For whatever reasons I don't think hi-fi does equate as a status symbol-it simply does not feature in populist terms.
If you look at lifestyle type magazines the hi-fi stuff that is featured is picked for it's design or it's minimilist trendy styling and they are nearly always systems not seperates.
Other items such as cars,watches,clothes etc. do equate because they feature status -wise in a much more easily identifiable way--i.e the herd identifies with it.
Consider this a classic retro-style car could/would be seen as cool-can you imagine a Linn Sondek with a tube amp and Quad speakers being seen as cool?
Only to a very select few.
Don't get me wrong,an awful lot of hi-fi was and still is both aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully designed but it is too esoteric for the masses.
Again that's not to say the look of our equipment doesn't play a major part for audiophiles-consciously or sub-consciously.
Nor does it say that some audiophiles haven't compromised "quality" for practicality or looks.
If you look at lifestyle type magazines the hi-fi stuff that is featured is picked for it's design or it's minimilist trendy styling and they are nearly always systems not seperates.
Other items such as cars,watches,clothes etc. do equate because they feature status -wise in a much more easily identifiable way--i.e the herd identifies with it.
Consider this a classic retro-style car could/would be seen as cool-can you imagine a Linn Sondek with a tube amp and Quad speakers being seen as cool?
Only to a very select few.
Don't get me wrong,an awful lot of hi-fi was and still is both aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully designed but it is too esoteric for the masses.
Again that's not to say the look of our equipment doesn't play a major part for audiophiles-consciously or sub-consciously.
Nor does it say that some audiophiles haven't compromised "quality" for practicality or looks.