In Reply to: What's keeping more people from becoming audiophiles? posted by scruffy_ on August 8, 2012 at 23:51:57:
Back in the 1950's 1960's 1970's folks interested in music could look at equipment they could afford. It might have been a little expensive, but just about anyone could own a top notch system.
This was true all through the 50's 60's and 70's.
So folks discovered the better sounding stuff than others, but we all had a reasonably good systems (foor the time) for not too much cash.
Even stereo consoles were cool.
And back then not much competition for time. TV was just a few channels, and generally folks did not have too many distractions.Then the 1980's and suddenly ALL the prices started skyrocketing. (Curious this was also the time cables started becoming a boutique item)
A lot of stuff suddenly was doubling in price.
The 1990s and later the whole 'high end' was born, where millionaires might baulk at blowing a half million... But COULD on a system.
Before the 1980s.. the absolute top price might have been in the $40,000 range. after, one part could be that much easy.Also by the 1990s computers and computer or console games took over the young. Plus cable TV now gave 200 channels instead of three or four.
And everyone had stuff to do. Leasure time evaporated.Aside from all that back in the 50's AM radio was king on tube Am sets. The little Japanese transistor radios, and car AM.
Then FM was added in. Cassettes gave rise to portable music you could carry rather than a radio.
Then CD came along. then Ipods..
All sorts of people still listen to music, no problem.The problem now is the insane way 'audiophile' is marketed.
Anything less than megabuck stuff is called junk.
If you were starting out? do you want to spend a few thousand, and have it all be called junk? then cables, the need for spending money on them instead of just using the ones stuff comes with. Why? becuase no one would use that crap.
And it goes on. What ordinary person would get into this shit we call high end, or even stero components anymore. No sane person.
Way too much information overload, all of that information contradicts itself all the time, anyone starting out has no chance to get in cheap and be able to hold their head up and be happy. Everything is a giant messed up mush of bullshit.So who would want to bother??
I can remember when i was 15 and got my first equipment, I knew it was good stuff. Now, anyone new is just lost at sea. And why bother? All their friends have Ipods, and are happy.
So it is entirely our own fault, for becoming a nitch product, which has marginalized itself out of business. Except for Ipod docks, and computer music, and downloading MP3s.
So we F*ed ourselves. We became so specialized we are becoming extinct.
Edits: 08/09/12
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Follow Ups
- No one is 'ignoring' music. What they ARE ignoring is the insane audiophile world - Elizabeth 01:19:45 08/09/12 (19)
- RE: No one is 'ignoring' music. What they ARE ignoring is the insane audiophile world - Disbeliever 00:35:18 01/25/13 (0)
- Yep - josh358 16:54:01 08/13/12 (0)
- RE: You nailed it - navman 08:42:46 08/10/12 (1)
- RE: You nailed it - Raymond Leggs 10:20:29 08/10/12 (0)
- RE: No one is 'ignoring' music. What they ARE ignoring is the insane audiophile world - esande 18:53:59 08/09/12 (0)
- Nailed it. - Timbo in Oz 15:05:51 08/09/12 (0)
- Great post, Elizabeth! Downfall started with Stereo Stores becoming Audio Saloons... - musetap 09:48:06 08/09/12 (1)
- Should read Salon. IF Saloon(s) there would likely be MORE interest!...N/T - musetap 12:33:28 08/09/12 (0)
- Good one. * - Enophile 06:45:29 08/09/12 (0)
- RE: No one is 'ignoring' music. What they ARE ignoring is the insane audiophile world - Tony Lauck 06:12:42 08/09/12 (2)
- "the "J" word was yet to hit the scene" - rick_m 08:08:15 08/09/12 (1)
- RE: "the "J" word was yet to hit the scene" - Tony Lauck 10:10:21 08/09/12 (0)
- +1 - mls-stl 05:41:28 08/09/12 (0)
- I blame the computer - AKG106 02:52:08 08/09/12 (5)
- RE: I blame the computer - Raymond Leggs 11:01:36 08/09/12 (1)
- RE: I blame the computer - AKG106 15:12:19 08/09/12 (0)
- That's ironic. - Presto 10:39:13 08/09/12 (2)
- RE: That's ironic. - AKG106 14:57:31 08/09/12 (0)
- RE: That's ironic. - Raymond Leggs 12:29:27 08/09/12 (0)