I believe we audiophiles create the market for high performing audio equipment, which in turn allows electronic engineers with a desire to create great sounding audio equipment the opportunity to do so.
Take for example companies like Audio Research, Wilson, and Pass. These guys risked every penny they had to create the very best audio experience possible. Take William Zane Johnson… his sacrifices to creating the best sound and a brand everyone could trust was epic. He nearly went bankrupt when a supplier sent him a batch of capacitors that blew up. Bill took every one of them back and repaired them at his own cost… it nearly killed his company. But integrity and complete dedication to the art was his motivation.
I have had the privilege of working for one of the innovators of the age when many of these companies were founded… for 20 years. This was Tom Brown… founder of Burr-Brown Corporation. One of the premier brands of DAC and ADC chips (and many other) used in high end audio for many decades. Tom like William were incredibly brilliant innovators that were humble, honest, insightful, and incredibly hard working (think over 80 hours a week).
Read about some of these companies and there founders. If you want to get rich… this is not it. These guys nearly destroyed their lives to found these companies. So, the community that appreciates high end sound gives opportunities for these companies to make assaults on the high end.
As every where some shisters try to jump on the tails of genius and dedication… but most of the guys producing megabit stuff are legitimate innovators.
