Sony Unveils High-End Home Speaker from twice.com

[MC352]

People who are unaware of some of the high end audio brands many of us have, may buy these just because they have the Sony logo. If nothing else it's a very recognizable brand many people feel they can trust.

They do look nice in the picture.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Still-One

You are way off here Dan, you need to give these speakers a chance, I have heard a version of these at both RMAF 2008 and 2010. These were not in ho hum rooms. These were driven my large PASS amps, using EMM gear and Kimber Cable . In fact I am sure that both times the room was Kimber's plus they were using Keith Johnson recordings. They could have used any top speaker but they choose these Sony's.

I would take them hands down over Sophia's in a heartbeat.

Jim.......You may have missed my point. I was not disparaging the new Sony SS AR1 speakers at all. I would like to hear them. The drivers and construction look first class.

I was offering my own personal opinion of what I consider the general public's awareness might be of Sony in the high-end audio market. It is just an opinion, not based on any research or facts that I am aware of, just an opinion. I have been in and out of the high-end audio business through the years, and have a fair understanding of image and reputation, and their importance in the audio market place. My comments center only on these thoughts, and not the newly introduced speaker itself.

[1KW]

Jim,

I think what Dan is saying is that Sony has cheapened their reputation with low end junk for so long that it is hard to take them serious or to want to spend 15 k on a speaker made by them and I agree. If I buy a sonus faber speaker if and when I get tired of it someone will want to buy it while I'm sure it will be more difficult to sell a Sony speaker even if it is a good piece. It is kind of like what happened with GM, once a Cadillac was the best of the best and now its not.

[MC352]

David, remember one mans junk is another mans treasure!

They are selling a lot of Cadillac's lately, since they don't look like barges anymore.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by MC352

David, remember one mans junk is another mans treasure!

They are selling a lot of Cadillac's lately, since they don't look like barges anymore.

Chuck.......You are right about that. The new 2011 CTS-V coupe means business.

Photo from Car and Driver



Photo from Car and Driver

[two dot]

Originally Posted by KMC45

That car will eat a lot of other cars lunch.

I wish Sony good luck with their speakers, that is one tough price category they are going to be selling in.

Keith always tells it like it is...

Tough competition in that price bracket...

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Oh boy, I just can't wait to call all my audio buddies and get them over to hear my new Sony speakers. I'm so excited! Yeah, right.

In my humble opinion, Sony has an image problem when it comes to high end audio, especially in the speaker category.

Right. These seem like excellent speakers but they have done this before and failed due to the prevalence of attitudes like yours. I am not saying that you are wrong but Sony did little to change their image among, ahem, audio aficionados. I recall other excellent Sony SS speakers that ended up being dumped by retailers for 25-30 cents on the dollar.
Sony ES SS-M9 loudspeaker | Stereophile.com
Sony ES SS-M9ED loudspeaker | Stereophile.com

Some folks got really good deals.

Kal

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

Right. These seem like excellent speakers but they have done this before and failed due to the prevalence of attitudes like yours. I am not saying that you are wrong but Sony did little to change their image among, ahem, audio aficionados. I recall other excellent Sony SS speakers that ended up being dumped by retailers for 25-30 cents on the dollar.

Some folks got really good deals.

Kal.......I am not trying to be right or wrong here. It is just an opinion I have developed from watching Sony in the audio market place for 30+ years. Sony didn't fail to capture and hang onto the high-end niche due to the prevalence of perspective buyer's attitudes. Sony failed because they continued to have great ideas, and along the way lost focus of the original concept. Impressions of the buying public are not developed overnight, any more than manufacturer's reputations in high-end audio are built with a single flash in the pan product. Continuously innovative and well designed products that lead the industry in high quality designs and solid performance, delivered to owners year after year, are how enviable reputations are built in every industry, not just audio. This is how buyer's attitudes become influenced in a strong and positive manner. Customer loyalty means everything to longterm success of any business. Loyalty isn't earned overnight.

I have sold McIntosh and many other high-end audio products through the years, as well as Sony ES when the designation really meant something. I was duly impressed with their designs, engineering, build quality, and performance. I still own and use several Sony ES products that perform flawlessly. Unfortunately the focus at this level was gradually shifted to mass marketing, mass production, and the resulting consequences as true high-end quality left the building for many of Sony's honest attempts to gain a foot hold in the high-end market. None of that can be attributed to high-end customer's attitudes.

[Still-One]

Dan, I probably did not fully understand your initial post. I guess Sony could have done what Pioneer did with TAD and Teac did with Esoteric and create a new brand for their Hi-End gear.

Jim

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Kal.......I am not trying to be right or wrong here. It is just an opinion I have developed from watching Sony in the audio market place for 30+ years. Sony didn't fail to capture and hang onto the high-end niche due to the prevalence of perspective buyer's attitudes. Sony failed because they continued to have great ideas, and along the way lost focus of the original concept. Impressions of the buying public are not developed overnight, any more than manufacturer's reputations in high-end audio are built with a single flash in the pan product. Continuously innovative and well designed products that lead the industry in high quality designs and solid performance, delivered to owners year after year, are how enviable reputations are built in every industry, not just audio. This is how buyer's attitudes become influenced in a strong and positive manner. Customer loyalty means everything to longterm success of any business. Loyalty isn't earned overnight.

I have sold McIntosh and many other high-end audio products through the years, as well as Sony ES when the designation really meant something. I was duly impressed with their designs, engineering, build quality, and performance. I still own and use several Sony ES products that perform flawlessly. Unfortunately the focus at this level was gradually shifted to mass marketing, mass production, and the resulting consequences as true high-end quality left the building for many of Sony's honest attempts to gain a foot hold in the high-end market. None of that can be attributed to high-end customer's attitudes.

I am agreeing with you. I believe that the high-end customer's attitudes are a consequence of Sony's failures over the years.