In Reply to: What's keeping more people from becoming audiophiles? posted by scruffy_ on August 8, 2012 at 23:51:57:
Liz and Tony made some great remarks, which ring true IMO.
Folks and young enthusiasts are approaching things differently. Add the nose dived economy and frictional income, the rules for the majority have changed.
In talking with the new intern here at work, its amazing how differently he and others approach things now. He loves music and is VERY bright and knowledgeable. He loves the handful of vintage stereo gear hes come upon. But his real driving force is well designed and reviewed "pro" audio gear. IMO that cult following never really disappeared and I would venture to guess, held strong with good reason.
Nowadays, allot of smart and innovative electronic designers and manufacturers and focusing there efforts and marketing to pro / prosumers market. They know there products are good, know they cant (and dont wish to) compete with the likes of many multi thousand "audiophile" gear. They design a good product, with adequate parts quality in an enclosure thats affordable to manufacture and practical to sell.
IMO its a demographic that shows allot of promise and room to grow and compete with one another without betting the farm in the process of. If one read forums that are focusing on whats come out in the mass industry and not just "audiophile" gear, they praise gear thats affordable and effective. Allot of which, high end is one to two grand, and lots of interest and testing / use is given to sub thousand gear.
Id like to add, this is not to say there is no good reason for "audiophile" gear. But as so many manufactures choose to focus on MEGA buck priced gear that CLEARLY has to chance of working class folks paying any attention to it. Only those of us who are working class will chose to spend multi thousand on a piece of gear to use for classic listening stereos. We are a shrinking demograph. Oh well. Lots of gear at the bottom and top of the $ food chain.
My guess is allot of young music enthusiasts look at
Sweetwater
Casio Music
Musicians Friend
B&H
so on...
And as more and more folks sell off their excess collected vintage gear that may find its way into young hands, so long as its competitive with affordable pro gear. Who knows...
The enthusiast scene is alive in well. It just doesnt relate closely with what many "audiophiles" perceive.
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Follow Ups
- Inaccurate, more its changeing. Lots of interest by MANY! - 2chJunkie 08:14:50 08/09/12 (0)