Zu Audio Omen Dirty Weekends
- Thread starter AlphaEcho35
- Start date
In my metropolitan area of about 200k people. There's one store that sells medium to high end NEW stereo equipment. A limited brand sellection.
There are four+ record or audio repair shops that sell nice sellections of used turntables and other audio.
It's a shadow of the number of new STEREO stores that were here forty/fifty years ago. But the record shops seem to be thriving in these times. One is setting up a room to demo used stereo equipment.
People are getting into records. I see mostly people in thirties and twenties. A good thing for future of audio and vinyl, IMO.
There are four+ record or audio repair shops that sell nice sellections of used turntables and other audio.
It's a shadow of the number of new STEREO stores that were here forty/fifty years ago. But the record shops seem to be thriving in these times. One is setting up a room to demo used stereo equipment.
People are getting into records. I see mostly people in thirties and twenties. A good thing for future of audio and vinyl, IMO.
Last edited:
To be frank, there has certainly been a huge drop off in mid-fi sales in this country. Partly due to multi-channel/surround sound/video sales and, the death of mid-fi (affordable) Japanese audio manufacturers like Pioneer (as we knew it), Kenwood, Sansui and a few others. Only Yamaha and Denon seem to be keeping the flame for Japanese owned mid-fi audio companies. However, high-end audio business is thriving in this country today. Turntable sales indicate a healthy market and, the personal audio/headphone crowd has led many younger folks to step-up to 2-channel audio systems. The intention of my previous post was to refute the poster's claims that 2-channel audio and retailers selling such is essentially dead. It isn't and it has lots of life left in it and, while not every town may have an audio store anymore, there are hundreds if not a thousand such dealers left in this country with more integrators and custom oriented dealers jumping into the two-channel fray as well. It isn't profitable hanging TV's all day nor installing cheap soundbars and the like to the general public. I will agree that way back in the 60's thru 80's just about every young blooded American kid aspired to own a nice audio rig, perhaps before they even bought furniture for their apartment or house! Count me as one of those in that category. However, the proliferation of the personal computer, tablets and cell phones changed the discretionary spending of, in particular, the millennials which literally resulted in a lost generation of hi fi buyers. But that circle is coming back around to healthy turntable sales which has resulted in expanded 2-channel audio sales once buyers realized you needed speakers and an amp to play those records. It is a healthy business right now and the unfortunate pandemic has helped that even more as even us baby boomers are paying more attention to our beloved audio systems and upgrading! Streaming fever has propelled DAC sales as well as the associated gear you need to stream music to your one system or multiple systems throughout the house. Let's not write off 2-channel audio dealers with a broad stroke; the majority are doing quite okay right now which will result in others opening stores. I'll bet we'll see a high number of record stores expanding into new audio gear sales as well. Many of those stores have become a bit disillusioned with the maintenance (and perhaps customer returns) they face when selling a piece of vintage gear that ends up breaking down. While many/most of us on here know how to repair older gear, it is an expensive proposition for the sellers of vintage gear to find a competent and cheap repair facility or individual to ensure the stuff they sell doesn't come back and haunt them.
MX117.MC7150
Listener
It almost worked on me. Their deal on the soon-to-be-gone Soul Supreme came near to making me a buyer. But, I'm continuing to save for a pair of the newest Klipsch Forte or CWs.
eyewanders
Super Member
To be clear I was mostly speaking about the previous post he was responding to.
I could have been better about my own response.
And to be clear on my part, I was referring to the post prior to yours.To be clear I was mostly speaking about the previous post he was responding to.
As far as B&M retailers go, two channel audio is most often an adjunct. I would posit that it would be viable to have a B&M business selling home theater only but impossible to do the same with two channel audio. But if one can pickup sales without adding floor space and staff there is no reason for a home theater centered business to not also sell two channel with just a relatively small increase in inventory; so it remains possible to buy a two channel system from an area B&M store.
In my neck of the woods 2-channel audio is almost dead, the B&M stores have all gone out of business but there a couple of local individuals who are trying to get some kind of appointment only things going. Home Theater might as well be dead. Virtual Reality, gaming and stuff like that remain and a few of those retailers have gone to home automation and new home builders stuff. The economy sucks even though the Chamber of Commerce, realtors, and various rah - rah boosters still insist that things are going great. Sure they are
eyewanders
Super Member
Agreed. I think that B&M stores of nearly every kind have declined or shifted. Even in the big-box stores, they predominantly only have a *very* limited selection of even mid-tier items. Even one the most popular and well-reviewed newer Klipsch floor-standers I couldn't get ahold of at any local store without special order. Same is true of 75% of (as of this moment, at that same store) Sonos products - all a order a week+ wait at best. (And I'm in a reasonably sized metro area with multiple stores). As for genuine upper-tier, perhaps one or two units are there at best. But audio forums and youtube channels are awash with many folks and the direct-to-consumer and online channels are clearly moving units.
All that is to say I am far from an industry insider, but those are my meager observations.
Edit: but also want to mention we do here have one (perhaps more, I'm not certain) B&M old-school privately owned hi-store that has been around for many decades and is thriving.
All that is to say I am far from an industry insider, but those are my meager observations.
Edit: but also want to mention we do here have one (perhaps more, I'm not certain) B&M old-school privately owned hi-store that has been around for many decades and is thriving.
eyewanders
Super Member
I have KEF Q750s and they are very neutral unlike any other Klipsch or Infinities I have. American speakers tend to be voiced with a V or U EQ curve. Not the British ones. B&W seems to be more vocal focused at least the 606 s2.
Hmm well the DWs are a marketing ploy to make everyone think its a product always "on demand" by releasing a limited number of units only by pre ordering. And I have experience selling electronics and they are marked up 2000% yes 20 times the cost of its manufacturing. Any cable you buy in US for $10 is made in china for $0.50 no kidding.
So whats the drama here. To stir up a few conversation? Looks like it. And make the DW a "on demand" for ever by sun setting it? What comes next? A $100 speaker marked up to $2000 and new marketing ploy for it. And add an American story to it. Enjoying the show so far.
So whats the drama here. To stir up a few conversation? Looks like it. And make the DW a "on demand" for ever by sun setting it? What comes next? A $100 speaker marked up to $2000 and new marketing ploy for it. And add an American story to it. Enjoying the show so far.
eyewanders
Super Member
Everyone is free to build their own loudspeakers at cost. There's no shortage of info and possibility, including a thriving bunch right here on AK. Everything, particularly any non-essentail good, has mark-up and bears what the market will allow. Twas always thus.
MaxP
Super Member
This doesn’t explain the increased costs we are seeing in the US from a material standpoint nor the supply chain issues we are experiencing here on top. That said, there seems to be a lot of cynicism on display here and frankly the Dirty Weekends are pretty damn good. I’ve spent enough time with them to draw a conclusion or two about them and the fit and finish is really good.
fredgarvin
Super Member
The DW at $1000 was a very good value.
Geez! Ridiculous, factless comment IMHO. Let's see you make a product with the fit 'n' finish of any ZU Audio speaker for $100. Impossible! The DW's are extremely well made, beautiful veneer finishes on solid cabinetry and the drivers are well made and implemented. And, ta - da, the sound quality is excellent. Do you really believe dropping the DW's is a Marketing ploy? Ridiculous. They are dropping it because they can't stay in business selling a large number of this barely profitable speaker model without selling an even larger number of profitable models. The DW is the "come-on" or loss leader designed to help sell the rest of their more expensive (and better) step-up models. But, with the pandemic induced complications of vastly increased raw material costs, vastly increased shipping costs, and now labor increases, this is not a sustainable business model. You can't make more unprofitable items than profitable ones. It doesn't work unless you don't care and just want a tax write-off. There is nothing devious going on here by ZU Audio. They need to remain profitable in order to stay in business and selling too many non-profitable models is not a viable business model. Pretty plain and simple concept to me.