Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
I can't be the only one who's sensing hi-fi gear pricing shenanigans
search
close
Sort by: Newest
keyboard_arrow_downUpComing
32
Oct 16, 2018
There are a lot of hidden assumptions when talking about how a competitive market should be working. In the example you give, you assume vendors use pricing competition to gain market share which could possibly make up for the lost profit due to lower pricing. Perhaps it does not. Perhaps selling less but making more on it is better for sellers. Perhaps they all realize this. Perhaps fighting for market share is done in other ways. Or, perhaps there is collusion.
PRODUCTS YOU MAY LIKE
Trending Posts in Audiophile
Simthaniel
Rigs
Modded headphones with qudelix at the core
When I received the Qudelix 5K, I had already modified a pair of Superlux HD-681 headphones. I previously soldered my own balanced connections to the drivers, providing multiple ways to connect and...
Apr 14, 2024
brothamike
A decent set of IEMs
I am in the midst of a 300 hour burn-in but, I will say I am enjoying how this set sounds so far. Before I received these which was btw late by a few weeks, I purchased a Sony/Kimber Kable MMCX...
Apr 12, 2024
merrick97
Should I exchange the PC38X for better headphones?
I bought the PC38X headphones FOR GAMING and they are great, but I have NO use for a Microphone since I don't do competitive gaming and I was wondering if there were better headphone options at a similar price without a headphone, where (presumably) more of the cost was put into making it sound better. I also find that my PC38X don't get quite as loud as I would like and I was wondering if a cheap amp like the iFi Go link would draw a little more volume out of my phones. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BN6MM822?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details I went with the PC38X since it was considered the best bang for buck headphones. I care most about using spatial apps like DOlby Atmos and DTS Headphone:X. Suggestions are welcome.
Apr 11, 2024
LostnAmerica
Sound Signature of the Grell Project.
Wondering what type of sound signature the Drop Grell project headphones will have or trying to attain. Any update would be appreciated.
Apr 8, 2024
Fabulous
Looking for a gaming/content audio setup
Hello! I'm looking for recommendations on audio setups. I'd be planning on using it mostly for gaming. Preferably I'd like a pair of large closed back headphones since I have a big head and jaw. I'd also like to hear myself through my mic with mic monitoring. As far as budget goes, I don't really have one. But under 600$ would be nice. I can go higher if needed. The audio setup would be connected to a high performance PC. Thank you in advance for any recommendations!
Apr 4, 2024
1plsd
$10 Drop Coupon Email not sent?
Trying to buy some gear off Drop for the first time. I was told I would receive an email with a welcome to drop $10 off promo. I never received that email. Drop was able to send me emails for my login token and email for Password update. But for some reason the $10 off coupon was never sent to me.
Mar 31, 2024
NMPacella
New here
Hello, I just joined, primarily for the audiophile products. Looking at purchasing the NHT C3 speakers for our new living room. Space is about 15 feet wide by 33 long and they will fire long ways. Space is just for general listening, music room with all equipment is downstairs, so hoping they will fill it with sound nicely. Cheers.
Mar 18, 2024
Drop Refurbished
Like-new products you can trustDrop Rewards
Get $5 for every 500 points you earn! Learn more
Drop Keyboard Club
Become a member and expand your keycap collectionCollaborate With Us
For Brands & DesignersFollow Drop
Secondly: the only data (I would call it anecdotal at best) I have available is product pricing which is readily available to the public
As I shop for gear on massdrop, amazon and elsewhere for anything from DACs to headphones and everything in between, I've noticed a pattern in pricing: for any item certain range most, if not all, vendors sell a product at nearly the same price (be it ~$199 DACs or ~$350 amps or ~$500 speakers or ~$900 headphones). To me this raises red flags. In a competitive, efficient market vendors should try to compete and undercut each other, not settling on very tight price ranges. The fact presently there are several headphones at $899-and-change and at other other products at prices mentioned above scream of unintentional price fixing: w/o any malice or collusion among them, vendors choose to not undercut each other. i,e.: vendor A releases product P at price X, vendor B releases competing product Q at price X, then vendor C and vendor D follow suit whereas in an efficient market, vendor B would price Q at X - 5% (just as en example) in order to get customers looking their way. This lack of competitive efficiency hurts the consumer badly and if I'm right in my feeling/sensing we could be overpaying for the products we buy-- which are already quite pricey :(