Good point but without the Traillii there wouldn't have been Impact. You need trailblazers to make steps in any industry. And of course if successful the rest will follow. Either with trying to use similar but much cheaper techniques and components, or, in this case, trying to copy-paste a highly successful sound profile.
The next wave will come with companies trying to copy-paste the unique sound of Xe6. That very different sound hit the market in similar fashion as Traillii and companies without a great vision and R&D department will want to profit from it.
Without the Trailli's and Xe6's of this world we would still be listening to 2013 SQ.
drftr
I'll also add to this: putting aside certain companies that have rebranded themselves as "luxury brands" in recent years, to some degree what you're paying for isn't just product, but customer service, and to a degree the infrastructure that keeps people employed and allows artists and engineers to innovate.
I firmly disagree with the sentiment in some circles that all the cheaper, primarily Chinese IEM manufacturers have done is emulate rather than innovate (I've seen a lot of impressive, unique feats coming out of those companies, especially recently), but the downside to getting, I'll put it plainly, the cheaper alternative, is the risk you take on when something goes wrong. I know that risk. I own Chinese IEMs from a super obscure brand (and not inexpensive ones), but they were unique (not imitating something more expensive), the distributor had good customer service, and I took a leap of faith because I wanted something distinct (again, not imitating something already established).
The reality is, Empire Ears, Fir, Campfire, they're all American companies with stellar reputations. I can put names to faces and feel confident that, even when everything with their stuff isn't quite right, they'll do everything in their power to make it right.
Comparatively (and I won't name names here, you can search around), I recall one particular story about someone on Head Fi who owned $1000 IEMs purchased from a notable Chinese distributor who, when something went wrong and one earphone broke, gave them the response that they'd be best off purchasing an entirely new set, at full price. None of the three companies I've named here would have done that. Take that for what you will.
. Most of my millennial friends I grew up with in Vancouver moved out of the city to raise children. I'm aways trying to find the balance between filling my audio "needs" while setting up my family up to weather the economy. These feelings hit me again when I came home from Canjam and my daughter started singing with glee "Daddy is here". I wouldn't trade this for anything that I have. Yes the chase is fun but the gear we seek out will be here at the end of the day (cheaper used too).
