The value of cosmetics

PS Audio

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<!-- #thumb --> <p>Looking at the latest issue of Hi Fi Plus, one of my favorite UK magazines, the cover shows a picture of the beautifully executed Constellation Audio products.</p>
<p>These super expensive high-end audio pieces are beautiful on the inside and the outside and cost a small fortune to own. *Much of that fortune is spent on cosmetics: to the point from a manufacturer’s perspective that it is quite possible the casework costs more than what’s inside on some products. *I am not making a comment on Constellation because I actually haven’t a clue, but there are some out there …..</p>
<p>I wonder where it’s appropriate to draw the line if you’re a manufacturer?</p>
<p>Cosmetics are important – we certainly spend enough on ours – but it is interesting to think about how it’s divided up.</p>
<p>I remember a period when PS Audio paid little to no attention to the casework, preferring to put all our budget into the insides rather than the outward jewelry. *I was standing at a CES in Chicago (they were held there many years ago) and a customer walked into our room and was running his hand over the product. *”Cheap stuff, eh? *Does it sound any good?”</p>
<p>“Yeah, it’s some of the very best – better than others costing ten times more!” *Said I.</p>
<p>“Hmm, you’d never know it. *If that’s true, why would you put it in this ugly box?” *Said he.</p>
<p>“Because we believe in putting all our money into what matters: how it sounds. *Every dime I spend on the casework is a dime I cannot put into making it sound better if I have a fixed budget.”</p>
<p>“The problem with that approach is that I, the consumer, have no means to evaluate your claims. *If the outside doesn’t look as good as the insides, then chances are you’ll never be noticed and, besides, you’re forgetting about pride of ownership. *It may sound great but I expect it also to look great on my shelf.”</p>
<p>He had a good point.</p>
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Constellation amps are beautiful? Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder.
 
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