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Illustrated History of High-End Audio

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Posted on July 13, 2014 at 16:07:55
ruxtonvet
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: maryland
Joined: September 25, 2004
 I find it interesting that this basic picture book of speakers is unavailable from Amazon and not available at any library as far as I know. Must one spend $140 to look at pictures of speakers for 15 minutes? Typical of all that is wrong with the economics of high end audio and TAS in particular.

 

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RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 13, 2014 at 18:45:02
sudz1234@yahoo.com
Audiophile

Posts: 2956
Joined: February 20, 2011
 The book is geared towards well healed audiophiles. It's not marketed to the average Joe.

 

Two things..., posted on July 13, 2014 at 21:50:42
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...first it is published by TAS who should know a lot about the history of high end.

Second, from the cover it looks like a coffee table book with a lot of illustrations.

I have books like that of exotic cars, hot rods, from famous artists I like (Dali and Magritte) including the complete Time-Life series of books on art.

From the description it appears there is also some prose involved describing some of the products and the people who created them.

It might take you more than 15 minutes to get through ;-)

I don't know if it's typical of high end audio - Harley's educational book telling you about high end audio costs much less.

 

well said (nt) , posted on July 13, 2014 at 22:04:08
mbnx01
Audiophile

Posts: 7956
Location: Eagle, Idaho
Joined: October 22, 2004
 .









'A lie is halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on'. -Mark Twain

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 13, 2014 at 22:57:26
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8384
Joined: June 3, 2006
 15 minutes! I can keep looking at one big Tannoy Westminster for ever.

Cheers
Bill

 

I wish I had a coffee table :-) (nt)., posted on July 13, 2014 at 22:59:48
Sue Kraft
 nt

 

RE: I wish I had a coffee table :-) (nt)., posted on July 13, 2014 at 23:46:20
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 Any table you put your coffee on is a coffee table ;)

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 13, 2014 at 23:48:54
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

You can buy those Prestige on the second hand market for not too insane money - sound bloody good too. Then you don't need no stinkin books.

 

Must one whinge about the price of something you are not required to purchase? , posted on July 13, 2014 at 23:58:36
three_sox
 `

 

RE:yes: it's called principles (lack of) in publishing [n.t.a.], posted on July 14, 2014 at 04:24:33
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 .

 

Rubbish ... , posted on July 14, 2014 at 04:54:41
three_sox
 ... You want to regulate how, when & for how much somebody publishes something?

Yes/No?

 

If a book is big enough, you can use IT as a coffee table!, posted on July 14, 2014 at 05:26:59
John Marks
Manufacturer

Posts: 7799
Location: Peoples' Democratic Republic of R.I.
Joined: April 23, 2000




jm

 

RE: If a book is big enough, you can use IT as a coffee table!, posted on July 14, 2014 at 05:51:10
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 Sorry man this is the best coffee table book

 

I think the issue here is the perception the book wasn't aimed at the sensibilities of those whining..., posted on July 14, 2014 at 06:08:19
Steve O
Audiophile

Posts: 12360
Location: SE MI
Joined: September 6, 2001
 ...I don't recall too much whining about Mac's coffee table book which seems to have been broadly similar to the TAS piece.

 

RE: Rubbish ... who's talking regulation??..., posted on July 14, 2014 at 06:35:10
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 anyone has the right to JUDGE some product as being overpriced.

you, sir, are playing the part of Mr. Regulator: regulating evaluation and saying no one should evaluate a product on its price since they don't have to buy it. this attitude lets the producer of the product off the hook.

roger wang.

 

Dear me ... , posted on July 14, 2014 at 06:41:46
three_sox
 ... A person has a right not to buy the product.

The producer of the product has no obligation to price their product how you or anybody else wants them to.

If you deem the product too expensive then don't buy it.

What don't you understand?

 

LOL and just think those who spend the $140 will most likely...., posted on July 14, 2014 at 07:17:03
Goober58



keep it next to their toilet.

 

He has the right to whine about the cost of the book just like, posted on July 14, 2014 at 07:19:42
Goober58
 you've got a right to whine about him being a cry baby.

It's all good.

 

RE: Dear me ... missing the point, how do you do it?..., posted on July 14, 2014 at 07:56:12
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 look: i'll try to make it so simple someone from an english-speaking country can understand: suppose i am richer than the richest person known. suppose, furthermore, that price has no correlation to quality.

never mind. overpriced products are worthy of criticism even if the price has no relevance to the person criticizing [in the scenario above where i'm the richest person, where price has no personal relevance to me].

""what don't you understand?""
roger wang.

 

Have you seen the book?, posted on July 14, 2014 at 08:33:41
mkuller
Audiophile

Posts: 38130
Location: SF Bay Area
Joined: April 22, 2003
 ...how do you know if it's overpriced?

It may be underpriced.

Is work of art overpriced? It just hangs on the wall.

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 14, 2014 at 08:39:56
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 I am glad TAS printed a book such as this one.
Did anyone get copy #1 ?

 

Big??? Give me a Churchill any day!, posted on July 14, 2014 at 09:01:05
David S.
Audiophile

Posts: 3552
Location: Mountains of WNC
Joined: August 31, 2000
 Yeah, I thought the big V was kinda dorky looking, but sure loved the sound at HiFi 99 in the Manley Labs room!

 

RE: Have you seen the book?, posted on July 14, 2014 at 10:41:35
wangmr
Audiophile

Posts: 2410
Location: Downtown
Joined: November 29, 2012
 i appreciate you wanting to talk particulars and specifics, but that misses the ''general'' point: one has a right to see a product (or service) as being over-priced or over-valued. the original poster saw the book as costing too much - hardly a rarity in the publishing world.

as pointed out to three sox, relevance to my particular ability or desire to buy the fairly-priced or over-priced book MISSES THE POINT IN ENTIRETY. i hope you can better see the general point.

roger wang.

 

self proclaimed expert, posted on July 14, 2014 at 13:17:10
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15387
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 i ALWAYS follow the advice of THAT guy. you have hammered on the table so long it won't hold the book anymore.
...regards...tr

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 14, 2014 at 13:40:18
marlin
Audiophile

Posts: 154
Location: Sandy, Oregon
Joined: November 20, 2012
 I received the book as a gift and was thrilled to receive it.
It is not just "pretty pictures" as there is a lot of educational text also.
I have spent hours reading and looking and have a long way to go.
I consider myself a regular "Joe Audiophile" and am not rich by any means.
I enjoy my very modest system and take offense to the generalization of this book being only for the well heeled.
I look forward to future volumes and will be buying them as they come available.
It is a high quality book and I for one appreciate being able to own it.
Without music what is there?

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 14, 2014 at 14:04:48
Palustris
Audiophile

Posts: 2408
Location: Cape Cod
Joined: September 12, 2008
 Well said.

 

More convoluted nonsense ... , posted on July 14, 2014 at 17:47:00
three_sox
 I have humoured you long enough.

Remember, the Bored has asked you not to respond to my posts or make reference to me.

Be a good chap and move along.

Cheers.

 

Of course ... , posted on July 14, 2014 at 18:10:35
three_sox
 ... The difference is I am not maligning an entire industry in the process. Nor am I saying ruxtonvet is typical of all audiophiles.

Value is in eye of the beholder but presenting a book priced at pocket change as representing;

Typical of all that is wrong with the economics of high end audio and TAS in particular.


Is a ridiculously broad brush statement.

A quality, hard cover, well bound, heavy glossy paper, chronicled pictures and limited production coffee table book is hardly expensive at $140.

For those who don't see the value they can simply pass on the purchase without their enjoyment of the hobby being impinged upon whatsoever.

One could whinge about the price of tungsten decoupling cones/pucks costing over $1000 dollars each. With a minimum of three needed per component one could quickly spend tens of thousands of dollars very easily. Of course not buying the cones/pucks is hardly depriving anyone from enjoying their audio equipment and the music it plays.

Life is good, enjoy it.



 

Missing the point, posted on July 14, 2014 at 19:48:37
ruxtonvet
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: maryland
Joined: September 25, 2004
 My point was that by not allowing the book to be sold to libraries (if that is possible) where more people would have access to it and by restricting the sale so that discounters such as Amazon are not able to sell it they are demonstrating that they are primarily interest in money and not in educating the audio public. The price is secondary to the above although by placing such a high price they again are limiting it's distribution and the audio publics change to enjoy the book. To connect the dots this is analogous to the high end skewing it's sales and marketing to the 1% or less of the public that has the financial resources to buy their products even assuming they were interested in high end audio.

 

I suspect we all feel someone else is missing the point…., posted on July 14, 2014 at 20:13:02
three_sox
 ..G'day,

they are demonstrating that they are primarily interest in money and not in educating the audio public.


Leaving the issue of money aside, how do you conclude the authors/owners of; this basic picture book of speakers have any obligation whatsoever to educate anyone about anything?

I sincerely fail to see how one could believe the producers of an obscure picture book on audio speakers have any obligation to anyone, let alone an obligation to "educate" the audio public.

We all have different views, which is healthy.

Cheers.




 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 14, 2014 at 20:19:04
hahax@verizon.net
Audiophile

Posts: 4306
Location: New Jersey
Joined: March 22, 2006
 The primary purpose of business is to maximize profits. When the product is good and affordable that's often because the makers think that will bring the greatest amount of profit. By the way I wish the book were cheaper. I'd like to see it but I can't rationalize that much money. Maybe the leftovers will be dumped at B&N in a year.

 

We AA folk could start a fund to get you one..., posted on July 14, 2014 at 20:56:23
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31872
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 so long as you PROMISE not to use it in your listening room!


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Ha... one of the few shows..., posted on July 15, 2014 at 05:01:54
Jimmy C.
Audiophile

Posts: 661
Joined: March 21, 2001
 ...I can watch over and over :*)

 

I was hoping......, posted on July 15, 2014 at 09:00:33
Sue Kraft



.....the coffee table would be my stereo. I've never seen anything so cool.

 

I'm betting it's a good thing..., posted on July 15, 2014 at 09:18:54
1973shovel
Audiophile

Posts: 10117
Location: Greenville SC
Joined: February 25, 2007
 ...that the speakers are actually facing away from the listening seat.

Perhaps Amar Bose was inspired by this coffee table.

 

RE: Missing the point, posted on July 15, 2014 at 10:14:33
rlindsa
Audiophile

Posts: 7265
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Joined: October 5, 2004
 Amazon is in a dispute with several publishers over pricing of books.

Just because you can't find a copy in a library, you can't assume the publisher is preventing sales to libraries (I'm doubtful they even can). Libraries don't buy every book - they buy those they think the communities they serve will be most interested in.

And yes, I suspect TAS IS more interested in making money that they are in educating the audio public.

If some "high-end" manufactures are "skewing" their prices to "the 1%", I suspect that is because that is what they believe will maximize profits.

rlindsa

 

Obligation, posted on July 15, 2014 at 10:34:26
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 You are the only person to raise the question of "obligation" in this thread.


Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 15, 2014 at 10:35:52
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 "The primary purpose of business is to maximize profits."

Who says? Why should anyone believe them?

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

It naturally follows ... , posted on July 15, 2014 at 18:49:10
three_sox
 ... Given the language used in this thread it seems some folks feel entitled other folks should meet their needs. I don't believe other folks are at all obliged or obligated to meet this individual arbitrary need.

Of course, as always, YMMV.

Edit; On reflection, used above, the words, want(s), instead of the words, need(s), probably conveys my point better.

 

RE:What library these days can afford to buy Coffee table, posted on July 15, 2014 at 19:17:23
mcbuddah
Audiophile

Posts: 384
Location: Wisconsin
Joined: June 8, 2012
 books to lend?
Everything is going to the dogs

 

RE: I wish I had a coffee table :-) (nt)., posted on July 15, 2014 at 19:42:42
Tony Lauck
Audiophile

Posts: 13629
Location: Vermont
Joined: November 12, 2007
 Any table you put your coffee on is a coffee table even if it is a stool. :-)

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar

 

Qualifier on above main post, posted on July 17, 2014 at 07:53:11
ruxtonvet
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Location: maryland
Joined: September 25, 2004
 If you go into Google and post Illustrated HIstory of HIgh End Audio and You Tube you will find two videos of Robert Harley explaining the effort and expense that went into producing this book. I suspect I was too harsh on Mr. Harley in my post although the basic points I was trying to make are still worth considering. The videos also show many pictures of what is actually in the book

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 20, 2014 at 15:14:03
skinzy
Audiophile

Posts: 62
Location: East Tennessee
Joined: February 13, 2003
 It will be on Amazon at some point. It will be a simple business decision to maximize profit once the initial “snob” appeal is gone and sales slow.

"A pound of perspiration is equal to an ounce of inspiration"

 

Money maker?, posted on July 20, 2014 at 16:51:43
Bill Way
Audiophile

Posts: 1884
Location: Toms River NJ
Joined: May 28, 2012
Contributor
  Since: December 14, 2012
 The notion that the $130 book is a "money maker" is, I think, probably off the mark. TAS has an average circulation of 40,000. Let's say 5% of TAS readers buy the book, and an equal number of non-subscribers buy it, both of which sound unlikely to me. That would give them a total run of 4,000 copies. The cost of doing a small production run of a high-quality book with color plates is daunting. If someone asked me to invest in that project as a money-maker, I'd turn them down cold, even if the thing was already written, edited, proofed, photographed, and laid up.

Art books over $1,000 *do* sell, and the publishers claim to make money on them - see link. Still, the high quality book market is a niche, and the high quality audio book market is a niche of a niche. It's tough.

But I'm glad they did it, and if I had cash lying around I'd probably get it, as I've been in audio, high end and otherwise, for decades, and met a number of the leading characters. And $130 isn't that much for this kind of book; Rizzoli and other "high end" bookshops sell many volumes in the $200-500 range, and enough in the $1,000+ range to keep stocking them. Even lowly Folio Society books, which are nicely printed and in slipcovers, run $45-70 a copy *unillustrated* and they have comparatively big production runs. For fun, check out their limited edition page, with their $12,500 "Les Grandes Heures de Jean." Copies are apparently still available, but hurry.

It's all a matter of what your passions are, and what resources you have to indulge them. Then there is extravagance for extravagance's sake, a.k.a. conspicuous consumption. We need that (think blue meters) as it helps fund the development and production of the gear we like.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.

 

RE: Illustrated History of High-End Audio, posted on July 22, 2014 at 21:20:17
Arvind Kohli
Reviewer

Posts: 609
Joined: January 23, 2002
 The culling of a herd usually begins with the least apt.

 

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