This discussion's come up a few times in various contexts, and I thought it might be worth mulling over some. All theoretical of course, since there's no real way to obtain statistics, only to surmise.
Some folks say that devices like the SB (and other reasonably-priced, high-value, consumer-accessible audio devices) are hurting the audio industry, since they compare too favorably to high-cost alternatives. That, at least, is one of the competing perspectives. Personally, I believe the opposite to be the case. Making high-quality audio accessible to more people is sucking more people into the hobby, resulting in increased spending for supplemental componentry. We all know how addictive this is. How many of us stopped with adding a Squeezebox? My personal audio odyssey -started- (well, at least was re-started) by the Squeezebox and in general the digital music (MP3) revolution. About a year ago I literally gave away a pair of Linn speakers and dumpstered a Nak tape deck and Denon receiver. I hadn't been using them, they were too much to drag around, took up too much room, the Mrs. wanted them gone, asap. Out they went, victim to the convenience of computer-based audio with Klipsch powered speakers. Was the audio as good? No, of course not, but acceptable for the occassional background listening I was doing. Having recently invested a modest (very modest) amount of $ in a HTIB, I then came across the Squeezebox somewhere (thanks I think to our very own Mike Anderson who posts on another forum I hang at). I had to have one. A bunch of people working for me got together and bought me one for Christmas. Probably just to shut me up. Connected to my lowly HTIB, the SB3 along with my collection of CDs progressively being ripped to FLAC, sounded incredible. Way better than my old audiophile-ish setup. Way. I was hooked. If a system this inexpensive could sound this good, imagine how much better I could make it sound with some tweaks. And the - very - slippery slope of upgrades. Then I found Audiogon, this place, and a few others. 3am bouts of intensive research and I started, slowly, learning the ropes. The more I learned, the more I was exposed to audiophile systems, the more I yearned to become a member of the club. I was loving the sound of the SB, and I wanted MORE. There's the rub. The pivotal moment. Hi-end system manufacturers and publications take note. This is where the rubber meets the road for you, and if you miss this opportunity, be it for snobbery, lack of foresight, or status quo, there will be no-one to blame for your demise but yourselves. MORE translated in the purchase of a good set of speakers, a good set of stands, a good set of speaker cables, a good set of ICs, a good DAC, a power conditioner, and soon a good receiver. (Actually, I've gone through several of many of these, as most of us do). Ultimately, probably, a good pre and amp, maybe a room correction system. Eventually, a dedicated listening room. The modest Squeezebox has resulted in my expenditure of just shy of $7000 I NEVER WOULD HAVE OTHERWISE SPENT on audiophile equipment. So, hi-end people, next time you want to overlook the little giant killer, I'd suggest you look at him as the best friend the giants ever had. He may just end up being the medicine that keeps the giants alive and kickin. -- joncourage ------------------------------------------------------------------------ joncourage's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2837 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=27742 _______________________________________________ audiophiles mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/lists/listinfo/audiophiles
