Will high end audio survive Covid-19?

Been out of town?, posted on July 28, 2020 at 22:33:54
oldmkvi Audiophile Posts: 10583 Joined: April 12, 2002	It's as bad as it seems.

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on July 29, 2020 at 13:02:36
fstein Audiophile Posts: 2996 Location: fstein Joined: May 18, 2006	I look forward to the end of High End Audio. Overpriced bling

It's survived alcoholism, smoking and high cholesterol, so probably... N/T, posted on July 30, 2020 at 11:55:20
musetap Audiophile Posts: 31879 Location: San Francisco Joined: July 8, 2003 Contributor Since: January 28, 2004	a "Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure

LOL nt, posted on July 30, 2020 at 14:06:38
JoshT Audiophile Posts: 6622 Location: Eastern Massachusetts Joined: July 4, 2000	. ___ "If you are the owner of a new stereophonic system, this record will play with even more brilliant true-to-life fidelity. In short, you can purchase this record with no fear of its becoming obsolete in the future."

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on July 31, 2020 at 17:23:32

RGA
Reviewer

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

The rich, who can afford high end audio, are unaffected by recessions or depressions - the billionaires and most millionaires are making money hand over fist during this time.

Companies selling upper mid-fi or lower hi-fi may be hit hardest. Rich people don't buy that entry level hi-fi stuff and the middle class have to move their money to buy food and pay rent.

The companies selling $20,000 amplifiers will probably be fine - the companies selling $2,000 amplifiers may not be.

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on July 31, 2020 at 19:57:29
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8385 Joined: June 3, 2006	I think I am interested in a $200 amp which can form a non hurting part of a $1200 check. Is it right to use an Apostrophe for a plural? Regards Bill

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on July 31, 2020 at 22:09:55

Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005

If the site, What's Best, reflects high- end audio, the answer is YES. The only Coronavirus references I have seen are by Steve Williams who is focused on the effects of the virus on NBA basketball -- many threads!

Based on my experience in Copenhagen, sales are down, but the shops are open. Ask Peter Qvortrp at Audio Note UK! Here's his announcement on his site:https://www.audionote.co.uk/covid19

That Schiit crap seems to be selling pretty well. nt, posted on August 1, 2020 at 11:02:06
viridian	Nt

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 1, 2020 at 13:50:15
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	Is it right to use an Apostrophe for a plural? No.

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 1, 2020 at 20:43:56
RGA Reviewer Posts: 15177 Location: Hong Kong Joined: August 8, 2001	Oops. But then one of my degrees is in English Literature NOT English Composition. Had my grammar and punctuation been better, I would have had more A+ papers instead of the usual A and A- grades. I couldnt' be brothered to proofreard then and, I, still, can't be bothered today%

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 1, 2020 at 21:39:11
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8385 Joined: June 3, 2006	I see so many people use it nowadays. I was wondering if the rules had changed. My school teacher would have been very angry if I had used it in plurals. Regards Bill

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 1, 2020 at 21:48:48
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8385 Joined: June 3, 2006	You are a good man, RGA, like all those with Audio Note. My daughter has a Doctorate in English Literature and is now a Dean of a New England U.She bought a Bose without consulting me! Regards Bill

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 1, 2020 at 23:37:01

RGA
Reviewer

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

I have never been particularly good with grammar and punctuation. I have to go back and proofread what I have written.

A neat trick for your daughter to teach her students who struggle is to have them read their essays backward. So start at the end of the paper and read each sentence by sentence from back to front. It helps get your head out of your ideas and read the essay without your head getting in the way.

Second language learners focus so much on the grammar and the punctuation they wind up worrying too much about these technical issues and not on their ideas. Plus, they wind up hating English.

I tell them my story from South Korea. I was teaching night school to business professionals.

A woman who worked in the office came up to me and said "Would you like a copy?"

A nice perfect sentence. I had no idea what she was talking about.

She then motioned "drinking." Ahh, COFFEE. South Koreans have trouble with F and P. So the perfect grammatical sentence is worthless without the key word being spoken correctly.

I tell this story to my Hong Kong Students and note that if this woman had said

"Like a Coffee you would?" I would perfectly understand what she was asking me even if the grammar is a train wreck.

Noam Chomsky has written at least one book on the most important aspects of language. He outlines something similar to my story.

This isn't to say grammar and punctuation isn't important but substance is vastly more important than form.

PS - you must be very proud of your daughter - that is a major accomplishment indeed. You will have to get her a good stereo for her birthday - or better yet when you want to upgrade you can pass yours on to her. Music is literature.

As an aside:

I was led a little astray back in my university days. I started out doing a business degree - Marketing/Accounting/Business Law that sort of thing.

But when I began taking Biology, Psychology, Criminology and Philosophy - I found that I much preferred these subjects - the high grades came much easier. Read the chapter once get 100% on the test. With Economics it was a slog - read it 4 times - fall asleep - wake up read it again - get a B. Meh - hated that crap.

The university told me that to be a teacher I should have a degree in a teachable subject - English, History or Math. So I switched from my passion and took Literature and History.

I wanted to do a masters and a Phd, but the problem was that I wanted to do those in Psychology or Philosophy. I was put off by the notion of going back, once again, to take the undergrad courses. I went to University for 13 years and needed a job to pay for all those loans.

Adding another 8 years to be a Psychologist was too daunting.

Cheers.

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on August 2, 2020 at 07:18:14
Bill the K Audiophile Posts: 8385 Joined: June 3, 2006	Yes RGA, very proud. She went to Clemson for undergraduate saying she loved the Football team. Did PhD at Baylor. She is a great lover of Rock bands of 1960s to 80s. I have company there. Regards Bill

Many Will - and Easily, posted on August 2, 2020 at 09:43:31

Doug Schneider
Reviewer

Posts: 881
Location: North America
Joined: April 16, 2005

Running SoundStage! and actually traveling in the UK the moment that the S&*t really hit the fan with COVID-19, I've been immersed in this for months and have strong opinions. In a nutshell...

Good companies will make it through this easily. By good, I mean well-run companies with a good dealer base and/or online presences that sell well-made products that can justify their prices. Great companies are those same companies, they just do all or some of that better. In fact, many of these companies are, right now and for the past few months, doing as good or even better than ever.

What will hurt are brick-and-mortar hi-fi dealers with poor online presences and "questionable" manufacturers -- companies that are running on a shoestring as is, are selling products that aren't competitive, etc. They'll be weeded out, no question. Many hi-fi shows will go by the wayside, not just because they can't put them on right now, but because they're so financially hurting they won't be able to put them on in the future.

On the whole, though, hi-fi will live and even thrive after COVID-19 settles down more.

Doug Schneider
www.SoundStage.com

RE: Many Will - and Easily, posted on August 3, 2020 at 09:22:31
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net Audiophile Posts: 1253 Location: Maine Joined: August 16, 2011	RGA, I liked and agree with what you said. When someone dumps on your grammar they have nothing to add to the original topic. I suck at spelling and would never try to question anyone else. Maybe there is a spelling forum out there, Mark K.

On apostrophes and plurals, posted on August 3, 2020 at 10:19:08

Doug Schneider
Reviewer

Posts: 881
Location: North America
Joined: April 16, 2005

Actually, there is a rule where using an apostrophe to form a plural is accepted -- when there's a chance a mistake in reading can be made, typically for certain lowercase words or model names. It's called the "grocer's apostrophe." Here is the explanation of the rule cut from the page link below.... Doug Schneider

From grammarly.com

The one notable exception to this rule is the plural form of lowercase letters, which are formed with an apostrophe to prevent misreading:

Don't forget to dot all your is.
Don't forget to dot all your i's.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/apostrophe/

That was not the situation, posted on August 3, 2020 at 10:44:09
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	in the English teacher's post. I typically use caps for clarity although your one example is highly unusual. :)

RE: That was not the situation, posted on August 3, 2020 at 11:01:42
Doug Schneider Reviewer Posts: 881 Location: North America Joined: April 16, 2005	It is unusual, which is why the name. But it comes up every so often, particularly with model names that have to turn plural. Doug Schneider

That's where I use capitalization, posted on August 3, 2020 at 11:09:24
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	What a beautiful set of SP-3As on the rack to the left!

RE: That's where I use capitalization, posted on August 3, 2020 at 11:15:59
Doug Schneider Reviewer Posts: 881 Location: North America Joined: April 16, 2005	If the model name is caps, yes. If it's not, there's another solution, which is to say: "What a beautiful set of SP-3a preamplifiers on the rack to the left!" I don't know what ARC actually called those, though... but to keep the real model name. Doug

RE: That's where I use capitalization, posted on August 3, 2020 at 11:38:51
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002

RE: Many Will - and Easily, posted on August 3, 2020 at 19:50:30

RGA
Reviewer

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

Spelling and grammar are the "spectacle" level of language. The key is the meaning behind the words.

As illustrated in the photo above - the message is easily read even with most of the letters and numbers in a complete jumble.

Granted as an English teacher overseas I have to fill in the gaps to get what many students are trying to say. And most times I can get the meaning. That is the point of language. To converse and to be understood regardless of errors in grammar or even word usage. The other day I was watching an episode of Star Trek TNG and the character said jealous when he should have said envious. However, those two words are often used interchangeably - even though they should not be used interchangeably.

Noam Chomsky on Language. At 9:30 minutes on regarding the literary language versus natural language.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdUbIlwHRkY

Same as it ever was..., posted on August 5, 2020 at 05:35:27
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	Same as it ever was... Same As It Ever Was! First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

RE: Same as it ever was..., posted on August 5, 2020 at 14:16:53
E-Stat Audiophile Posts: 37666 Joined: May 12, 2000 Contributor Since: April 5, 2002	His constant class warfare whining is tedious.

RE: Same as it ever was..., posted on August 5, 2020 at 19:04:43

RGA
Reviewer

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

I was stating a truth not whining about it.

Please show where I was saying anything bad about the wealthy or championing the poor.

If you have $5 million in the bank and rely on stock markets for your income - it is a fact that you will not be as effected or at all affected in a recession, unless you invested poorly and lost money. If you are working at a job that closed during this pandemic - you are not going to buy stereo equipment or probably be able to buy stereo equipment. Why is this fact viewed as whining?

Indeed, at present, I am personally in the group of people who is financially unaffected by this pandemic.

Granted - I do have empathy for people who lost their jobs and incomes. Empathy - Non-psychopaths actually feel this. They do not not just know the dictionary definition of the term.

I realize you view Empathy as whining but I can't help that.

He simply stated the obvious. nt, posted on August 6, 2020 at 09:18:23
Rick W	nt

)) Like! ((... N/T , posted on August 6, 2020 at 21:21:52
musetap Audiophile Posts: 31879 Location: San Francisco Joined: July 8, 2003 Contributor Since: January 28, 2004	a "Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure

Huh? It's been on a ventilator the last 20 years. Nt, posted on August 7, 2020 at 05:53:25
geoffkait	Nt

lol , posted on August 7, 2020 at 06:55:45
suekraft Reviewer Posts: 665 Joined: August 11, 2019	Time to get the triple nipples off life support. Too warm for tube gear during the summer. No amount of evidence will ever persuade an idiot -Mark Twain

Well said..., posted on August 7, 2020 at 08:08:39
Ivan303 Audiophile Posts: 48887 Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM Joined: February 26, 2001	and so true. First they came for the dumb-asses And I did not speak out Because I was not a dumb-ass

Agree-----NT, posted on August 11, 2020 at 19:20:04
lancelot Audiophile Posts: 1722 Joined: March 23, 2001	NT

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on September 3, 2020 at 09:06:08
LtMandella	"She bought a Bose without consulting me!" If my son did that I would disown him!

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on September 16, 2020 at 03:39:33
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	It is an election year. Yes, Audio, will survive.

RE: Many Will - and Easily, posted on September 16, 2020 at 07:05:15
George47 Audiophile Posts: 24 Joined: November 6, 2004	We knew Doug so have laid-on the sunshine and warm weahter (for the UK) for you. (Yes, that was the worst spell of weather we have had!).

RE: Will high end audio survive Covid-19?, posted on October 11, 2020 at 14:14:10
fantja Audiophile Posts: 15524 Location: Alabama Joined: September 11, 2010	Not as bad as it seems. I did my part this year per buying gear and physical medium.

Critic's Corner

Will high end audio survive Covid-19?

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