Is PS Audio going direct sale only?

[hthaller]

Two thumbs-up for Overture. But there is a downside to excellence. Their main listening room is so well designed that you are hearing the speakers under more or less ideal conditions. When you get the speakers home the conditions are likely “not so much.”

I found this out the hard way with my purchase of Martin-Logan Summit-X electrostats. Bought the speakers and then underwent a 4-year lesson on room acoustics. Happy ending, though, and I’m a lot smarter for the experience (and the system never sounded better). But like Dorothy said: “There’s no place like home.”

When Pass redesigned the XA 160.5, they eliminated the extra metal on the faceplate and put less bulky handles on the rear panel. This got the shipping weight to just under the max limit that UPS would handle. Before that, big goodies came via Yellow Freight, which wasn’t bad, actually. It’s a lot harder to drop, damage, and otherwise mishandle stuff when it’s palletized.

Just arrange for liftgate service and have an appliance dolly handy.

[Gary_M]

I completely agree and it’s how I’ve purchased every pair of speakers until recently. After doing a ton of research than finding a great deal on a demo set, I ordered a pair of Von Schweikert VR 35’s, which I couldn’t be happier with. Don’t think I’d press my luck and do it again though. Listening first is always best.

[stevensegal]

So my nearest dealer stocks Wilson, Harbeth, Focal, Martin Logan, Mangepan, Magico, Linn, REL and Sonus Faber, and pretty much the whole of each range. If you can’t find a speaker from that lot in less than a day you’ve got a problem.

[jazznut]

not bad indeed

[stevensegal]

… and in the other direction most of those plus Revel, Rega,
Piega, PMC and Spendor.

I’ve thought for a while that audio needs megacentres where many brands share the cost of a large communal facility and people fly/drive in and can mix and match to their hearts content. Of course, it will never happen.

[Gary_M]

Most the remaining audio dealers are now run out of individuals homes. Apparently the shrinking market can no longer support brick and mortar operations in many areas through out the U.S. With the exception of large metropolitan areas. Probably related to the shrinking middle class.

[jedi1]

I am chuckling…this is one of the first things I heard a dealer say to me when I became an audiophile…40 years ago.

Has it ever been a mass market ???

[bill-allen]

Ex-dealer here, I suggest PS Audio rebuilds their dealer network in USA rewarding the real brick and mortar company’s. Any U.S. dealer who can provide listening space to demo the new PS Audio speakers on a daily basis qualify’s. Not the so-called appointment only nonsense, I’m talking walk in anytime and take a listen dealers. Professionals who can handle their own trade-in’s and customer service.

Online/Part Time dealers are what put the brick & mortars out of business. PS Audio could take the lead and rebuild what the rest of world still enjoys. An audio salon, a place to congregate on all things audio, an excuse to get out of the house and mingle. These are the company’s that PS Audio should reward with local and nationwide sales.

This is the audio future that I want to live in.

[highstream]

I just found about this via a dealer email. They mention Sept 16 as the end date for them.

Truth is, I could never have afforded or obtained a full set of new AC-12’s were it not for dealers’ help (and my help of them). And, of course, the used market has made DSD’s and PWD’s and upgrade kits and accessories affordable, and in my case able then to take advantage of the trade-in process for a P15 through a dealer, and direct accessory purchases through the company. Going to direct sales alone is not a consumer friendly act insofar as it raises the cost of getting in the door. And getting in the door leads to further business, a net gain for the company, as it certainly did in my case.

It will be interesting to see what happens when the economy finally turns down. In housing, there are a lot of places where industry types and politicians are saying with great faith, “We’re popular, the market is tight, it won’t affect us much.” I have to wonder if companies solely dependent on higher volume direct sales of luxury goods are likewise kidding themselves.

Someone well back in this thread claimed that retailers just sit around on their rear ends until customers walk in the door. But my sense these days is that with the internet allowing greater access to competitive pricing and making the used market national and international accessible to all, most shops are actively focused more on new installations, new construction, and rebuilds and such than sales of gear alone.

[Byrdman]

I have to disagree a bit with Mr. McGowan. With PS Audio’s extreme MSRP, I would prefer price first. I would not be a proud DirectStream Senior DAC owner without the generous deep discounts offered by some dealers. The PS Audio trade in model is just OK. It discounts MSRP prices that makes Apple blush. Thus, in the end, your savings are not all that impressive and your final price with tax is jaw dropping.

Hopefully, PS Audio will take a page off Emotiva and consider lowering their MSRP pricing. If not, their customer base will not get younger and more diverse, but will continue to look like the HiFi audio show status quo. Upper middle class/wealthy, older, white males.

Godspeed.

Yours,

Byrdman

[perfect-sense]

That’s not fair or very correct. Fact is that PS Audio has always been challenging more higher priced brands and products at a more affordable price point.

/ Marcus, www.perfect.sense.se

[Brodric]

That depends on which market you live. In some markets the PS Audio stuff is far more expensive than US market parity, which puts them at closer price points to other brands pitched with similar performance.

[jtwrace]

Got this from Underwood:

CH

The Party’s over

PS Audio

Goes factory Direct

SATURDAY

Open Monday thru Saturday from

10:30AM-8:00PM, west coast time.

Ask us about 6 MONTHS NO PAYMENTS or INTEREST thru PayPal

We accept American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and PayPal

770-667-5633

All PS items limited quantity

The Party’s over

Earlier this week PS Audio announced that they are going factory Direct and no longer selling thru US dealers.Therefore, after September 15th we will no longer be able to sell PS Audio products. PS pricing will stay the same once they are direct and they will not drop prices once this move is made.

SO

If we have been discussing a PS purchase or you were thinking of getting a PS product

NOW IS THE TIME

We are also selling all our like new photo samples.

These are like new products that were used to photo and most have never been played.

They have the 3 year PS factory warranty

PS Audio DSD DAC

Perfect Photo samples

Upgradable DAC that was Stereophile and The Absolute Sound product of the Year

One black & one silver

Like new with 3 year warranty

List $6000.00

Sale $3888.00 delivered

Add a Bridge for only $590.00 at time of purchase

PS P20 Power Plant deal

Save $4000 on photo units

One black & one Silver-Never turned on

The Ultimate Power Source

Runs on 15 or 20 amp lines

Up to 2000 watts of new perfect regenerated power

List $10,000.00

Sale $5999.00

delivered

We also have a photo sample

P12 for $3580.00 delivered

&

P15 for $4780.00 delivered

&

P3 for only $1599.00 delivered

All like new with full warranty

Save big on a PS Audio

Stellar Gain Cell DAC/Preamp

Available in black or silver

Excellent preamplifier w/DAC & headphone amp

Great reviews

List $1700.00

Sale $1,099.00 delivered

Save $600.00

Pair of photo sample BHK M300 mono amps-As new

with 3 yr warranty

Class A rated in Stereophile

Save $6000.00

List $15,000

Sale $8999.00/pr

PS Preamp deal

Save $2100.00 on a world Class

BHK Remote tube preamplifier

Class A rated in Stereophile.

Superb performance at a great deal

List $6000.00

Sale $3888.00

We have sold lots of PS product over the years and were not happy to hear this news. However, PS has been a fine company to work with and we were able to offer their products at great discounts that offered our customers the exceptional value they are lookin g for from Underwood Hifi. In addition, PS always added great customer service when there were product issues.

I have gotten many emails from customers wanting to know if we would be OK after this move.

Thanks all for your concern.

However, not to fear.

We have been working on 8 new spectacular products that will come out over the next year and we expect to give Paul and the PS crew a serious run for their money with our internet Direct pricing and no distributor or dealer profits on new technology that will set a new value for money standard for the high end industry.

Isn’t competition grand

Let the games begin in October

Call us to discuss PS photo sample availability as well as out go forward plans at 770-667-5633

Introducing

Underwood Hifi-

Core Power cables

Diamond XLR interconnects from $799.00

Compare to $8,000 competition

Save 25% on all Diamondinterconnects & speaker cables

Save 20% on all Gold interconnects & speaker cables

Save 10% on all Silver interconnects & speaker cables

Core Power/Underwood Hifi has just introduced a cable line offering speaker cables, interconnects, power cords and USB cables. We found the source in China that makes cables for many of the big name companies. We have used them to design a line of Core Power cables that is 1/4 to 1/10 the cost of many of the major brand cable companies. State of the art performance at Underwood Direct to consumer pricing with no dealer profits.

Defiant Gold series speaker cable-Compare at $2000.00

Sale price here of only $359.00 for 2.5m pair

Info is all here:

https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/core-power-cables

PS recommends upgrading the inexpensive cords that come with their products

Compare our Internet direct Core Power Gold cord to any $1000.00 cord.

We did and were amazed!

List $400.00

Sale $249.00

delivered

PS Audio Photo sample

BHK S250 stereo power amplifier

One new Silver and black $7500.00 PS Audio BHK S250 stereo power amplifiers

only $4799.00 delivered

Full warranty

They were opened for a photo shoot & never played

PS Audio Mono Amp deal

Two pair of Photo Sample

PS Audio M700

350 watt mono power amplifiers for

only $1999.00/pr delivered

Stereophile Class A rated

Save $1000.00

One pair available in black and one pair in silver

Perfect, like new, amps

Never turned on

Full 3 year warranty

Upgrade your PS amp, DAC or Preamp

Iso-Acoustics

Iso-pucks are a great inexpensive tweak

Amazing tweek

Add some Iso-Acoustics Iso-pucks

for great isolation for

Only $118.00 delivered for a four pack

They work great on speakers, amps, preamps, CD players and DAC’s. We love them on the Emerald speakers. All other Iso-Acoustics models available

Call us at 770-667-5633 to purchase or discuss any of the above deals

see our website at www.underwoodhifi.com

Sale ends Sunday September 15th or when we are sold out

Many quantities limited

No price protection on previous sales

[michaelhifi]

Wow great price on the P20. I wish I could pull the trigger on it but just paid my kids college bill .

[steverman]

Wow. And here we have the evidence right in front of us. The discount king himself. And what wIll PS Audio do having seen this dealer’s email? Nothing. Absolutely nothing, just like they’ve done for the past number of years knowing what was going on out there in the market place. Well, maybe not nothing, maybe they’ll smoke another joint and then not give a damn.

[amsco15]

Funny, it’s not like PSA didn’t know. Also, it’s not like they’re not doing anything. Seems like they’re doing a lot: going to an MSRP direct sales model.

[badbeef]

Curious - why the seemingly personal bitterness? Personally I don’t spend any time thinking about makers of products I cannot or will not consider for any number of reasons, price being right up there.

[Paul]

Thanks for sharing this with us. It’s the first we’ve seen. I will forward to our director to see what he wants to do.

[falling_leaves]

I think it not about the action against them, they are one of many, and the email shows even with deep, and that is deep discount, profit was made by all parties including PS Audio. And since as was said this is more or less the norm already, the cost to PS Audio to maintain and service isn’t going to be much different compare between now vs internet direct. Hence the expectation that PS Audio will adjust price lower to reflect the internet direct model, but such is not the case, hope you reconsider.

[speeddeacon]

I have purchased PS A from Walter (Underwood Audio). It was his excellent service and prices that allowed me to transition from used to new PS A gear. I am not alone and imagine that he has contributed greatly to PS A’s sales success over the years. I’ve also purchased from other dealers who discounted even more, perhaps just not as openly. So the response from PS A should be a big thank you note.

Future PS A sales and prices will be determined by what the market will bear. If MSRP is too high, they will fall or fail.

It never ceases to amaze me how many people spend the kind of money they do on audio gear, given the current state of the music industry. I’ve been saying it for years now, yet there seem to be more high end (or at least expensive) companies out there than ever before and companies like PS Audio seem to be thriving. No young person I know cares about sound quality at all, or even music to much of an extent, but I suppose I’m just not in the right pocket of people. When I do find a brick and mortar store, I can audition two channel any time I want without competition because all the other customers are demoing HT gear or now headphones. The exponential growth and popularity of headphone users and of course music streaming may be propping the industry up, much as home theater has done for a decade or two. Now sound bars and bluetooth speakers are more popular than ever, which doesn’t bode well for the high end I wouldn’t think. But my thinking has continuously been erroneous. The vinyl resurgence may, or may not be enough to bring a generation back into high fi hobby.

I hope PS A thrives because I do love their innovation, quality and Paul’s unceasing open communication. But if it were a publicly traded company it probably wouldn’t be on my buy list. I hope I’m wrong again.