Over the last couple of days, I have spoken to six out of the nine Vitus Audio dealerships, here in the UK. I am attempting to acquire a new Vitus SIA-025 MK2, in part exchange for my six month old Music Server. None of them wanted it. They stated, there were two reasons for this. One, which would be unprofessional of me to mention in an open forum. The second reason, they felt that stored music files were not as popular as they were, and that sales of stored Music Servers were way down, and just not shifting. More and more people were using streaming services like Qobuz and Tidal, mostly getting good SQ results.
I really donât know. I can only go by what I was told. The fact that they wouldnât part exchange my Flagship Melco against a ÂŁ24,000 amplifier, says something. Six out of the nine, sold Melco and Vitus products.
So, are stored music files becoming less popular, and as a result possibly the reason, why I canât sell my Music Server on that well known âauction siteâ.
I appreciate that itâs always good to have stored music files at the ready, should the internet go down, or artists and albums disappear from the streaming services.
My first reaction to your question was to interpret it as stored music declines ( worsens) as time goes by. Of course I was wrong and you are referring instead to a decline in interest in stored music generally resulting in lower sales of devices that can store ( though many can aslo play , inducing from the steaming services!).
I think that this may be true. Firstly the market for purchased and downloaded music has shrunk markedly over recent years as the industryâs published figures show.
The other main influence, as you mention, has been the realisation of many that streamed music is a substitution for other types of source and one that may be cheaper.
Of course it still recommend that music that is particularly important to you should be kept in a form that will not be erased by the streaming service. The latter happens regularly as you have noted and even the longevity of the services themself is ultimately questionable. We only know that the ability to have music without any need to purchase title by title is is relatively new and finding out how the market will eventually stabilise is something to look at in a few years.
Of course some at this end of the audio market many hold that steaming is audibly less good than other sources. I will not comment.
All of this in the UK is s coupled with a cost of living crisis that means many here will be putting off buying costly audio equipment ( including used) particularly when Chinese manufacturers are offering goods that are functionally satisfactory but priced below what is feasible for western competitors.
I need to add that a dealer not wanting to PX also reflects that he will need to pay VAT on the transaction whereas a private sale therefore immediately undercuts him by 20%.
Thanks David, however think that I could have phrased things better and I need to clarify that any concern about VAT affects any onward sale rather than directly with you when making the PX. He needs to calculate a likely margin to decide if a PX is worth his while especially taking account of any current lack of interest. The bottom line may simply not be attractive right now.
I can only go by what I was told. The fact that they wouldnât part exchange my Flagship Melco against a ÂŁ24,000 amplifier, says something. Six out of the nine, sold Melco and Vitus products.