The New Chord Quartet M Scaler Discussion Thread

[Beyond The Blackwall]

It’s not about wealthy people having fewer options, it’s about more people having any options at all.

High-end gear will always exist, and that’s fine. But when companies only cater to the top 1%, the rest of the community, especially younger or newer listeners, are left out. That’s not good for the future of our hobby.

I’m not saying expensive products shouldn’t exist. I’m saying it’s a shame when the best innovations are locked behind price tags that push passionate people away. Accessibility isn’t the enemy of excellence, it’s how you grow a thriving, diverse, and enthusiastic user base.

In the long run, more inclusion helps everyone including the high-end brands.

Companies will always release expensive, luxury products as long as there is demand. There has to be something special about them that is not available in a mainstream product or they won't sell. High end poducts have high development, material and manufacturing costs. It would not make business sense for a company to sell these products at minimal profit margin to a niche market just to make them accessible.

 

[thePhones]

Mojo 2 has so much value and is in the price range of a (I would argue) “entry-level-middle-class”-product. So I like all the arguments, but I don’t think Chord is the right brand to criticize for forgetting the normal working man. Also it is all about priorities, if you are an entry-level-middle-class man like me. I don’t fly a lot, buy expensive clothing, drive expensive cars nor live in a big house, but I wanted a Dave, so I saved up for one. I will decide when the new Scaler comes out whether the price tag is worth saving up for. If not, I’m happy with the current M Scaler.

 

[jjazzy]

Mojo 2 has so much value and is in the price range of a (I would argue) “entry-level-middle-class”-product. So I like all the arguments, but I don’t think Chord is the right brand to criticize for forgetting the normal working man. Also it is all about priorities, if you are an entry-level-middle-class man like me. I don’t fly a lot, buy expensive clothing, drive expensive cars nor live in a big house, but I wanted a Dave, so I saved up for one. I will decide when the new Scaler comes out whether the price tag is worth saving up for. If not, I’m happy with the current M Scaler.

That’s why I said, this was not specific meant for chord, but just in general.

The mojo2 is indeed a bargain together with the poly.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

I brought in a Hifi Rose RS130 to demo and Jesus, it blows away the other streamers I have and have tried. Even on USB it sounds better than everything else, warm and detailed with not a hint of harshness and a bigger stage than anything I've heard on my system. I have it connected to my M Scaler and TT-2 with a generic USB-certified cable as Rob advises, it is insane how good it is. I tried the Toslink out of it and it sounds just like the USB on this unit, I may even like its USB out better.

 

[kennyb123]

The reality is that when high-end audio companies focus increasingly on ultra-luxury products, it gradually reshapes the whole market, and not always in a positive way for the average consumer.

The reality is that other companies will fill a void that might open up when other companies move into higher prices points. My DAC retailed for around $1500 and it replaced a DAC priced at over $5000. The more affordable DAC was better in every way to my ears. Bottom line is that there as long as there are buyers creating a demand at lower prices, there will always be companies who seek to supply that demand.

I’m saying it’s a shame when the best innovations are locked behind price tags that push passionate people away.

Anyone who is pushed away because expensive products deliver performance that’s out of their reach is acting irrationally. The market shouldn’t try to cater to that emotion specifically. They should just continue to try to make the best product they can at every price point at which they want to compete.

 

[taipan254]

In all honesty, I feel like this industry has so many niche providers of (sometimes dubious) tweaks and upgrades, coupled with many high-quality, lower-price products (Schiit, Geshelli, JDS Labs, many Chinese manufacturers) that highly motivated individuals can still achieve stellar sound with reasonable financial outlay. I am even more convinced that more casual audiophiles - those with affordable speakers and an integrated amp - are FAR BETTER SERVED in today's market than they were even 10 years ago.

I do also completely understand the desire to own aspirational products that I currently cannot afford. But don't lose hope - there are TONS of options for price conscious audiophiles.

 

[miketlse]

Anyone who is pushed away because expensive products deliver performance that’s out of their reach is acting irrationally.

This book explains that people easily think and behave irrationally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow

Politicians, marketing, influencers, etc know this, and exploit the opportunities with relish.

 

[jarnopp]

I brought in a Hifi Rose RS130 to demo and Jesus, it blows away the other streamers I have and have tried. Even on USB it sounds better than everything else, warm and detailed with not a hint of harshness and a bigger stage than anything I've heard on my system. I have it connected to my M Scaler and TT-2 with a generic USB-certified cable as Rob advises, it is insane how good it is. I tried the Toslink out of it and it sounds just like the USB on this unit, I may even like its USB out better.

You are a very evil person.

 

[jjazzy]

This book explains that people easily think and behave irrationally.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thinking,_Fast_and_Slow

Politicians, marketing, influencers, etc know this, and exploit the opportunities with relish.

Don’t fully agree, In hifi I buy what I think sounds nice to me, I won’t buy something less because that’s the thing I can effort but is not in my taste or quality I like (with hifi stuff or other luxery).

In that case I leave it altogether and spent my money on somethin else, easy as that. Even if it means dropping a hobby for it.

Compare it as easy as eating cake, I never would buy ‘not good tasting light stuff’, I buy the good stuff or I won’t eat it.

 

[GuiltyRocker]

You are a very evil person.

This thing is next level, I'm getting the fiber SFP today to isolate it from the router switch, oh boy.

 

[Red Rd Wolf]

HiFi Rose has one disadvantage to me. No native support for Amazon Music. That is why I went with the Eversolo

 

[GuiltyRocker]

HiFi Rose has one disadvantage to me. No native support for Amazon Music. That is why I went with the Eversolo

I can see that, I don't really care for Amazon music as I use my own library and Quboz, but I can see where you're coming from.

 

[Reactcore]

With a Xmos chipset the 130 is all good in my book

 

[Jon L]

HiFi Rose has one disadvantage to me. No native support for Amazon Music. That is why I went with the Eversolo

How well does Eversolo handle Amazon Music, especially automatically matching the original file's sample rate? Any problems accessing one's Amazon playlists or playback skip, lags, etc?

 

[GuiltyRocker]

With a Xmos chipset the 130 is all good in my book

You sure love your Xmos chips