??? Are Manufacturers Killing Our Hobby ???

And OP "Are Manufacturers Killing Our Hobby"  NO 

I’ve not taken the time to do research to back this up, but as someone who worked in hi-fi stores in my younger days, there were a lot more brands back in the 70-80’s. It was a combination of manufactures and consumers that killed a lot of the midfi stores. It use to be that shopping for a hi-fi system was an adventure. You would shout for a receiver, speaker, turntable, cartridge, tape deck, etc, it it might be done in a single effort, most time it was multiple visits to several shops. Then manufactures like Fisher and Pioneer wanted to make it easier for consumers, and they started to offer pre-packaged systems. Then we downsides to bookshelf systems. Again, no auditioning of components needed, jut buy everything in one package. Now we’re at a point when a lot of people use their little Alexa boxes for music. I have multiple midranges systems in multiple rooms in my house. Heck I even have a system in my garage for when I’m working out there. One of my son’s is a musician/music teacher. Listens to music on his phone. NO trust stereo system in his house at all. That is where we are. Convince of use and size is a dictator for the masses. Yes the industry is shrinking because a lot of people find their phone for streaming devices satisfactory for listening to music, and because of that, not enough equipment can be sold to support local hi-fi shops and/or manufactures like there once were. Just my observations. 

Maybe if “we” didn’t start almost every forum post with some form of personal attack on those trying to ask an informational question that contains not so well disguised language by those who seem entitled by the number of posts - I have been deeply interested in my audio systems for as long as my 70-yr old memory will allow - and in my post retirement life, I have resurrected my interest and equipment purchases to obsessive levels.  I joined this group hoping to share my thoughts and interests with some “veteran” audiophiles, as I found that my passion and knowledge had not kept up with the changing technology.  That being said, I’M DONE - I have found that I am hesitant to ask a question of the group for fear of some substantial level of insult or belittlement - I have only been a moderately active participant, but if you are actually interested in growing or maintaining interest and/ or membership you might want to look in the mirror - using abbreviations doesn’t make your comments appear any more intelligent and certainly doesn’t encourage participation by those who might have been positively influenced by your experience - let’s see what kind of abbreviation I see to let me know you don’t really care what I think - !  My guess is that the lack of engagement with the 20 to 40 yr olds may have less to do with dollars and more to do with finding somewhere more accommodating.  And just for clarification, I’m not a prude - I have as foul mouth as anyone when I am in control and is appropriate- and there is little chance of me recommending my 38yr old daughter, who is developing her own obsession with vinyl (and sharing the interest with my granddaughter) to look to this group for information and encouragement.

@krkingar well said..