Read an article written by Jason Stoddard from Schiit last night which had me thinking about the post Francois did a while ago about the state of South African audio products / market.
The article deals mainly with the problems Pono are facing but it ends of with a discussion around necessary change in the audio market specifically with relation to audiophiles.
Thought its a good read and there might be something in there that can be applied to our local situation.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/5340#post_11334721
A few extracts (Out of context):
"Relax. Have some fun. This is also aimed at audiophiles, manufacturers, and reviewers alike. Sometimes this industry seems like it?s wound so tight that it?s gonna strip the gears. Breathlessly awaiting word about the One True Recording on the Grand New Contender. Reacting angrily about any perceived slight to your Favorite Company or Grand Idea (see Pono?reviewers going insane about the negative reviews and ranting on mainstream sites did not help us, sorry.) Bickering about what is the One True DAC or One True Amp. Belittling other people?s opinions when they don?t match yours. None of this does us any good. Sit back, push the keyboard away, and take a deep breath. Go listen to some good music. "
"If you?re a manufacturer, you don?t put other gear down. If you?re working for a company in customer service, you don?t laugh at the curious newcomer with Bose headphones. If you?re a community leader, you don?t do everything you can to shut people out of the site. If you?re a reviewer, well?please continue being honest. But it?s not like a negative review has to be written in spite (as the Pono reviews seem to have been.) But simply being friendly, rather than snickering into your coffee when someone mentions a mainstream brand, will go a long way to changing the perception of the industry."
"Okay, reviewers and community leaders, this one?s for you. Why are there no ?Getting Started? sections? Why are there no subforums dedicated specifically to entry-level gear. Why are there no dedicated ?Hey, I?m new and I want to learn? sections with people who like talking to newcomers? Yes, I know, once you?ve grown into the great throbbing Donovan?s Brain of audio, talking to the proles may be tiring?but you know what? There are plenty of people who wouldn?t mind helping. We can do a much better job at welcoming people in to the party, giving them enough info to get started, and letting them decide if audiophilia is for them. If it isn?t, hey, no harm no foul. But if we?re passively discouraging them by being so inward-focused, our growth will be stalled."
"This one?s for audio companies. Hello. The reason you?re not seeing sales to younger people is simple: your stuff is too bloody expensive. Period, full stop. The world doesn?t need another $1500 DAC/amp. It needs stuff that college students can afford. Oh, and by the way, college students, by and large, aren?t into the puffed-shirt hyperbole that your 55-year-old marketing guy wants you to use?and many (and I mean MANY) are used to seeing teardowns of mainstream phones, tablets, and other gear that includes an estimated manufacturing cost. They ARE comparing that to your products. And if they see something that looks like it could be made for $80 selling for $2500, they have every right to be skeptical."
The article deals mainly with the problems Pono are facing but it ends of with a discussion around necessary change in the audio market specifically with relation to audiophiles.
Thought its a good read and there might be something in there that can be applied to our local situation.
http://www.head-fi.org/t/701900/schiit-happened-the-story-of-the-worlds-most-improbable-start-up/5340#post_11334721
A few extracts (Out of context):
"Relax. Have some fun. This is also aimed at audiophiles, manufacturers, and reviewers alike. Sometimes this industry seems like it?s wound so tight that it?s gonna strip the gears. Breathlessly awaiting word about the One True Recording on the Grand New Contender. Reacting angrily about any perceived slight to your Favorite Company or Grand Idea (see Pono?reviewers going insane about the negative reviews and ranting on mainstream sites did not help us, sorry.) Bickering about what is the One True DAC or One True Amp. Belittling other people?s opinions when they don?t match yours. None of this does us any good. Sit back, push the keyboard away, and take a deep breath. Go listen to some good music. "
"If you?re a manufacturer, you don?t put other gear down. If you?re working for a company in customer service, you don?t laugh at the curious newcomer with Bose headphones. If you?re a community leader, you don?t do everything you can to shut people out of the site. If you?re a reviewer, well?please continue being honest. But it?s not like a negative review has to be written in spite (as the Pono reviews seem to have been.) But simply being friendly, rather than snickering into your coffee when someone mentions a mainstream brand, will go a long way to changing the perception of the industry."
"Okay, reviewers and community leaders, this one?s for you. Why are there no ?Getting Started? sections? Why are there no subforums dedicated specifically to entry-level gear. Why are there no dedicated ?Hey, I?m new and I want to learn? sections with people who like talking to newcomers? Yes, I know, once you?ve grown into the great throbbing Donovan?s Brain of audio, talking to the proles may be tiring?but you know what? There are plenty of people who wouldn?t mind helping. We can do a much better job at welcoming people in to the party, giving them enough info to get started, and letting them decide if audiophilia is for them. If it isn?t, hey, no harm no foul. But if we?re passively discouraging them by being so inward-focused, our growth will be stalled."
"This one?s for audio companies. Hello. The reason you?re not seeing sales to younger people is simple: your stuff is too bloody expensive. Period, full stop. The world doesn?t need another $1500 DAC/amp. It needs stuff that college students can afford. Oh, and by the way, college students, by and large, aren?t into the puffed-shirt hyperbole that your 55-year-old marketing guy wants you to use?and many (and I mean MANY) are used to seeing teardowns of mainstream phones, tablets, and other gear that includes an estimated manufacturing cost. They ARE comparing that to your products. And if they see something that looks like it could be made for $80 selling for $2500, they have every right to be skeptical."
