Is the idea of audiophile listening a dying concept as boomers die off?

The three best years for modern era high end audio sales in terms of units sold and revenue were 2021, 2022 and 2023.

This is a relevant metric, but it could indicate that a fairly rarefied segment of the population with resources is buying the equipment, not the average person.

Most of my friends are highly educated and have reasonably good resources (they can afford good audio but they don’t spend on it), and when I ask them to listen, 99% say they never do that. They listen on earbuds or Sonos or in the car.

I’m a member of the Colorado Audio Society and have gone to several meetings where there were a large number of people there. There are virtually no members under 50 in the group and maybe none under 40. It looks like the kind of audience you’d see at a classical music concert.

I’ve not been to a headphones convention but I know that skews younger. Since those folks have college debt and high rent prices to contend with, I’m not sure that many are buying multi-thousand dollar headphones.

Have you seen this blog post?

Median age of audiophiles is within the 50-60’s cohort these days. This means that we’re past the Baby Boomer peak and well into the Gen X demographic that the audiophile companies and magazines need to be appealing to as this generation matures.

People under 50 that can afford the pricier items have demanding jobs and families. I would count myself in that group and have 0 time to go to Audiophile group outing. I am happy if I can listen 2-3 hours a week. The luxury of time + money usually does not exist until later in life. It doesn’t mean that there are not a lot of mid age people interested or participating in the hobby.

Interesting anecdotal evidence. Something to combine with the survey data. Thanks. 

@ghasley  — I agree. The challenge of putting together a great audio system with little money is SO easy today compared to earlier. Especially with used stuff and a little knowledge. I agree with your posit.

Here's my posit: there is a level of sustained attention required for audio listening. That is why the gear matters. The more distraction there is, the less people engage in sustained attention. That's why audiophiles are a vanishing breed. Distraction will win and attention will lose — and you won't need expensive gear for the distractions. 

@roadcykler 

Who cares? Enjoy the music via whatever format you have.

I still don't get why people who think a thread is worthless take the time to sound off. I mean, don't they have a closet to go in and yell? Or a dog to kick?

Please don't answer me. I don't care.

@simao I would agree with you that convenience is more valued than fidelity, but there is nothing really different about the current generation, as @roadcykler pointed out.

Yet for today’s young music consumers, even three minutes is too long to sit still and focus on just one thing. And since songs can’t get any shorter (without becoming ridiculous), multitasking is the only solution. Thus we have entered the “Multitask Generation,” whose membership feels the need to also be doing something else while listening to music.

That something else could be watching a related video, doing homework, playing an on-line game, or being on the go. Music alone no longer suffices. The rise of the Multitask Era also explains why so much music today is consumed on YouTube, which conveniently provides a choice of accompanying videos. Similarly, music award shows are no longer about the music but rather are about unique, attention-grabbing performances….

Now imagine a member of the current Multitask Generation buying a high-quality (not necessarily expensive) stereo system for the purpose of sitting in one spot and doing one thing for a relatively lengthy (by today’s standards) block of time. Not gonna happen. I don’t care how exposed this person has been to better-quality sound, this scenario simply does not fit the current short-attention-span, multitasking lifestyle.

So what is the high-end industry to do? First, it must understand that exposure to good sound is a necessary but not sufficient precursor to creating a new customer for traditional sound systems. High-end designers must pursue avenues that somehow address the attention-span issue.

https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/the-attention-span-gap/

@wsrrsw 

Might I add that if you want to know what other people are thinking, then don’t use yourself or your friends as core samples.

Point taken. Be warned: 90% of this site runs on (freely, cavierly, recklessly) with anecdotes with a sample of one. ;-) 

The other alternative would be for people to withhold their opinion. LOL.

@hilde45 I’m not sure I buy the attention span argument made in the article you referenced. I’m a member of r/kindle and from people’s self descriptions it is clear many younger people buy kindles to sit and focus on reading. Younger people sit and focus on binge watching episodes.

You're not sure you buy it -- ok. This is an empirical question about a wide range of behaviors over large populations. There are studies, and then there are anecdotes. If the interest in the answer to the question is scientific, the agreement on definitions and methods is primary; if the interest is just casual, then anecdotes are, however flimsy, sufficient.

@ghasley +1

Aww, I'm such a meanie to the criminals. To a di-k-thing ni--a criminal gangsta, it's all the same thing after that anyways.

Shouldn't you be storming a capitol somewhere complaining about your privilege?