by Michael

The economy should be good for audio retailers…

… and here’s why: with lower gasoline prices, lower shipping prices, lower food prices, and maybe even lower import prices, it will be like $7K extra in the bank and the audio gear they buy with it will be cheaper. With commodities tanking, audio will be cheaper to make which is good for the manufacturers.

Here are the details [ aka guestimates]. An average family with 2.5 cars drives 30K miles per year, say. Gas prices will return from $4 to the $2/gallon or so they were before the current administration. At 15 miles per gallon that is a savings of $4K. an average family of 4 spends, say, $15K per year on food. If food goes back to, say, 20% cheaper then that is another $3K in savings annually. Expect shipping, plane tickets, everything gas related to go down 30%.

Assuming people still have jobs…. this will be very positive for people not heavily invested in the stock market [and who aren’t shorting this market. Next time the powers-that-be start shouting DEPRESSION! remind me to short everything in sight. I presume THEY are.].

So, chin up, maties, our hobby isn’t down and out yet. In fact, it may just have gotten a boost. Though it might take awhile for people get over the shock and awe on the news channels and realize their good fortune.

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / News 0 comments
 by Michael

6moons' Milan 2008 Show Report

We really enjoyed Srajan’s quite extensive coverage of the Milan show:

Milan Hi-Fi Show Report 2008

Lots of great photos and photoshopping. But mostly just enjoy the feeling of peering into the rooms at another show, with enough narration that one feels there is someone with us on the journey.

Sure, it’d be nice to hear how things SOUNDED at the show. But that is not really Srajan’s modus operandi.

I do like it that Srajan does not appear to be an ‘Industry First’ [audiophiles last] robot like so many other reviewers. You know, ‘My Industry Right or Wrong’? Sure, there is the desire to ‘Do no harm’ [to the industry]. But sometimes you got to break the arm to reset it correctly.

Now. About those comments on the Audio Note U.K. room 🙂

They actually threw a cloth over the furniture? OMG. People should consider themselves to have received a special honor from Team Audio Note. They have never, that I can remember, draped cloths over any furniture here in the U.S. What are we? Barbarians? 😉

Neli thought they should bring in a really nice piece of heavy Italian furniture to put the components on. Something striking. And heavy enough that, even without platforms with vibration control technology, there is something that is not vibrating like a violin string under the components. Of course, locating and installing this antique would be more the responsibility of the local importer than Audio Note….

in High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo / Show Reports 0 comments