I’m 37, I got my first rig at 26 having previously used computer speakers hooked up to my laptop. I had no idea about hifi, I just knew I wanted better sound and from there it spiralled into the greatest adventure. Unless you first love music, and then want that reproduced as well as it can be hifi will never be for you. Most people ‘like’ music but it’s not their focus so how well it sounds doesn’t even register. In all my time following this hobby I’ve found two people that care about my system and only one of them that had their own. While this blows my mind, it confirms my thoughts that too few people care about sound quality and no amount of marketing will change that. The people that do will eventually seek it out (I originally went to buy better computer speakers and ended up calling a hifi store). I have a listening room and I sit there for hours listening to music as the activity and there is nothing I enjoy doing more - there are some of us under 40 that do! It seems true hifi or the passion for it will always be a subset of true music lovers, but that’s what also keeps it quite interesting.
Rant against the industry with hopes for discussion on positive change
As a 20 year hobbyist who has worked around the industry and made tons of contacts I really worry about the future of this hobby.
For the last 30 years the industry has catered to an aging clientele which I can tell you as a used gear guy a large percentage of my inventory comes from audiophiles who have passed away and at 38 i rarely meet people my age or near who are hobbyists.
The industry is about the shadiest mainstream industry that has fought standards tooth and nail which is why amp and speaker ratings are all over the place confusing and discouraging the casual consumer.
Millenials and Gen Z have spoken loudly that they won’t support shady business practices however market trends show that like audiophiles they bought a cheap Bluetooth speaker, than eventually a better and eventually a nice one. They want a option that is currently really only available from Devialet and a couple other manufactures.
Also sales people use the technique that “you don’t know how to listen to music, you need to sit motionless in one spot” music reproduction needs to adapt to modern life where people are living smaller spaces with far more media options than ever before.
As a guy on the border of Gen X and millennial I’ve built 4 rigs for friends over the years because I always get the response of “I can’t give up a whole wall, that’s insane”
I would really like to see a company make a 12” and 15” Tannoy gold tv stand with volume control, bass, treble and loudness knobs as well as USB charging with an outlet strip on the back and a shelf for a PS5 or Xbox… that way they get big clean sound for example
What are y’all’s thoughts on ways the industry can still thrive and meet the new demands of consumers while getting good music to more people? Without a new influx I don’t see how the majority of brands and brick and mortars and stay on business due to a decline in clientele