«40% Of Audiophiles Are Dying And No One Is Doing Anything About It!»

I’ve noticed this weird correlation between listening to lps and death.  Maybe the covariance between listening to lps and age holds a clue.  

But seriously, the summer before my sophomore year in college, I used a significant chunk of my summer earnings to purchase new speakers for my system - Polk 10s for $600.  Using my handy-dandy cpi calculator, that’s $2600 in today’s dollars, which would purchase some pretty kick-ass speakers for a college student today.  So I don’t think it’s about debt levels, cost of systems today, etc.  It’s just about what younger people value, and what they don’t.  

When I was younger, the one thing a freshman in college needed before they went to college was a stereo.  For my children - the youngest of whom is now 30(!) - we had to make sure they had a good laptop (cuz they already had their phone).  And of course we don’t blink twice about spending $1000 on an iphone and $2000 for a laptop.  I use a new phone and computer for anywhere from 3-5 years (or more); my kids?  More like 1-3 years.  So it’s really just about what technology the younger generation values and want to spend their disposable income on (and of course how they listen to music).

So the obvious reason for the shrinking audiophile population is that being an audiophile was a natural progression from the way everyone listened to music 50 years ago.  Cheap console systems had built in turntables and, in many cases, cassette decks.  If you wanted better sound, the path forward was obvious.  For our children, the path forward from how they listen to music is more likely improved earbuds or headphones.  It’s just not a straight line.  So I guess Ive just convinced myself that the audiophile market is a bubble that is almost guaranteed to bust.  I’m shorting Harman shares, lol!

I'm 58 and I cannot think of any of my younger friends or acquaintances that have or want anything more than a home theater receiver and a few speakers. Most are buying "bluetooth speakers" and don't even want to know that their audio is crap. None of them sit and listen to music for the sake of sitting and listening and enjoying. Music is a background thing while they are doing whatever the hell they do for fun. It's sure not obsessing over having the big stereo amplifier to the better pre-amp. It's rare that anyone walking past my audio gear even gives it a second look or asks anything other than " I bet that is loud." It's true, the audiophile of the past is dying off. 

I'm trying to make more of "me" to carry on the interest but my wife is too old to deliver 

The simple fact is you can get better sound for your money now than when I bought my first system in 1977. The gap b/t entry level and high end is narrower than ever. Streaming/digital is the difference. Those who would argue that haven't listened to a Qobuz through a $200 WIIM over $300 Elac speakers driven by a $100 Fosi amp. I think younger people would rather travel, hike, fine done etc. It takes money to accumulate all the "look at me living a good life" photos posted on social media.  

I have a 29 year old son who is to busy working, gaming or going out with his girlfriend to care about my older Krell Gear so I sold it all off went with the newer 

Illusion pre and 300xd amp with silver cables This he understands how to use

for 2 channel while watching movies on the 80" but has no intrest in gear.

This is the younger generation they see no need for hi-end gear. Even though he has peerfect pitch and can play the piano and has worked with me in Chicago doing Pyro for a lot o fhis favorite bands. He just is tobusywith his life to car.