Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Eben X-3 loudspeakers - you know, for kids.
Post Subject: I never voted for the bastardPosted by Paul S on: 12/18/2006
As we have discussed, part of the problem is the co-dependency of "reviewers" and "manufacturers", so why expect sagacity from a "manufacturer"? In fact, even the traditional role of manufacturer is mutating into "specifier/marketer" of goods made more cheaply in 3rd world countries, so it comes to pass that the "principal" (or the principle, for that matter!) only exists in the denominational sense. Adorno would have a field day with this!
I think there are people out there who have a measure of understanding about what is going on with the hi-fi industry, at least at the level of consumer goods (which are, after all, about the only links most have with their aesthetics), but I think it's likely that even the majority of these people are sub-consciously still looking for "exotic" and/or "underground" editions of more or less the same old stuff. I know that this is no secret because of the financial success that any number of enterprises have had by pitching exactly to this quasi-underground "market". That there is good stuff out there, too, in no way mitigates the fact that the set-up itself is flawed to the extent that the good stuff inevitibly shares shelf space with junk, and both are hawked with equal intensity by their purveyors. If you've got the money, Honey, I've got the time.
Of people who actually do have some useable, promising ideas, how many times have we seen someone begin with such promise then gradually lapse into a proscribed orbit, not only in terms of "price point" offerings but also in terms of design desiderata, in the process losing not only the initial promise but generally also anything, really, that made or would make his "product" distinct in other than proscribed generic terms, AKA, "features"?
We must also face the fact that even a site such as this is constantly being monitored and evaluated in terms of specifc references, whether there is something more out there to copy, buy and/or plug in, never mind that you constantly warn against this specifically.
As lazy as I am, I just hope that your concept of "training" components to sound a certain way will somhow rub off on enough manufacturers, specifiers, or whomever that all I have to do is go online and click for speedy delivery.
But I won't be holding my breath,
and I never voted for the Bastard!
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site