ]

HAHAHA - I have a scan that shows I have a brain. Still doesn't work as I'd like it most of the time though!

Join the club Alister