In Reply to: It's one anyone can identify with... posted by mkuller on February 21, 2015 at 11:52:31:
...can't disagree that Joe probably doesn't understand the details of the engineering underlying the performance of a Porsche but he knows it's there and can relate to it and readily appreciate the result. Not so with high end audio. Lately, what gets publicized is the fringe aspect of it, not the mainstream (assuming there is one). And the fringe can seem pretty kooky to someone on the outside.
Bottom line is that high end audio is largely irrelevant to the average person and the fringe stuff just adds an embarrassment factor to the situation. Given a choice betw a $100K audio system and a $100K Porsche, Joe is going to choose the Porsche every time. It wouldn't surprise me if Joe were given the choice betw a $10K HTS and a $100K audio system, he'd choose the HTS....unless he could sell the audio system and purchase both a used Porsche AND a new HTS with the proceeds of the sale. In that case he might opt for the audio-only system.
BTW, the use of the word "denier" I think is not entirely appropriate. I know of no one denying the existence of audiophiles but I do know of some that deny the benefits of the apparent mysticism and majik often associated with audiophillia. Unfortunately for audiophilliadom, the majik stuff is often what the uninitiated gets exposure to these days and it frequently leaves a negative impression.
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Follow Ups
- You seem to be out of touch with Joe sixpack... - Steve O 12:54:39 02/21/15 (1)
- "Lately, what gets publicized is the fringe aspect of it" - E-Stat 13:09:39 02/21/15 (0)