Nothing short of fraud.

Indeed.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/13 ... cessories/


To answer OP (Jon?) yes. Yes I would go in. But I'd probably not buy anything - exotica / "high" hifi isn't my thing - I like big, massive sound and convenience - so it's PC / server + PA power for me.

And to the decor enquiry (Chris?) yes again, agreed with all responses, it's possibly one of the biggest upgrades you can ever spend money on. It certainly makes it mark when you start to reach the financially-out-of-reach levels in the law-of-diminishing-returns. I can't wait to build my concrete bunker home.

Are you suggesting that decor should only be looked at when you have no more money to spend on equipment?

Given your skill set, those of us who like our tunes should be asking you to quote us happy

One day....

Btw, I don't claim to be an audiophile, I just resent stores using that word in these kinds of contexts. It's cynical sales nonsense. Hence my lack of interest in the store.

If I was looking for something specific to buy then I'd go in. I wouldnt go in for a browse though. I'm like that with a lot of specialist shops though. I almost feel like you're not allowed to browse and/or have to do the "no thanks im just looking".

That and I cant stand audiophiles. Digital cables costing more than my TV. [LIFTED] off. Sorry.

No, it's always best to start early (decoupling speakers with spikes or plinths, tightening driver screws, isolation platforms for record decks, heavy curtains, reducing reflective surfaces etc) but it really comes into its end when you're spending more on equipment (baffles, waveguides, upgraded insulation, architectural dampening, door seals, etc)

I swear by spending at least £200 on my usb leads. I get much better colours and crisper definition from my printer.
No, really, honest.

So what was their view, and what is yours?

To be honest the thread itself, as is frequent on a lot of hifi forums, was rather rambling in nature and certainly didn't reach any conclusions. The aforementioned shop was posted by someone as being an example of how decent quality audio might progress as a going concern, on the back of the general conclusion that most hifi shops weren't going to be around for a hell of a lot longer.

My thoughts were that I think they are onto something, and with a couple of differences I think it could be made to work very well over here. The two things that cross my mind that aren't being dealt with by traditional hifi is the convenience factor of ipods and the likes, and the fact that a serious number of people live in flats and appartments and simply cannot run a decent hifi without being beaten to pulp by their neighbours. As such I think there's reasonable space for a company that focuses on:

Headphones / headphone amps etc.
DACs and docking stations for computer based audio
Single unit iPod docks / amplifiers
NAS / Sonos and other streaming options

Interestingly, every negative point people made in this thread is stuff I'd already worked out would need to be different (the look of the shop being better and the not selling audio foo being the primary things).

I think that there will lots of average users who use iPods and want a reasonable speaker system to play them through. Many Apple resellers currently fill this niche in the UK. As Jonlumb has pointed out there are many users that this set up will help.

I'd go in because it's shiny, but wouldn't buy anything. It would be a waste of money anyway, as I'm a hopeless judge of audio quality. My gaming PC runs a pair of ~£6 Advent speakers and they do me just fine

I currently use 5 sets of Harmon Kardon Soundsticks II connected via Airport expresses, Not brilliant sound but good enough for me, and because I have them everywhere the volume is kept low so the neighbours do not notice them on. I might however treat myself to three of these

http://www.superfi.co.uk/index.cfm/page ... ct_ID/7449

IIRC rightly the Zeppllin was one of the biggest hifi turkeys of the last few years. Better to your reading first I think.

IIRC What Hi-Fi say it's the mutts nuts

Don't trust them exclusively. They think anything Apple automatically sounds good.