In the December issue of TAS they report their subscriber numbers (it’s required for print magazines). They printed 16,250 copies a month (average for previous 12 months). Total paid circulation was 14,188. There are also about 11,700 paid electronic copies
I don’t have my Stereophiles handy. Their numbers are higher but shrinking too.
I’m not saying there are 26,000 audiophiles but these numbers give some indication that there aren’t a huge number of us.