Value, lack there of, and "High End"

[Shadders]

4 hours ago, Blackmorec said:

For a lot of hi-fi companies these exotic products represent their R&D spend, which they usually finds ways to trickle down the improvements into lesser products. So its not about value per se. Its about evolving capability

Hi,

I can see how the latest IC will find its way into the higher end first, but the technology in high end gear is not any different to the general hifi available. There is no electronic device boutique store - they all purchase from existing suppliers that everyone has access to. Exotic resistors - 0.1% thin film resistors are very cheap.

 

4 hours ago, Blackmorec said:

Politicians often rail against inequality in society...how the rich are getting richer and the poor poorer.  This is almost never true. Most times, the rich are getting a LOT richer and the poor, slightly better off.  There’s almost always the trickledown effect

I disagree with this. The reason the rich are rich, and getting richer is because they don't really spend it, so they remain affluent. The trickle down effect is a myth. There are too few rich people to spend money to support the remaining population through permanent/secure jobs.

 

In the UK, the use of foodbanks is growing - not reducing - so the poor are definitely not slightly better off, in fact they are quite a bit worse off. The "gig" economy means no secure work, and people at the bottom end of society are a commodity, to be used by companies as they see fit. Again, the trickledown effect is a myth, to justify obscene amounts of wealth, and to fool the general public that it is acceptable that people cannot afford to eat, whilst people at the top can live conscience free.

 

Regards,

Shadders.

[Shadders]

31 minutes ago, Blackmorec said:

More to do with how far they have to climb.....absolutely correct. And what provides the fuel and impetus for that climb?  The desire for more wealth in already wealthy countries, who create jobs in these poorer countries because labour costs are lower, raw materials are available, etc. So the wealth created in the United States, Europe, China trickles down to these poorer economies by way of investments. Low cost manufacturing, need for raw materials, factories in places close to the raw materials and/or markets.  Take companies like Shell and BP. They make massive investments....but very few in the US and Europe. Nigeria is quite wealthy and would be quite prosperous were it not for corruption. Their biggest industry? Oil and Gas. NIgerian companies doing the exploration, drilling, refining and distribution? Nope.....all US and European companies.

Hi,

I think you may need to examine :

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trickle-down_economics

It specifically states :

"Trickle-down economics, also called trickle-down theory, refers to the economic proposition that taxes on businesses and the wealthy in society should be reduced as a means to stimulate business investment in the short term and benefit society at large in the long term.....Whereas general supply-side theory favors lowering taxes overall, trickle-down theory more specifically targets taxes on the upper end of the economic spectrum"

 

This is not about investing in other countries to lower costs. It is about very affluent people reducing their taxes on the basis that they claim it helps everyone. It does not. It is pure myth, to justify greed.

 

Investing in other countries - sounds good, but the downside is offshoring. Companies offshore their work, which reduces the costs, but at the expense of jobs locally, and the reduction of skills within the company since those jobs are not required anymore.

 

Regards,

Shadders.

[Shadders]

Hi,

Maybe if you add up the cost of the individual parts and see what you are being charged compared to the component cost, then you can gauge value.

 

If as per the Purifi thread, class A and A/B amplifiers are "easy" to design, even in your garage, then maybe this statement will assist in the valuation of a high end piece of equipment.

 

High end does seem to emulate more art, than the pinnacle of engineering.

 

Regards,

Shadders.