I wonder if we are the last of a generation that grew up with hi-fi and made it an important part of our lives ... It just doesn't seem to be a priority to some of the younger generation ... I'm not lamenting the loss of the good old days, but I see the changes ... I'm also a geezer and I'm struck by how our world has changed and will continue to change.
Music and media were completely different when we were young, @whart, and were much less fragmented. As a result, a generation could largely define itself through its music which, at the time, often had powerful social messages. That made music a central element of many people's lives and the stereo system was obviously part of that.
Consider this: As late as into the mid-70s, consumer research (in the US) showed the second major purchase contemplated by newlyweds was a stereo system. The Number One primary purchase was a bed.
Yup, "our world has changed." But for many of us, we will always cherish our stereo systems.