I can't wait until we have more standalone "connected audio appliance" pieces like the Linn DS and the upcoming PS Audio PerfectWave DAC w/bridge. I still like to have hard-copies of all my CDs for archival purposes, in addition to a computer-based backup of my ripped music, but I ELIMINATED my "shelves" years ago. For the most part, I don't care about the physical media. It's all in Rubbermaid storage containers under the guest bed now anyhow and I'm happy to have the space back.
Here's where I get nasty: I agree with the original poster almost wholeheartedly. From my vantage point, the "comb-over" generation (including the manufacturers, resellers AND USERS of Hi-Fi in general) are IMO obliterating their own market and making it much less appealing for the younger crowd: price-wise and feature-wise. Baby Boomers who don't get computer stuff: you're dying and taking the industry with you. Please fix this. Almost nobody buys CDs anymore. I live in the DC area and we have had several great local HiFi shops close in the past year or so. Younger folks (like myself: I'm in my late 20's) sadly seem to be more content with the just-good-enough iPod sound quality and superior usability. In college, I used to be more involved with the Head-Fi community and loved headphone systems - as that market age-group matures, I see them matriculating to speaker-based systems, etc. so there will probably always be a small crowd.
What the industry is lacking (or at best, is behind with) is innovation. I see USB DACs as a "comb-over" solution - and I may be offending the strict computer audiophile crowd by saying this, but I do NOT want a PC Computer anywhere near my audio system or entertainment system/TV, for that matter. Personally, I will spend my hard-earned dollars on --and believe the future is in(!)-- purpose-made embedded/integrated systems such as the aforementioned Linn/PS Audio components with an easy-to-use HCI component - iPhone/iPad app, Android app, dedicated controller, whatever... I give major props to Paul McGowan and his group for trying to make this a reality for moderately less money than Linn.
Here's where I get nasty: I agree with the original poster almost wholeheartedly. From my vantage point, the "comb-over" generation (including the manufacturers, resellers AND USERS of Hi-Fi in general) are IMO obliterating their own market and making it much less appealing for the younger crowd: price-wise and feature-wise. Baby Boomers who don't get computer stuff: you're dying and taking the industry with you. Please fix this. Almost nobody buys CDs anymore. I live in the DC area and we have had several great local HiFi shops close in the past year or so. Younger folks (like myself: I'm in my late 20's) sadly seem to be more content with the just-good-enough iPod sound quality and superior usability. In college, I used to be more involved with the Head-Fi community and loved headphone systems - as that market age-group matures, I see them matriculating to speaker-based systems, etc. so there will probably always be a small crowd.
What the industry is lacking (or at best, is behind with) is innovation. I see USB DACs as a "comb-over" solution - and I may be offending the strict computer audiophile crowd by saying this, but I do NOT want a PC Computer anywhere near my audio system or entertainment system/TV, for that matter. Personally, I will spend my hard-earned dollars on --and believe the future is in(!)-- purpose-made embedded/integrated systems such as the aforementioned Linn/PS Audio components with an easy-to-use HCI component - iPhone/iPad app, Android app, dedicated controller, whatever... I give major props to Paul McGowan and his group for trying to make this a reality for moderately less money than Linn.