Why Luxury Goods & Audio are strange bedfellow's

[dedobot]

Perhaps a slightly larger house on more land, a $4000 bed/mattress (if that), a different older vehicle (maybe as new as 2017 but probably in the 1979-86 range) than the 2004 truck that I drive, have my current 25 year old audio gear refurbished and a new set of speakers (KEF BLADE 2 META), a better Jon Boat than the one I have.
Those things would set me for life. No need for anything in my life considered luxury for the sake of LUXURY.

I choose Patek not about luxury but cause watches of this level are exceptional piece of engineering and human craftsmanship . Also its value will go only UP with years.

 

[mhardy6647]

Häst is Swedish for horse - alludes to the original use of horse-hair/mane in their mattresses.

They sort of alluded to that (and implied that horse hair is still an ingredient) -- but I must say I didn't know that. Thanks!
Heck, the old homes in this part of the US (New England) have horse hair mixed into the plaster used on the walls.

I choose Patek not about luxury but cause watches of this level are exceptional piece of engineering and human craftsmanship . Also its value will go only UP with years.

For better or worse, I'd posit that the same statement could be made with equal validity for some pieces of boutique audio gimcrack. At least your first sentence.

As for the second sentence -- well, I don't use vintage Altec (and JBL) components in my loudspeakers just because I like the way they sound (though I do like them, very much). So far, their value (as assessed by street price) is only rising. Probably less risky than buying AI company (or Nvidia) stock as an investment vehicle.

 

[EJ3]

I choose Patek not about luxury but cause watches of this level are exceptional piece of engineering and human craftsmanship . Also its value will go only UP with years.

I haven't ever seen one but know the name.
The things that I buy are generally for the reasons of craftmanship & utility. Usually (but not always, I own an ancient, hand made Coo Koo clock), I don't buy things that do not have some utility to me personally.
In my lifestyle, there is not much need for a watch (but I do enjoy fine craftsmanship, machining, etc for both its exquisite form and function). I understand.
The cars that I have, even though most of them are older, only go up in value, also.
Something like this: Ford only ever built 18 Crown Victoria Cobra's (the only 18 Crown Vics that ever came from the factory with manual transmissions due to a special order that they had from Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and they were mostly built by hand. Buy for $24,000, enjoy for 10 years, sell. If there were only 18 built in 1999 & no others, how many are left now & how many will be left in 10 years? The value will only go up.

1999 Ford Crown Victoria Cobra Vic​

$23,995
or

$186/MO
Apply
Now
Stock4064-PHX
Engine Size4.6L Modular DOHC V8
Transmission5 Speed Manual
Miles59,413 (Actual)

 

[Ron Texas]

There is a lot of subjectivity in the luxury goods market. Cheap quartz watches keep better time than expensive mechanical watches. Maybe the audio equivalent of this comparison is a Hypex or Purifi Class D amplifier vs. an expensive Class AB amplifier with a heavy linear power supply and beautiful CNC'ed heat sinks. One could discuss these issues forever (and it has been going on forever). In the end it's personal choice, the ability to pay and whether one gets enjoyment out of it. A great audio system will be great no matter what it costs. I suppose one has to spend more to fill large spaces, if you have a large space.

There is also ritual. With watches it's setting them. Vinyl playback has its handling ritual. I still love the mirror clunk of my DSLR even though mirrorless cameras have some new tricks and their lenses (wide angles and super zooms mainly) measure better. A great photo is still a great photo.

 

[Petrushka]

There is a lot of subjectivity in the luxury goods market. Cheap quartz watches keep better time than expensive mechanical watches. Maybe the audio equivalent of this comparison is a Hypex or Purifi Class D amplifier vs. an expensive Class AB amplifier with a heavy linear power supply and beautiful CNC'ed heat sinks. One could discuss these issues forever (and it has been going on forever). In the end it's personal choice, the ability to pay and whether one gets enjoyment out of it. A great audio system will be great no matter what it costs. I suppose one has to spend more to fill large spaces, if you have a large space.

There is also ritual. With watches it's setting them. Vinyl playback has its handling ritual. I still love the mirror clunk of my DSLR even though mirrorless cameras have some new tricks and their lenses (wide angles and super zooms mainly) measure better. A great photo is still a great photo.

The worst photo is the one you couldn’t take because you didn’t have a camera handy. Which is why a good phone camera is better for everyday family and vacation photography than a bag of Nikons or Canons. (I’m sitting next to a bag of Canons, which have been around the world and have been unused for several years.)

I think my listening style is in line with the majority of people. Background music on most of the time. I seldom sit and listen attentively. I’m a bit hyperkinetic. I hate sitting still for anything. Don’t like concerts. Or movie theaters. Most people are not as hyper as me, but they don’t listen critically.

If a system is full range with low distortion, it’s good enough. The only part of a music system that remains expensive and elusive is good bass. You can get smooth mids and highs for a few hundred dollars if you buy used. No more than a few thousand if you are picky.

 

[Mark1]

I realized a long time ago that I could drive Fords* and retire at a reasonable age, or drive nice cars and have to work 'til I die.
I retired at 56. We live pretty comfortably; hardly extravagantly, though.
I think I made the prudent choice.


_________________
* at the time I realized this, we were both driving Fo

speaking of bedfellows -- your basic $56k (USD) mattress.

Beds - Adjustable, Continental & Frame Beds | Hästens

Hästens beds are handcrafted from natural materials so you can sleep better. Supportive, comfortable and breathable.

hastens.com

Apparently they really are the sine qua non, per the NYT's "Wirecutter".

I Wish This $56,000 Mattress Weren’t So Incredible.

Our mattress expert spent six months sleeping on a mattress that costs nearly $56,000. The experience made her wonder: How much is our sleep worth?

www.nytimes.com

Apparently the NYT doesn't bother to edit or proofread their published content any more -- my brain sloshed around violently when I saw "None have" in the snippet quoted above! It should of course, read None has...

Full disclosure, we bought a new mattress a year or so back based on rave reviews from Wirecutter. It cost something like 30-fold less than the one above, though.

EDIT: PS I am sure there'a at least a $10k premium for that umlaut in the company name!
On the other hand, IKEA must have a mattress called Søft or Bėd or Flüffi or something like that.

Perhaps a slightly larger house on more land, a $4000 bed/mattress (if that), a different older vehicle (maybe as new as 2017 but probably in the 1979-86 range) than the 2004 truck that I drive, have my current 25 year old audio gear refurbished and a new set of speakers (KEF BLADE 2 META), a better Jon Boat than the one I have.
Those things would set me for life. No need for anything in my life considered luxury for the sake of LUXURY.

Speaking of mattresses, I never gotten a very comfortable coil spring mattress since they went to single sided. I've been through 3 of them and none are as comfortable as my last Sealy double sided. That mattress was perfect.

Even if I had unlimited money to burn, I'd probably still buy just a top of the line Yamaha receiver, maybe a component super tuner and integrated amp at most. I'd get really good speakers but probably not more than a few thousand dollar ones.
.
For cars despite being sort of a car guy I'd like to have just one or two some kind of vintage sports car along the lines of a 1991 Acura NSX, or 90 300zx or Camaro. (I'm not much a foreign car guy but I liked those two) and maybe another motorcycle.

 

[mhardy6647]

Even if I had unlimited money to burn, I'd probably still buy just a top of the line Yamaha receiver, maybe a component super tuner and integrated amp at most. I'd get really good speakers but probably not more than a few thousand dollar ones.

I... ahem... went a slightly different route.



Not exactly Veblen goods.

 

[Mark1]

I... ahem... went a slightly different route.



Not exactly Veblen goods.

Yeah you either spent a lot on tuners and receivers or shopped well . I'd like to have one really good super tuner or receiver. You wouldn't happen to have something like an Onkyo T-9090 or Kenwood KT 990D you like to let go ?

 

[mhardy6647]

Don't have either, although, as tuners go, they're pushing into luxury goods territory -- you know, to keep on topic.

 

[Sokel]

The most luxury,luxurious items I have seen in my eyes will never be displayed in public,I mean ever.
Be it houses,cars (yes,cars kept in garages) or audio or even pets (yes,there are pets that costs hundreds of thousands) .

What's most visible is probably the wannabe luxurious or as I say it the affordable luxurious.

There's a point that any buy (and I mean ANY) has a completely different use than the intended,what the designer (or the artist) meant.
Don't try to understand luxury by the ordinary terms.

 

[Mark1]

Don't have either, although, as tuners go, they're pushing into luxury goods territory -- you know, to ,keep on topic.

I consider a good working super tuner a luxury item. They're no longer made and rare, some sought after models command a good price, might need a realignment/tune up or rebuilt by a specialist, and being old who knows how long it might last before needing repaired or replaced. I bet you have some good tuners, you could maybe mention in the FM thread .

 

[Ron Texas]

The worst photo is the one you couldn’t take because you didn’t have a camera handy. Which is why a good phone camera is better for everyday family and vacation photography than a bag of Nikons or Canons. (I’m sitting next to a bag of Canons, which have been around the world and have been unused for several years.)

I have my big Nikon with me nearly all of the time when on vacation. I also use my iPhone. Recent high end mobile phones take very good pictures, but my Nikon blows them away, so that's why I make the effort. Of course, whatever you want to do is up to you.

 

[JeffS7444]

I realized a long time ago that I could drive Fords* and retire at a reasonable age, or drive nice cars and have to work 'til I die.
I retired at 56. We live pretty comfortably; hardly extravagantly, though.
I think I made the prudent choice.

 

[HaveMeterWillTravel]

I realized a long time ago that I could drive Fords* and retire at a reasonable age, or drive nice cars and have to work 'til I die.
I retired at 56. We live pretty comfortably; hardly extravagantly, though.
I think I made the prudent choice.


_________________
* at the time I realized this, we were both driving Fords.

I would love a Ford GT40, except I don't fit in it very well.

 

[JeffS7444]

I choose Patek not about luxury but cause watches of this level are exceptional piece of engineering and human craftsmanship . Also its value will go only UP with years.

I don't know about Patek resale value, liquidity and transaction costs, but this chiming timepiece from Christopher Ward sold for around 1% the price (3000 USD), and that feat surely required some engineering. And while I don't know whether it's value will appreciate over time, you'd have 297,000 left over to invest in something that does

 

[mhardy6647]

I would love a Ford GT40, except I don't fit in it very well.

... and I'll never know if I would fit in one or not!

 

[EJ3]

I would love a Ford GT40, except I don't fit in it very well.

(2022) Holman Moody is Building The LAST Original Ford GT40 MKII Chassis In The World! (Insane History)​

 

[dedobot]

I don't know about Patek resale value, liquidity and transaction costs, but this chiming timepiece from Christopher Ward sold for around 1% the price (3000 USD), and that feat surely required some engineering. And while I don't know whether it's value will appreciate over time, you'd have 297,000 left over to invest in something that does

The main difference is CW and most brands use third party movements, not in house developed. Sometimes even "high end" watch makers do it too in theirs the entry level models .

 

[AdrianusG]

I... ahem... went a slightly different route.



Not exactly Veblen goods.

I'm starting to get a bit jealous here, I absolutely love Yamaha HiFi from that period.

 

[AdrianusG]

I'm starting to get a bit jealous here, I absolutely love Yamaha HiFi from that period.

BTW, is it all still working?, it looks awesome