Paul's Posts — 18 June 2012
By Paul McGowan
Yesterday I posted about the controlled demo and several of you seemed upset that I would even think about suggesting my musical choices might show off our equipment better than yours. I understand the sentiment but I only half agree.
Let me give you a bit of background. Years ago when Arnie Nudell and I ran Genesis Loudspeakers there was one rule Arnie enforced with great vigor at shows – if you want to hear the Genesis loudspeakers, you listen to my demo first then you can play whatever you want. There was little room for argument with Arnie on this one and his reasoning was sound. ”Let me show you the best qualities I know this system to have so you can quickly hear what I hear.” Who better than Arnie, the designer of the loudspeaker, to know what really worked on the system to show it off?
Today many manufacturers have abandoned this demonstration technique and let anyone play anything they want and hope for the best. I think this is a disservice to potential buyers.
Here’s the other side of the coin. I have also been to a number of fixed demonstrations where the potential customer has no ability to play their own material and I think this is also a disservice – an interesting show to be sure, but not all that valuable.
The best demos I have ever listened to and been a part of were a combination of the controlled demo to initiate the listener as to what’s possible and then let them play whatever they are familiar with to gain their bearings.
One without the other doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.
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Tom
When it comes to a show environment, it’s a tremendous time-saver when manufacturers choose their own demo material. There are hundreds of rooms beckoning. Most of them are easily avoided. My immediate exclusions when strolling the halls are:
Demos where the music is clearly not the point. It’s dull stuff that’s in second place to its supposed value in showing off the gear.
Demos where the music is so far off from my tastes that I’m suspicious of the “ear” of the gear’s designer.
Demos where the material a dramatic movie rather than music. (Performance films are okay and even welcomed.)
Demos where there’s no music playing at all but rather a chat going on among the deservedly lonely staff on hand. An exception to this is when there’s someone who quickly notes a potential visitor and says “Hi. Let’s put something on. What would you like to hear?”
oliver T. Finch
A good piece of equipment will always do justice to all types of material. If it does not then it is too compromised to be worthy of consideration. All demonstration material is not listened to by everyone and so will not be used by the buyer.So what good is an impressive demonstration?. Reminds me of those high end systems that limited ones choice to a handful of LPs and CDs.I still feel that your idea of home trial is an excellent one.. If the buyer is not impressed than it does not matter a bit how impressed the manufacturer is with his product. Regards.
David Bevin
Paul, I think the resopnses you received about controlling demos was more directed at the comment from Carl, one of your sales reps.