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Snobbery in Hi-Fi. Why are people so stupid and turn their noses up at gear costing much less which is just as good?

BlueTunes said:
[to PristineSound] Oh no.
You pulled the "Troll" card.
It's the most disappointing and deflating card in the pack of internet cards.
It is the nuclear option to get mods to do your bidding (arguing) for you when you can't argue in good faith yourself.
I am disappointed.
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I agree. That was a low act and reflects entirely on the one who said it.
 
Westsounds said:
I don’t care if people want to waste their money on whatever. But we have a site here dedicated to measuring audio equipment to a standard, yet people are still compelled to spend way more than they need to. That is a social science phenomenon in itself.
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This site have standard in measurement, but does not cover everything. For example, reliability of the device is missing. Many blunders products from SMSL, Topping,... have great measurement here but fails on reliability. That is one area of why people want to spend more than the cheapest ASR-approved products. DAC from RME, amplifier from Benchmark for example have proven to be much more reliable and long-lasting, so it is understandable for people to purchase them, even though the price is much more higher.

Another point is that even with same functioning, reliability,... then there are many things can rightfully affect the purchasing, like color, finishing, style. Many people, including me, don't want to put speakers with black vinyl appearance in our living room because it does not fit with the decoration or vibe of the rooms. Other people have a comfortable and great looking room, and they want a pair of speakers or amplifiers that fit with their interior design. A class D with plastic or a poor-finished aluminum case or monkey-coffin speakers will possibly not fit to the room's aesthetic while the same class D amplifier in a well-finished aluminum case or a B&W 802D with impressive finishing is more of their liking. There are also people, who are a fan of scifi, will probably like the appearance and design of Chord DAC, D'Agostino Amplifier and Wilson's Chromasonic speaker. This kind of thing have nothing to do with science and of course there are nothing standard about it or ASR have nothing to do with it. This thing is people's tastes and they don't need you to judge about their spending.
 
tineared said:
I like booty. Let's go with that...
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BlueTunes said:
Bad advice and is actually a good indicator as to where the schism exists in this thread.

You buy a tool to suit the job. Period.

If it's a tool for a one off unicorn project which will only ever get used once and then spend the rest of it's life in the shed, you're an idiot for buying something expensive.

If it's a tool that will spend most of its time out of the shed, working a hard life, you're an idiot for buying cheap.

It's an important point.
If you always go for premier products regardless then you'll likely not buy the best tool for the job because you'll find a way to make do for the one-off.

If you always go cheap regardless then you'll be constantly at the tool store for replacements.

You are applying a black and white filter to what is a grey and fuzzy problem.
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Now this comment makes a person look in retrospect of everything they have purchased. Nice post!
 
PristineSound said:
So if I buy something that is 10x or 100x more than a "just as good" cheap stuff but I don't turn my nose up at the cheap stuff, is that OK with you?
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That's a good point. My inlaw just bought a Buckeye power amp (on my recommendation) - and I use McIntosh. Both have been tested (or a variation of them). The Buckeye here at ASR and McIntosh by Erin, ASR has tested McIntosh (non tube gear), Sound and Vision measured my amp and they all measure well. Now the cost between my McIntosh and his Buckeye ...mine cause about 4x's as much, but I have 4 more channels than his. Sonically there is no difference between the two. Visually there's a huge difference and cost wise. We both have excellent systems. Am I a snob for buying McIntosh? No I'm not - especially when I gave him the Buckeye recommendation. I know that he loves new - I'm a used market guy. I know he's not a fan of used - I buy used cars, he only buys new. Is he stupid for buying new? I'm going over to check out his system today, and I expect it to sound wonderful. He's aready heard mine and says he's heard nothing like it. Both of us have systems that WE enjoy. @PristineSound ...Good post!
 
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Westsounds said:
I can't get over this forum, it's as if you actually want gear to cost more than you need to spend.
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Sorry but who would need to tell me what I "need to spend"? I am a grown man with my own assets, not even my wife can do a thing about my spending - which is usually reasonable within means.
 
I got tagged by a message here, so came back to check, and to my surprise, this thread is still lingering on.

BlueTunes said:
It is the nuclear option to get mods to do your bidding (arguing) for you when you can't argue in good faith yourself.
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Newman said:
I agree. That was a low act and reflects entirely on the one who said it.
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What bidding exactly? If I have something to say to someone, I thoroughly enjoy saying it myself, why would I ask someone to take that satisfaction away from me?

A previous similar thread I started got shut down really quick because of people who are racing to the bottom of the barrel (like the OP and BlueTunes) got upset. Hence, I was certain that this thread will suffer the same fate, in addition to the circular incoherent logic.

prerich said:
That's a good point. My inlaw just bought a Buckeye power amp (on my recommendation) - and I use McIntosh. Both have been tested (or a variation of them). The Buckeye here at ASR and McIntosh by Erin, ASR has tested McIntosh (non tube gear), Sound and Vision measured my amp and they all measure well. Now the cost between my McIntosh and his Buckeye ...mine cause about 4x's as much, but I have 4 more channels than his. Sonically there is no difference between the two. Visually there's a huge difference and cost wise. We both have excellent systems. Am I a snob for buying McIntosh? No I'm not - especially when I gave him the Buckeye recommendation. I know that he loves new - I'm a used market guy. I know he's not a fan of used - I buy used cars, he only buys new. Is he stupid for buying new? I'm going over to check out his system today, and I expect it to sound wonderful. He's aready heard mine and says he's heard nothing like it. Both of us have systems that WE enjoy. @PristineSound ...Good post!
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According to some here, you are either a snob or stupid for doing so. But personally, I'm with you.

I am in a very different stage in my life compared to, say my 30's? If I am in a position to buy a $7 dollar "premium" Starbucks latte to enjoy the pleasure, I will do it. If I am in the position to not have to buy a high valued product like a Buckeye, then I won't. I wouldn't be losing sleep over it, whatsoever.

If someone can buy expensive things within their means even just to show off, all power to them. I don't hate, I appreciate and congratulate. My only advice is to live within one's means and understand that nearly almost all consumable products only depreciate; if you understand money, then you naturally wouldn't want to buy so many expensive goods.
 
ahofer said:
the concept itself is an analogy to luxury goods-that beliefs serve the same purpose, and a psychological description of that purpose.

That’s why it is called “Luxury Beliefs” and quotes Thorsten Veblen….also it is a free link, at least for me. I’m not a subscriber.

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I get it (in spades), but, as a northern New Englander (by choice!), lemme tell you, the value of being warm in the wintertime transcends the cost, labels notwithstanding! ;)

As a Norwegian friend once observed: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.
:eek: ;)



N.B. Those are good ol' Fahrenheit degrees. ;)
 
??? What's a Centigrade ?
 
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