Audio Hardware Deals: Speakers, Headphones, Turntables, Etc.

MikeH said:
i wonder if the whole MoFi gate hurt their equipment sales too. didn't @AnthonyI or someone have the opportunity to listen to these?
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Maybe I'm just to much of a design nerd, but I want to buy equipment from a specialty company in that business where they have staff, labs, possibly an anechoic chamber or two. Along with a history of producing quality product.

Just doesn't give me confidence when a reissue label jumps into the hardware game. Not saying the speakers are bad but that's why I wouldn't shop them to begin with.
 
Jbraswell said:
Maybe I'm just to much of a design nerd, but I want to buy equipment from a specialty company in that business where they have staff, labs, possibly an anechoic chamber or two. Along with a history of producing quality product.

Just doesn't give me confidence when a reissue label jumps into the hardware game. Not saying the speakers are bad but that's why I wouldn't shop them to begin with.
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I think of MoFi these days as being a jack of all trades audio dealer. They make records, sell sleeves and cleaning fluid and now contract-manufacture audio gear. Lots of people seem to be happy with their turntables and phonos - why not speakers, too?

The real insight MoFi has now is not their expertise in any of these areas; it’s their insight into their target market, augmented by Music Direct.
 
Angsty said:
I think of MoFi these days as being a jack of all trades audio dealer. They make records, sell sleeves and cleaning fluid and now contract-manufacture audio gear. Lots of people seem to be happy with their turntables and phonos - why not speakers, too?

The real insight MoFi has now is not their expertise in any of these areas; it’s their insight into their target market, augmented by Music Direct.
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I'm not arguing. They may be fine speakers but just giving my gear shopping preference.

However, jack of all trades, master of none is real.
 
Jbraswell said:
Maybe I'm just to much of a design nerd, but I want to buy equipment from a specialty company in that business where they have staff, labs, possibly an anechoic chamber or two. Along with a history of producing quality product.

Just doesn't give me confidence when a reissue label jumps into the hardware game. Not saying the speakers are bad but that's why I wouldn't shop them to begin with.
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Andrew Jones designed the speakers and he’s a pretty well known speaker designer who has worked in the industry since the early 80s. They seem to have hired a lot of the right people to build out their hardware components. And they’ve been around for almost 10 years now making gear as a company IIRC. I wouldn’t be the first person to order any brand’s first attempt at speakers, but the speakers have been around long enough now for reviews to be out there.

Jbraswell said:
However, jack of all trades, master of none is real.
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Eh doesn’t apply here IMO. MoFi electronics is separate to the vinyl reissue company. They have made some very nice gear.
 
I understand the preferences and I generally feel the same way. I’d rather work with specialists like Sutherland and VPI than with “generalists”. It’s a preference rather than an indictment of MoFi’s quality.

I certainly do have some components that come from generalists, such as NAD and Cambridge Audio.
 
Angsty said:
I understand the preferences and I generally feel the same way. I’d rather work with specialists like Sutherland and VPI than with “generalists”. It’s a preference rather than an indictment of MoFi’s quality.

I certainly do have some components that come from generalists, such as NAD and Cambridge Audio.
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Is a brand like JBL considered a generalist brand? Since they make speakers, headphones, amps, etc?
 
Jbraswell said:
Maybe I'm just to much of a design nerd, but I want to buy equipment from a specialty company in that business where they have staff, labs, possibly an anechoic chamber or two. Along with a history of producing quality product.

Just doesn't give me confidence when a reissue label jumps into the hardware game. Not saying the speakers are bad but that's why I wouldn't shop them to begin with.
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Just jumping on the Adam Jones and Allen Perkins train. There were very smart to hire well established designers for their products, and to advertise that heavily.
 
MikeH said:
Is a brand like JBL considered a generalist brand? Since they make speakers, headphones, amps, etc?
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As a former Harman employee, JBL and all of their other brands have become a mix of some really safe and not unique master of none products, while also maintaining and very infrequently releasing something new and interesting.

The mass majority of their really unique and standout flagship products were generally designed before a specific brand was acquired by Harman. Similar for stuff designed post Samsung purchase.

Items like car audio, sound bars, and ear buds are all the same products, made by the same teams, with different branding. But AKG still has some studio gear that is really unique. JBL 305s are a true unique product. It’s just a mix varied by brand.
 
displayname said:
As a former Harman employee, JBL and all of their other brands have become a mix of some really safe and not unique master of none products, while also maintaining and very infrequently releasing something new and interesting.

The mass majority of their really unique and standout flagship products were generally designed before a specific brand was acquired by Harman. Similar for stuff designed post Samsung purchase.

Items like car audio, sound bars, and ear buds are all the same products, made by the same teams, with different branding. But AKG still has some studio gear that is really unique. JBL 305s are a true unique product. It’s just a mix varied by brand.
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I mostly agree, but the M2/708/705 and SCL lines and their unique horn geometry are really something.
 
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