|
|
Post by jandl100 on Apr 20, 2017 18:57:50 GMT
A phone call with a Mystery Person connected with hifi fora a few weeks ago raised the issue.
He/she felt that hifi forums were indeed bad for the industry.
I let the remark pass so I don't know their reasoning, but I stored the thought away and it has popped back into my head as a result of some posts in the TAS classified section.
Hifi forums are superb at providing an easy way to sell and buy used items.
Back in the days before the internet, Exchange & Mart and then the classifieds in hifi mags were the main way to operate the used kit market.
Both methods took a month or two from thinking about selling an item to the ad actually appearing.
I'm sure folks bought a lot more new kit in those days - I know I did.
It is so much easier these days to sell/buy used. And I feel that a lot more folk buy a lot more gear used and less that is new from dealers. I know I do.
So - for the above and perhaps other reasons - are hifi forums bad for the hifi industry?
|
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Apr 20, 2017 19:39:10 GMT
eBay must surely sell more hifi than all the forums together so forums can only be part of the reason but magazines were the way we did things, probably Exhange and Mart too.
The hifi industry like many others has to move into today and forget yesterday
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 19:46:04 GMT
The reason is no more bamboozling from salespersons to get a profit, now advise from those who have tried the kit in the real world and told the world on a forum or three.
And let face it most of the new kit is not made in the UK or USA but from cheap crap from China it may last a couple of years but I have amps out there made in the UK forty years ago and still working.
This chuck it in the bin world when duff because it is cheap will kill the planet and design and build skills dead.
By British made and designed with proper parts not cheap copies of parts. OK it cost more and you may have to live with it for 30yrs or so, but the grand kids will love it.
For example I have in mint condition and the original leather case with P.O. on it AVO made in 1968 and it is still working and not digital so no batteries needed (unless you want ohms).
|
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Apr 20, 2017 19:56:43 GMT
There were always ways of buying used, not just Exchange & Mart but all the listings at the back of hi-fi magazines, too. Forums have made the sharing of information better and do hang out to dry those manufacturers (like Naim discussed in another thread) and dealers who short-change enthusiasts.
I would include American in Colin's plea to buy British. Often much better made and sometimes better supported, a lot of it lasts for many decades. And don't forget the high end Japanese products of the past, many never designed for export markets but highly cherishable.
Are forums bad for the hi-fi industry? Only the bad ones!
P.S. I could have walked away from my service engineer job with an AVOmeter and kick myself for not doing so. I do have a nice Tektronix 'scope, though.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 20:06:07 GMT
I think Forums expose the bullshit that surrounds parts of the industry. People are less likely to be taken in by high prices and salesmen. Of course as RD says they could all sell direct to the public and avoid all the flannel. I think this person feels threatened. Business has to change with the times and adapt to the internet not whinge and try to maintain the status quo. What is happening on Wigwam may be a pointer to how this pans out.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2017 20:22:57 GMT
There were always ways of buying used, not just Exchange & Mart but all the listings at the back of hi-fi magazines, too. Forums have made the sharing of information better and do hang out to dry those manufacturers (like Naim discussed in another thread) and dealers who short-change enthusiasts. I would include American in Colin's plea to buy British. Often much better made and sometimes better supported, a lot of it lasts for many decades. And don't forget the high end Japanese products of the past, many never designed for export markets but highly cherishable. Are forums bad for the hi-fi industry? Only the bad ones! P.S. I could have walked away from my service engineer job with an AVOmeter and kick myself for not doing so. I do have a nice Tektronix 'scope, though. Tektronix 'scope, me too a four beam 200MHz with rectum paralyser built in and also talks to the PC, god what about I wonder. I have five DVM and hate them all and a nice LCR bridge and Keithly DVM,Sig Gen 4 off, my own LISN a 5KW sig gen 10Hz - 1KHz at max 400VRMS mm nice for killing digital lies. IR Camera, lots of other odd bits , I think I may sell them all soon and go to a island mmm yes bye. |
|
|
|
Post by Mr Whippy on Apr 20, 2017 20:46:24 GMT
Bad? Don't know. I do know there used to be 5 shops in Newcastle city centre that sold hi-fi plus Comet and Laskys, plus a number of secondhand shops that always had loads of gear in.
The position now? There's Richer Sounds and a Cash Converters. Some years ago there was one remaining secondhand, as far as I know, but no sight of any hi-fi. Lintone Audio nearby in Gateshead is still going. Haven't been in for years. They used to have a good selection of secondhand items. Now it goes through ebay. Don't know how that works if you go in and see something and want to buy it. I suppose you just have to bid for it.
The world is a different place now. The interest in hi-fi simply isn't what it was decades ago, for various reasons. Simple as that really.
|
|
|
|
Post by John on Apr 21, 2017 4:44:18 GMT
I think its part of life now, buisness has to adapt to a ever changing market.
A few companies seem to benefit quite a lot from good forum feedback so can be a good thing too.
With regards to shops rents have had a big impact as well as eBay
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 6:49:27 GMT
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 8:57:32 GMT
Of course Audio Partnership are far from unique in this respect. A number of UK brands have UK design and far east manufacture or have a UK run development operation in China. At least with Cambridge sold through Richer Sounds customers get a value for money benefit. What I object to is hi-end priced equipment being made off shore to enhance an already substantial profit margin. I do wonder if it is still worth it logistically if not financially given the fall in the pound. |
|
|
|
Post by davidf on Apr 23, 2017 20:58:39 GMT
The main issue is that there are a lot of people repeating what they've read on forums. That's fine as long as the source is reliable and interpretation is correct. Too many people post bollox on forums, and too many just repeat it because they've been taken in by it. Added to this is the individual's interpretation of what the source has said, so sometimes it's not even like the source has posted anything malicious or negative - but the carriers of that information can skew the meaning because they haven't fully understood what they've read. I have a list of what I think is wrong with the industry, but it'd do me no favours to make it public!  |
|
|
|
Post by Mr Whippy on Apr 23, 2017 21:02:37 GMT
Oh, go on...
|
|
|
|
Post by davidf on Apr 23, 2017 21:05:28 GMT
Ohhhhh no, not touching that one with a barge pole |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 25, 2017 13:53:22 GMT
No I would say that Forums are good for the industry. They help you have a wider experience as a lot of Hifi stores have to bulk sell certain brands so you get pushed to buy them (Linn, Naim etc.).
Additionally, it is nice to speak to like minded people that have experience hearing differences and can make recommendations. My only ever frustration is when someone argues about something without having heard for themselves, i.e. making assumptions based on experience or what not.
The Hifi world is littered with brands and people that think that just because it measures perfectly, it must be right, but I have heard a lot of systems (especially at shows) where the proprietor states the system reads blah blah blah but to my ears sounds horrid.
|
|
|
|
Post by davidf on Apr 26, 2017 7:43:21 GMT
After yesterday, I'm tempted! |
|
|
|
Post by MikeMusic on Apr 26, 2017 9:09:38 GMT
Same with all industries, the world even.
Too many wasters and not enough good people.
The hifi industry can take advantage of forums, just too bloody lazy to change tack
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2017 10:07:00 GMT
The hifi industry can take advantage of forums, just too bloody lazy to change tack Yep, think you are exactly right about this one. |
|
|
|
Post by MartinT on Apr 26, 2017 10:13:28 GMT
After yesterday, I'm tempted! Dish the dirt  |
|
|
|
Post by John on Apr 26, 2017 16:19:18 GMT
After yesterday, I'm tempted! I can resist everything except temptation Oscar Wilde |
|
|
|
Post by ChrisB on Apr 27, 2017 5:53:55 GMT
I think forums should be good for the hifi industry but unfortunately, some elements of it seem to use them in rather cynical and sometimes dishonest ways. This isn't helped by the way some forums, in varying degrees, see their membership as an asset to be marketed to the industry.
Not here at TAS. The desire to avoid the latter is one of the reasons why we exist.
Now turn the question on its head: In which ways is the hifi industry bad for hifi forums?
|
|
