ADM9RS or good British passive system?

[matthewpiano]

Ultimately a review is just another person's opinion. The only opinion that really matters when you buy equipment is your own. If it hasn't been reviewed, or only gets an average or even poor review but you enjoy it, who cares? This is why demonstration is so important.

 

[davedotco]

Ultimately a review is just another person's opinion. The only opinion that really matters when you buy equipment is your own. If it hasn't been reviewed, or only gets an average or even poor review but you enjoy it, who cares? This is why demonstration is so important.

My beef, such as it is, is that few shops at the budget end of the spectrum have the facilities to do a decent dem and fewer still are interested in doing so.

The bulk of the business is selling on the back of reviews and awards, one chain famously instigated its own awards, so that they could have even more 'Award Winning' products to sell, quite successful for a time too.

Sadly when proper demonstrations are done, and the customer hears, quite clearly, that the 5* product does not suit and a less well known/reviewed item is actually what he needs, the customer invariably says he is 'confused' and leaves without buying.

No, the simple answer is to (metaphorically) pat the customer on the head, tell him what a great choice he is making, what great reviews his choice of product has had and take the sale.

Money for old rope.

 

[matthewpiano]

Ultimately a review is just another person's opinion. The only opinion that really matters when you buy equipment is your own. If it hasn't been reviewed, or only gets an average or even poor review but you enjoy it, who cares? This is why demonstration is so important.

My beef, such as it is, is that few shops at the budget end of the spectrum have the facilities to do a decent dem and fewer still are interested in doing so.

The bulk of the business is selling on the back of reviews and awards, one chain famously instigated its own awards, so that they could have even more 'Award Winning' products to sell, quite successful for a time too.

Sadly when proper demonstrations are done, and the customer hears, quite clearly, that the 5* product does not suit and a less well known/reviewed item is actually what he needs, the customer invariably says he is 'confused' and leaves without buying.

No, the simple answer is to (metaphorically) pat the customer on the head, tell him what a great choice he is making, what great reviews his choice of product has had and take the sale.

Money for old rope.

Yes, I can totally identify with that. :help:

 

[Ajani]

I think a couple of very important points are being missed here.

WHF, the mainstream manufacturers and their dealers all work together on this. WHF need a steady stream of product and are embraced by the big manufacturers who have new and 'revised' (Mk2, SE, etc, etc) product to promote every month. The constant cycle of reviews and awards generates interest, from both customers and dealers alike, which pretty much drives the budget end of the market where product is sold largly on the back of reviews, awards and price.

The circle is squared by the publisher selling advertising space to the big manufacturers and their dealers, in business terms, a virtuous circle.

What might be more difficult to get is that more 'specialised' (or 'elitest', 'snobbish', insert your own term) manufacturers/distributers simply are not interested. They know that there products are different and are sold through dealers who simply have a different way of doing business, selling by demonstration rather than review and 'reputation'.

Brands like Creek, say, have a small product range and models may remain in production and largely unchanged for several years compared to the constant turnaround and new products from the mainstream companies. A good review for a Creek might generate a little interest but nothing like the constant exposure that the big brands get.

Sure they will take the odd review when they get it but that is not the focal point of their marketing, which is mostly focused through their dealers.

Good points. Though IMO they don't apply to Creek. Creek is not huge but is fairly well known and seems to cherry pick the mags it wants to review it products. I believe HiFi Choice has reviewed and given awards to all 3 versions of the Evolution Amp (1,2 & 50). Also Stereophile in the US always reviews Creek products (since at least one reviewer at that mag - Rob Reina loves creek amps and uses them in his reference system). So I think it's more a case that they fear not getting quite as much love in a WHF review.

 

[John Duncan]

I :heart: Creek, and would always consider them if I were buying a new amp. They are welcome to send me a 50A for evaluation...

 

[JamesMellor]

How much you are willing to suffer for the cause JD <S>

 

[spiny norman]

I :heart: Creek, and would always consider them if I were buying a new amp. They are welcome to send me a 50A for evaluation...

Not blatant tarting or anything then, JD?

You'll be sorry when it's revealed that davedotco knows you too, and has anecdotes a-plenty, which he won't be at all shy about sharing with the room. ;-)

 

[davedotco]

I :heart: Creek, and would always consider them if I were buying a new amp. They are welcome to send me a 50A for evaluation...

Not blatant tarting or anything then, JD?

You'll be sorry when it's revealed that davedotco knows you too, and has anecdotes a-plenty, which he won't be at all shy about sharing with the room. ;-)

Morning Spiny.

What you really need to worry about is what secrets I can reveal about you........ :type:

 

[spiny norman]

What you really need to worry about is what secrets I can reveal about you........ :type:

You're right – I can type. Should I stay tuned for further revelations?

 

[BigH]

Some interesting points about Creek, yes they probably are not that bothered about WHF reviews, as said all there previous products got 3 or 4 stars and they had very good reviews in 2 other UK mags. They don't have many dealers in the UK and I believe most of their sales go abroad?

From readers point of view I would like see more variety than the same big brands.

 

[stevenjonas]

We seem to have departed away from the subject matter of this string? Is there an incentive for reviewers to downplay active speakers & promote passive systems by virtue of the limited number of active systems?

 

[Alec]

Yeah, I did have to pinch myself when it looked like people were discussing lending WHFS&V? (posessors of much audio gubbins, surely?) kit to use to compare the AVIs to. Has there been a robbery?

 

[altruistic.lemon]

Competition a lot fiercer now - Quad, Creek, Dynaudio, Nubert, Adam Audio etc. Back then, there was ATC, Linn, plus some other high end speakers which it wouldn't have been fair to compare as they were firmly up market.

 

[the record spot]

Yeah, I did have to pinch myself when it looked like people were discussing lending WHFS&V? (posessors of much audio gubbins, surely?) kit to use to compare the AVIs to. Has there been a robbery?

Must admit, I almost had to do the same. There's no end to some of this. Mirth inducing to say the least! Seriously, who gives a fig? :quest:

 

[fr0g]

Yeah, I did have to pinch myself when it looked like people were discussing lending WHFS&V? (posessors of much audio gubbins, surely?) kit to use to compare the AVIs to. Has there been a robbery?

Must admit, I almost had to do the same. There's no end to some of this. Mirth inducing to say the least! Seriously, who gives a fig? :quest:

 

[Covenanter]

Just to ask why it has to be a "British" passive system?

Chris

 

[Alec]

Yeah, I did have to pinch myself when it looked like people were discussing lending WHFS&V? (posessors of much audio gubbins, surely?) kit to use to compare the AVIs to. Has there been a robbery?

Must admit, I almost had to do the same. There's no end to some of this. Mirth inducing to say the least! Seriously, who gives a fig? :quest:

I can only assume that anyone who posts that picture gets the irony.

 

[fr0g]

Yeah, I did have to pinch myself when it looked like people were discussing lending WHFS&V? (posessors of much audio gubbins, surely?) kit to use to compare the AVIs to. Has there been a robbery?

Must admit, I almost had to do the same. There's no end to some of this. Mirth inducing to say the least! Seriously, who gives a fig? :quest:

I can only assume that anyone who posts that picture gets the irony.

It is the "reason" why people "give a fig".

 

[BigH]

Competition a lot fiercer now - Quad, Creek, Dynaudio, Nubert, Adam Audio etc. Back then, there was ATC, Linn, plus some other high end speakers which it wouldn't have been fair to compare as they were firmly up market.

Several others also like Kef and Epos and I gather AE are developing a new range.

 

[EvPa]

Several others also like Kef and Epos and I gather AE are developing a new range.

Epos and Creek (which altruistic.lemon was refering to) are one and the same.