I'm honestly surprised there's so little interest in this.
The Ragnarok looks spectacular but I also know what violectric are capable of...
EDIT: maybe this thread should be moved to High-End?
I would be very interested in a blind test between the ragnarok and v281... on the HD800 please...
I think it's simple:
- Until quite recently: no US representation/marketing and distribution network.
- No active representation/sponsoring here on the site
- No-hype buildup nor vapourware: Fried Reim's a terrific engineer and a straight dealer: ask the man a question and he answers in detail and in person. Violectric is one of the few companies who publish meaningful technical detail. Seems elementary but just take a look at the specs he publishes and compare to others: either they omit critical information or they publish impressive looking parameters but if you look closer the figure is established in an oddball way or so that it's actually meaningless
- The present lineup is still very good but let's face it, it's become a bit outdated. Part of this relates to the previously mentioned no BS/no vapourware remark, it's hard/foolhardy wishing to remain a virgin in a brothel.
- Pricing: contrary to those who proudly proclaim 'made in the US/UK' but actually only do the final assembly and have all the rest mounted in China at vastly lower cost he actually does everything in-house. I guess I don't need to point out the wage difference between a Chinese and a German worker. At the time of purchase I personally checked if the 'Made in Germany' part was actually true. If you want to maintain a certain profit margin, this drives up the cost significantly (labour component is huge).
If I were him then for the new stuff I'd send my distributor over to sign a sponsorship deal/follow a couple of forums here, set up a loaner program and either boost the BS factor or stay the course and do aggressive technical comparisons with the competition.
And I'd watch those Chinese...they're the guys to beat, not just on price but increasingly also quality-wise. Many of them produce crap but there are some that have really great products (where they found the design is sometimes a different matter). Audio-Gd and La Figaro come to mind here. If for instance you take a look at the wiring in a La Figaro tube amp, look at the specs and use the product then you wonder how it's possible that some 'European' manufacturers (meaning made in China but at rock bottom prices, then sold at an enormous premium) can survive, let alone sell their stuff at 3 times the price of a DV while it's technically inferior.