More potential bad news for some big names...

@yyzsantabarbara touched on something I noticed in regard to the younger audiences. They seem more willing to spend larger sums on personal high-end audio, like four figure headphones/IEMs, and five figure headphone amps (I’d love a Zahl myself, but can’t justify the cost).

To their credit, these younger listeners tend to be more open to differing opinions surrounding gear and how it’s implemented in their systems ( even supplemental EQ, gasp!). The headphone community seems to have a lot less gatekeeping, that the traditional 2-channel hobby has in spades. Source: try asking a question about CD players here. 

Larger manufacturers could follow the likes of Sony and Yamaha and expand into high-end the personal audio space, rather than attempt to lure in new buyers with cheaply made lifestyle components.
 

1)

Market Saturation....

It is quite easy for every bozo and his uncle to sell a speaker out of his garage these days with big margins. In spite of his severe lack of aptitude, he’ll buy drivers from somewhere, slap it on a board and send it to some paid YT reviewer to launch himself (start to look legit outta nowhere).

2)

The greedy old men never give any money to their descendants to help the latter out. Such old men are dumber/have lower aptitude than their descendants actually. But, it was a lot easier to make money back in those days than now.

etc, etc

No surprise. This has been happening since cable TV was gaining popularity. The more forms of entertainment, the less of a slice each one gets. Even now I'd much rather watch a concert video than sit and stare at two big boxes like we did back in the 70's and 80's. But it was either that or watch three channels on TV.

A brand or two may disappear.  But I would not expect audio Armageddon just yet.. Some brands will continue under new ownership (like McIntosh).  As an aside, it appears that Bose is going to continue to let McIntosh be McIntosh in terms of design and build.  I think that is good news. 

I prefer to buy American when I can (my DAC [Musical Fidelity] is made in China.  Most of the rest of my gear is U.S. made [PS Audio Amp; Aric Audio Pre-Amp; Magnepan speakers; Audeze headphones]

I don't dis folks who buy Chinese made audio.  Most of the more affordable gear, and much of the higher end gear is made there.  However I don't wring my hands over the fortunes of companies, particularly American companies. that manufacture goods in China, because they can get away with paying the workers there subsistence wages.

I live in N.E.O. as some  of the first people who commented on here. I have been to Don Better Audio. It was pretty cool actually. But we have a couple other stores local also. I think Audio Craft in Cleveland. And Sound and Vision in Cuyahoga falls. moved but it is still here. But we have three of us on here that are from this area. So we are around. I have been to Axpona three times lately. So we have the people in this area. I 💬 no the stores were snobby and would never cut deals. That's what caused them to shut down around here.