Are you buying now because you anticipate higher prices?

[Mort]

Rythmik published post-tariff prices recently after a long break. The F12 se went up about $300 to $1600.

 

[PristineSound]

Rythmik published post-tariff prices recently after a long break. The F12 se went up about $300 to $1600.

That really sucks. That is a big increase.

 

[teched58]

TL; DR The Fosi P4 Preamp was $80 before the "T" word that shan't be mentioned. Now it's $100. That's a 25% price increase.

Well, I wanted to order a Fosi P4 preamp yesterday, based on @amirm review, which is posted here. It was $80 when the review was posted two months ago.

But now, due to the word that shall not be mentioned (because it will upset some of the people who've quit this forum), it is now both harder to obtain -- presumably supply chain issues -- and more expensive. Walmart has it for $120. Amazon "lists" it for $110 but is selling it at a "discount" for $100.

So, we're talking about a minimum 25% price increase. The Fosi P4 is a super Chinesium value at $80. At a $100, it's still not bad, but I just can't bring myself to pull the trigger, cause it sticks in my craw.

 

[PristineSound]

TL; DR The Fosi P4 Preamp was $80 before the "T" word that shan't be mentioned. Now it's $100. That's a 25% price increase.

Based on economists, and as evident from the COVID inflation, unfortunately this price will not come back down to $80 from hereon. Unless there is a Japan like "Lost Decade" deflation.

So at this point just consider this the new normal.

 

[amper42]

Soon new layoffs will begin due to lower consumption in the USA. It will take a while for the shock in the economy to adjust. The tariff impact will reduce choices available for products within all 50 states. And not just audio gear. Last week the Commerce Department announced 50% duties on steel and aluminum products would be expanded to cover home appliances including dishwashers, dryers and washing machines.

On the other side of the coin, prices for fresh vegetables and fruit will be climbing. The aggressive hunt for immigrants will cause food to go unpicked and significant areas not replanted. Social Security and Medicare will be dramatically underfunded quicker than expected due to immigrants no longer paying into these taxes.

The new path for America will be less about abundance and more about scarcity.

Johnny Carson's Carnac the Magnificent Prediction moment: ... new link released after post.

Medicare and Social Security go-broke dates pushed up due to rising health care costs, new SSA law

The go-broke dates for Medicare and Social Security 's trust funds have moved up as rising health care costs and new legislation affecting Social Security benefits have contributed to earlier projected depletion dates, according to an annual report released Wednesday. The go-broke date — or the...

www.yahoo.com

 

[Waxx]

And here in Europe there are a lot of price reductions from things from china. I bught a small mobile battery system at 1/2 th of the price of a few months ago. Asians don't sell that much anymore in the US so they dump the overstock at reduced prices in Europe (and probally elsewhere also) at the moment. That is convenient for us now.

 

[PristineSound]

And here in Europe there are a lot of price reductions from things from china. I bught a small mobile battery system at 1/2 th of the price of a few months ago. Asians don't sell that much anymore in the US so they dump the overstock at reduced prices in Europe (and probally elsewhere also) at the moment. That is convenient for us now.

Darnit, our loss is your gain.

 

[MoreWatts]

I finally broke down and bought that 2nd subwoofer, right when tariffs were announced. Even though it's from a USA-brand (HSU), I figured prices were gonna rise eventually.

I also bought a Wiim Ultra streamer/DAC/preamp during a recent Amazon 'Lightning Sale,' when it was $49-off the not-yet increased price.

These both made such a huge difference in my system, I really should have bought them long ago....

 

[teched58]

Based on economists, and as evident from the COVID inflation, unfortunately this price will not come back down to $80 from hereon. Unless there is a Japan like "Lost Decade" deflation.

So at this point just consider this the new normal.

But I was told
By the people who left
That the tariffs would be paid
By the commun-ests.

 

[Azrael]

Soon new layoffs will begin due to lower consumption in the USA. It will take a while for the shock in the economy to adjust. The tariff impact will reduce choices available for products within all 50 states. And not just audio gear. Last week the Commerce Department announced 50% duties on steel and aluminum products would be expanded to cover home appliances including dishwashers, dryers and washing machines.

On the other side of the coin, prices for fresh vegetables and fruit will be climbing. The aggressive hunt for immigrants will cause food to go unpicked and significant areas not replanted. Social Security and Medicare will be dramatically underfunded quicker than expected due to immigrants no longer paying into these taxes.

The new path for America will be less about abundance and more about scarcity.

My Like was not because I like the fact, but because it is described as I see it.

 

[xanalog]

My Like was not because I like the fact, but because it is described as I see it.

Is your reply like a Like-qualifier?
My Like to your post was because I simply like giving Likes.

 

[Chr1]

Damn, we're so diverse here y'all.

Don't actually do "likes" myself personally.
Not really sure why.
Most likely as I am lazy and/or otherwise deranged, and generally avoid social media, likes, all that weird modern stuff.

(Doing the internet in a caveman stylee.)

Re Buying stuff: I am a self confessed hoarder, with excess gear. Very proud that I haven't bought anything in. a while.

 

[norman bates]

Nothing new.

Seeing roughly a quick 25% price increase.

Looking at some big old klipsch.......

 

[Noske]

I've seen that 25% number appear at least a couple of times now. I thought there was a pause on tariffs from China for 90 days, or is that just the 145% rates?

Things move so quick with dates and rates and countries I can't seem to keep up from afar. I'm probably alone in this predicament.

I'm sure that there is a high level accurate summary somewhere - which is the latest version?

 

[Groove01]

Soon new layoffs will begin due to lower consumption in the USA. It will take a while for the shock in the economy to adjust. The tariff impact will reduce choices available for products within all 50 states. And not just audio gear. Last week the Commerce Department announced 50% duties on steel and aluminum products would be expanded to cover home appliances including dishwashers, dryers and washing machines.

On the other side of the coin, prices for fresh vegetables and fruit will be climbing. The aggressive hunt for immigrants will cause food to go unpicked and significant areas not replanted. Social Security and Medicare will be dramatically underfunded quicker than expected due to immigrants no longer paying into these taxes.

The new path for America will be less about abundance and more about scarcity.

Johnny Carson's Carnac the Magnificent Prediction moment: ... new link released after post.

Medicare and Social Security go-broke dates pushed up due to rising health care costs, new SSA law

The go-broke dates for Medicare and Social Security 's trust funds have moved up as rising health care costs and new legislation affecting Social Security benefits have contributed to earlier projected depletion dates, according to an annual report released Wednesday. The go-broke date — or the...

www.yahoo.com

Medicare and SS have been underfunded for decades due to people living much much longer.

It has to do with the age distribution of the population (paying in vs taking out), people living much longer, and our ability to effectively treat many illnesses and conditions. (Not because of immigrants are not paying taxes anymore)

 

[amper42]

Medicare and SS have been underfunded for decades due to people living much much longer.

It has to do with the age distribution of the population (paying in vs taking out), people living much longer, and our ability to effectively treat many illnesses and conditions. (Not because of immigrants are not paying taxes anymore)

Certainly when people live longer it makes a difference in Social Security solvency. However, you should understand 2% of total Social Security taxes were being paid by immigrant workers who have zero ability to collect a pension from those payments later in life. After mass deportations, you take away that 2% of PURE cash flow. The result is reduced program solvency.

Life expectancy has varied in the USA over the last few years with negative impacts from drug over doses and Covid. In fact, COVID continues to kill 1400 American's each month even in 2025.

 

[norman bates]

They don’t call it the “boomer remover” for nothing…..

We’re about to lose a 53 year old male to stage 4 cancer……..

25%, klipsch / McIntosh price jump on crutchfield. I saw a quick jump over a month ago on Advance Paris amplifiers also…..

 

[Groove01]

Certainly when people live longer it makes a difference in Social Security solvency. However, you should understand 2% of total Social Security taxes were being paid by immigrant workers who have zero ability to collect a pension from those payments later in life. After mass deportations, you take away that 2% of PURE cash flow. The result is reduced program solvency.

Life expectancy has varied in the USA over the last few years with negative impacts from drug over doses and Covid. In fact, COVID continues to kill 1400 American's each month even in 2025.

For purposes of discussion, assuming the 2% estimate is accurate.

There are an estimated 11M illegal immigrants in the U.S. Not taking into account what % of those ~11M are contributing to SS.

How would one go about, and how long would it take to physically and logistically identify, apprehended, and transport 11 - 12M people, (or even a number significant enough to materially impact the overall 2% contribution)? Roughly the equivalent of the entire population of Belgium, spread across a geographic area larger than all of western Europe. Maybe a decade or more? Requiring a fleet of hundreds (maybe thousands) of ships and airplanes, creation of staging cities capable of supporting tens or hundreds of thousands of people at a time. It would be the single largest effort of its kind in history - dwarfing any and all preparations for the invasion of Normandy (which was roughly 160k men and represents the largest effort of its kind to date)

In other words, it’s headline fodder and not going to happen, it’s logistically untenable.

The fact SS and Medicare are underfunded is pretty well agreed upon in most circles (rational ones anyway - lol). There are a myriad of reasons for this, of which the potential mass deportation of illegal immigrants is the least contributing factor.

Covid stats - now that’s a nuclear topic. No thanks - lol.

 

[JRowland]

Just did a headphone set up, surprisingly similar current pricing compared to the reviews done here in 2020 and 2022.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...ds/topping-l30-ii-review-headphone-amp.36027/ paid same

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...topping-d10s-usb-dac-and-bridge-review.14859/ paid $10 more

Tariffs ended up having zero effect on my life so far, the TRN Black Pearl I ordered right after they "went into effect" didn't cost any more and got delivered without any additional fees. Maybe I'm just lucky, or it was all a big to do about nothing.

 

[PristineSound]

The current tariff rate for amplifiers and preamps from China is 55%.