Long time "lurker", just gonna chip in my two cents...It's sad to see JH Audio and the general audiophile industry go in this direction. It probably sucks for new Sirens series owners to know that their product has been updated. But is it any less of a product? Did it suddenly sound worse after the update was announced? And think about it for a second, it's really just a cosmetic update. (except Roxanne) I know there were complaints about the Angie's weave or connector issues, and this reduces them. Give everyone an identical product. From a business standpoint, they want to move product. They can't do that if they're getting returns on cosmetic issues or connector issues etc. By switching to metal for the entire body, every customer is getting a product that looks just like the one that came off the line before it. Not one with a "good weave" and one with an "ugly weave". Plus their manufacturing output increases by relying on less people. The bores are already milled in the product, there's no "hand laying of fiber", and probably the balanced armatures can be seated in predetermined sections. All they're basically doing (I think) is pulling the milled bodies out of the CNC machine, placing the electronics in a predetermined cavity, putting the cap in the body, placing it in the packaging, and out the door it goes. Simplified manufacturing, and dedicating more staff to the Customs division.
But about those prices, that sucks that it is an increase. Was there probably enough profit margin to not warrant a price increase? Maybe, but we'll never know. But again, from a business standpoint, if you're already paying $2,499, is an 8% increase too much additional to ask for? Because I can guarantee you, people will still buy it. You were already spending an ungodly amount of money, 8% isn't really that much. Unless I was rich, I just couldn't spend that much on a pair of in-ears, even if it is JH Audio we're talking about. I paid $1800 for my 2004 Hyundai Elantra. I AM the broke 20 year-old audiophile. I'm happy with my remolded UE900's. Unless JH Audio decides to send me a free pair of custom Angie's or Layla's then looks like I'll own the same pair of IEM's until I become well off.
Finally, this should be a fun hobby, but as a community we need to learn when to say "no" to these companies, because sometimes it does get ridiculous (I'm looking at you Astell & Kern). But these are business we're dealing with and they may try every trick in the book to get you to buy something even if it is as little as a cosmetic change. Enjoy what you have. Yes, use your ears to audition, but use logic and your brain to think of value and worth.
-Steven M.