Is there any other kind?Another pointless cable measurement/discussion?
Is there any other kind?Another pointless cable measurement/discussion?
You know, I’m really getting tired of these pompously cynical comments. Amir put effort into this review, and I both learned something from it and enjoyed the discussion. Other than showing your disdain for Amir and us plebes, what are you contributing that’s so fascinating? Have you showed your support for ASR by donating funds or effort? Have you submitted anything for review if you think this is so pointless? Or is your fund of knowledge absolute after a year on here? Seriously, manners.Another pointless cable measurement/discussion?
David, rather presumptuous.
I only have a couple of friends who have good stereo systems and if we ever discuss anything it is usually what vinyl we’ve bought recently. We have only very rarely discussed equipment and I can’t remember ever discussing cables.
The vast majority of the customers of dealers I’ve spoken to never look at forums, they buy audio to listen to music, not for bragging rights.
They buy those cars for the doors.Well there’s a study with n=1 refuting his argument, with you and your group of friends representing the audiophile set at large.
I don’t know what rarified world you live in, but I’ve visited many wealthy homes where I live with the glowing McIntosh stacks displayed prominently in the media rooms and you better believe that TOTL cables are part of the package—and nobody even listens to them. I think you’re forgetting the self-satisfaction ostentatious folks feel simply knowing that they plopped down their platinum cards and bought the most expensive setup their salesperson chose for them.
But even with my anecdotes aside, have you ever spent some time on Head-Fi? Who needs friends when you can practice one-upmanship at any hour of the day in your virtual tribes? You can’t really believe that folks only shell out wads of cash for TOTL ultra-pricey brands just to listen to music—you simply cannot be that naive. That’s like saying that people only buy Lamborghini Countaches because they love to drive.
Admittedly I struggled a moment with the plural. I couldn’t afford a fourth of one. Is “Countaches” correct? Countachi? Countacheae?They buy those cars for the doors.
It is definitely him. It is part of my communication thread with the company.
No, I’ve never visited head-fi because I don‘t use headphones.Well there’s a study with n=1 refuting his argument, with you and your group of friends representing the audiophile set at large.
I don’t know what rarified world you live in, but I’ve visited many wealthy homes where I live with the glowing McIntosh stacks displayed prominently in their media rooms and you better believe that TOTL cables are part of the package—and nobody even listens to them. I think you’re forgetting the self-satisfaction ostentatious folks feel simply knowing that they plopped down their platinum cards and bought the most expensive setup their salesperson could choose for them.
But even with my anecdotes aside, have you ever spent some time on Head-Fi? Who needs friends when you can practice one-upmanship at any hour of the day in your virtual tribes? You can’t really believe that folks only shell out wads of cash for TOTL ultra-pricey brands just to listen to music—you simply cannot be that naive. That’s like saying that people only buy Lamborghini Countaches because they love to drive.
David, rather presumptuous. I’ll happily admit I use what you call luxury audio gear, although I don’t think “luxury” describes a handful of nondescript boxes sitting in a cupboard. I personally use a long £15 fibre optic, $10 Blue Jeans CAT6a and a £5 usb cable. Analogue are a basic Jelco DIN cable and 4m speaker cables that were a p/x a fraction of this Iconoclast cable.
This is a bit London/Southern England-centric. Where I live you can still buy a house for £100K. Average UK house price is currently £277K as of February this year https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/housepriceindex/february2022No, I’ve never visited head-fi because I don‘t use headphones.
DSJR said “nobody” and the few people I know with static audio systems are not in the least ostentatious, quite normal because in the UK it’s quite rude to boast about money or wealth or even mention it. Property here is expensive, $2m or $3m is nothing special, a first small apartment for $800k is common, so if someone had a Mackintosh audio system it wouldn’t even register from a financial perspective.
DJSR referred specifically to KJ WestOne, which is a Central London dealer. It’s not exactly unique, there is an equally high end dealer called Audio Lounge a 5 minute walk away.This is a bit London/Southern England-centric. Where I live you can still buy a house for £100K. Average UK house price is currently £277K as of February this year https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/inflationandpriceindices/bulletins/housepriceindex/february2022
But otherwise I agree, if someone wants to impress others with their wealth an expensive hi-fi system is not the way to do it. Most of their friends will have no idea what it is or how much it cost and those who do know will likely already have an expensive system themselves and so consider it to be no big deal.
You're a customer, I was a dealer and knew the mentality of a lot of UK High End clients, all following the mantra of matching expensive wires to go with the gear (Ab Sounds portfolio as well as now mad priced Linn and Naim). My old pal worked at KJ in its current Russian owned form for years until recently, so please don't think I know nothing of that business (I was at New Cavendish St too for a short while when the previous owners took over, so do know the layout and 'mentality' of the place generally ). As for the KJ premises, they needed a bloody good total refit downstairs and up as it had become a bit of an untidy rabbit warren down there.. As far as I knew, their beer-budget gear level started with Quad and Harbeth and went up from there. If they have good accounts with some wholesalers, they may well be able to get Q Acoustics and other lower cost electronics brands, but that really isn't part of their business model.David, rather presumptuous. I’ll happily admit I use what you call luxury audio gear, although I don’t think “luxury” describes a handful of nondescript boxes sitting in a cupboard. I personally use a long £15 fibre optic, $10 Blue Jeans CAT6a and a £5 usb cable. Analogue are a basic Jelco DIN cable and 4m speaker cables that were a p/x a fraction of this Iconoclast cable.
I only have a couple of friends who have good stereo systems and if we ever discuss anything it is usually what vinyl we’ve bought recently. We have only very rarely discussed equipment and I can’t remember ever discussing cables.
The reality in the UK and EU at least is that most high end audio is still sold through dealers, due to geography and commercial laws that do not have a parallel in the USA. The vast majority of the customers of dealers I’ve spoken to never look at forums, they buy audio to listen to music, not for bragging rights.
Also very presumptuous. The business changed ownership about 12 years ago following a catastrophic flood and needed major rebuilding. It was recently refurbished, taking advantage of Covid closure, and was done by someone in the business, who is an interior designer. It is pretty typical for the area.
Moreover, being primarily a retail business, their website does not include everything they sell, far from it, whatever your budget they will accommodate you, and they sell plenty of stuff cheaper than things recommended here, including budget cables. Whether you are spending £500 or £1,000,000, you get the same level of service.
Even though I read a few online forums, my audio has always been purchased retail and not based on reviews or what anyone says online. I’m glad I don’t know anyone who wants to show me their audio cables.
I was also a professional advisor in relation to the business under the previous management, so knew all about its finances and business model. More I cannot say. I am also a customer, first purchase was in 1980, most recent 2 months ago. I bought a Naim Qb2 there, £750, not exactly high end.You're a customer, I was a dealer and knew the mentality of a lot of UK High End clients, all following the mantra of matching expensive wires to go with the gear (Ab Sounds portfolio as well as now mad priced Linn and Naim). My old pal worked at KJ in its current Russian owned form for years until recently, so please don't think I know nothing of that business (I was at New Cavendish St too for a short while when the previous owners took over, so do know the layout and 'mentality' of the place generally As for the KJ premises, they needed a bloody good total refit downstairs and up as it had become a bit of an untidy rabbit warren down there.. As far as I knew, their beer-budget gear level started with Quad and Harbeth and went up from there. If they have good accounts with some wholesalers, they may well be able to get Q Acoustics and other lower cost electronics brands, but that really isn't part of their business model.
I once drove from London to Central Sheffield in an XR2i in 90 minutes. Nowadays that would get me locked up.Got to quickly add that when I used to travel up and down the M1 motorway from our London base to the home counties store, I'd often see Porsches and Ferrari's all travelling at *exactly* the speed limit in the inside lane quite often, as being a bit 'naughty' with their speeds would be immediately picked up by the police patrols, often in unmarked cars. All the reps in their current flavour of the month tin box would zoom past them doing well over the limit.. My thought was 'Why own such a vehicle when you can't safely or legally use its performance advantages?' I didn't understand the answer 'Because I can!' back then
Got to quickly add that when I used to travel up and down the M1 motorway from our London base to the home counties store, I'd often see Porsches and Ferrari's all travelling at *exactly* the speed limit in the inside lane quite often, as being a bit 'naughty' with their speeds would be immediately picked up by the police patrols, often in unmarked cars. All the reps in their current flavour of the month tin box would zoom past them doing well over the limit.. My thought was 'Why own such a vehicle when you can't safely or legally use its performance advantages?' I didn't understand the answer 'Because I can!' back then