??? Are Manufacturers Killing Our Hobby ???


 I had struck me recently that there is a GLUTTONY of equipment manufacturers these days & that,if not careful,the unchecked saturation of every corner of our hobby could bring about the demise of the entire industry..
 There are only so many consumers of audio reproduction equipment to go around.The younger generations,as a whole,seem uninterested in the pursuit of music reproduction in the home..Live music events are less & less about the music & more & more about the "show"being put on..
 Vendors at the last hi fi show I attended recently commented on how small the crowds were compared to previous years.
 Too much of anything is never a good thing in the long run...Is it possible that the unbridled ability of manufacturers to saturate the market with too many choices could be a DEATH knell to our hobby in the not to distant future?

freediver

Why, I as a lad remember when there were many audio stores in my city. This was back in the 60's and 70's. No one was complaining about too many vendors then.

"I had struck me recently that there is a GLUTTONY of equipment manufacturers these days & that,if not careful,the unchecked saturation of every corner of our hobby could bring about the demise of the entire industry."

This is another one of those threads that begin with a false premise as an attempt to stir the pot.  "Gluttony" is probably the wrong word since it mostly applies to the consumption side, not the supply side.  The premise then advances into fear-mongering, i.e., "the unchecked saturation...bring about the demise of the entire industry."  It sounds like what we hear from the news these days, "some are predicting...the sky is falling." 

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Agreed, it's a great time to be an audiophile. The selection of highend equipment, both new and used, has never been better in my opinion.

Simao, I see different ages 40 , 50 , 60 to 80. And some younger below forty as well. Male and female., From different countries as well. This is the biggest attendees even pre pandemic, I think. This year the parking lots are full even across the next building.

Not at all, quite the opposite...great having so much gear at so many prices available, makes this hobby stronger...

Actually this is the best time to be audiophile, so many choices , new or used. No manufacturers will kill this hobby. This hobby is ALIVe and Kicking. At axpona this year , so many attendees.

"@dill ??? WTH does it matter to you HTF I start my threads ???"

       It doesn't matter to me, just wondering why ... 

Its illogical to blame the manufacturers, too much choice is a bad thing!  Besides, the consumer always has the last say, if demand lacking manufacturer has to adapt or go out of business, if there is an issue its lack of demand. Finally, why should I care if the masses support or don't support high end audio, this is and has always been a niche hobby.

It’s nice as a consumer to have choice.  The obvious answer to the thread question is that it’s the lack of interest in traditional, as opposed to portable, audio, that’s the problem.  People just don’t want to sit and listen to music in the home

No manufacturers are not the ones killing the space. It is people who just engage in religious fervour of just buying things are what is killing this space. The manufacturers are just making stuff because people want those things more often than not even if they're useless, needless or downright have zero upside.

 

We shouldn't go blaming manufacturers. Portable audio space is thriving and that's because no one is approaching things there with mystique that is subscribed to by many in this space

To your question, no, the freedom to engage in commerce is not killing the hobby of home audio.

No worries, the law of supply and demand and the need for manufacturers to make a profit will keep it sorted out.