A Strange Question

In my August column, page 43, just before I have a blast with the $400/pair Definitive Technology StudioMonitor 45 loudspeakers, I discuss a few letters I’ve recently received from readers, asking if I’m satisfied with reviewing “lower-end” gear.

Am I satisfied?

I explain that I’m very satisfied reviewing affordable gear. In my mind, “low-end” is synonymous with “low-quality.” And that’s not what “The Entry Level” is about. “The Entry Level” is about high-quality gear, high-quality experiences, sharing the love of music and the love of life with family and friends.

Why wouldn’t I be satisfied?

In the Forums, Glotz wonders if I’ll still be satisfied five years from now. If my answer sounds sort of heavy or humorless, it’s only because I’m trying to be clear, I do take things seriously, and I’m tired of the question. And, while my stomach has grown flabby and my guitars are quietly resting in my closet, I will never move to Brooklyn. Thank you.

COMMENTS
lunchmoney's picture

I like and appreciate you.

 

Thank you.

 

Spencer

Ariel Bitran's picture

we go hard.

Mortsnets's picture

I can't believe people are bugging you about reviewing affordable gear.  Reviewers of high price (even insanely priced) audio are a dime a dozen.   Reviewers who really try to uncover stuff that plays music in the bargain basement are as rare as budget tube preamps.  Keep up the good work!

As a lifelong audio budgeteer I love your column but don't love the name.  Maybe you should change "The Entry Level" to something that doesn't imply stepping stone or gateway to the real stuff.  You could have a contest for best name and give the winner something cool, but affordable.

Stephen Mejias's picture

I love the name of my column. I came up with it, and I don't intend to change it. If anything, I'd like to change the notion that affordable gear must necessarily represent low value or low performance.

One point of The Entry Level is to show that high-end gear doesn't necessarily have to be high-priced. The $320/pair Tannoy Mercury V1 loudspeakers that I review in September clearly deserve the "high end" label.

Another point of The Entry Level is to celebrate and document our entrances into the audio hobby.

Utopianemo's picture

I go for "The 99"

 

as in the 99%.  I'm not overly political but it fits.

Mortsnets's picture

because in the audio world I feel like we econophiles are the minority (sorta like budget yacht owners), but we should outnumber the rich "kids" 10 to 1!  Maybe we should occupy our local audio dealerships.

I must confess I just returned from the California Audio Show in Burlingame and lusted in my heart for speakers way over $1k (Tannoy, Audio Note and Audio Nirvana).  And although I loved the prices in the AudioEngine room it was hard to love the sound after what came before.  Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.  I will now do penance by listening to music from my laptop via Koss PortaPro headphones WITH NO USB DAC.

Mortsnets's picture

because in the audio world I feel like we econophiles are the minority (sorta like budget yacht owners), but we should outnumber the rich "kids" 10 to 1!  Maybe we should occupy our local audio dealerships.

I must confess I just returned from the California Audio Show in Burlingame and lusted in my heart for speakers way over $1k (Tannoy, Audio Note and Audio Nirvana).  And although I loved the prices in the AudioEngine room it was hard to love the sound after what came before.  Mea culpa, mea maxima culpa.  I will now do penance by listening to music from my laptop via Koss PortaPro headphones WITH NO USB DAC.

Mortsnets's picture

There was some impressive budget gear at CAS: Audioquest Firefly USB DAC, Oppo cd player in the BAAS room, Dared mini system.

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