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The Mainstreaming of Audiophilia

So I found this just goofy enough to be fun: I picked up the May issue of GQ today and found in it a feature which takes a survey of cost-no-object material goods and provides a verdict for each on whether they're worth it. Among the few worth-it winners: Wilson Audio's Alexandra X-2, at $148,000 a pair (hence the speakers forum). The losers include Kobe beef, white truffles, pricey golf clubs, and a night in the Ty Warner suite at Four Seasons (all of which go for a lot less).

It seems to me I've lately seen a decent amount of mainstream press coverage of audiophile goods and issues, from news coverage of the evils of dynamic compression to general-readership features on great headphones, high-end speakers, and the wonders of vinyl. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed incidences of this trend and if we might compile a list--it seems positive to me, and a possible outgrowth of, or reaction against, iPod mania.
ablang
9 responses Add your response
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Well if this was an attempt at adding cred to Audiophiles listing the Wilson speakers will probably breed contempt, how can they justify this example?
kmulkey
173 posts
 
Much of this has to do with the demographics of those who buy this stuff. Namely, baby boomers. Most of us (yours truly included) are making as much as we ever have and have the expendable income to spend thousands on turntables, speakers, amps, and cartridges. Not to mention $30 a pop for the latest re-issue of whomever on vinyl. We remember what a fun ritual spinning vinyl was and we still like it. There's just something "sterile" about putting a CD in a drawer, it disappears and suddenly sound comes out of your kit. It was much more "real" to see a disc spinning.
And we can tell, barring hearing loss, just how horrendous 128, 192 and even 256k mp3's sound. I stop at 256k because I must admit, music I've burned at 320k isn't all that atrocious, though definitely not audiophile quality.
ablang OP
165 posts
 
I'm not so sure about the boomer demographic alone being the target, as part of what I'm interested in here is the depiction of great audio equipment not only as a pleasure but as a component of--in this example--the (for many aspirational) good life. I agree, Chadnliz, that some people might look at six-figure speakers and scoff, but many might scoff at the $1.5 million Bugatti the article I mention features, too. Both look pretty cool, are well crafted, and exemplify what's possible at the top of the scale. Even if the examples are out of reach, they get people's interest--and I've seen lower priced gear like Pro-Ject's USB TT featured elsewhere.

I live in a college town and in the past year have started to see Grado SR60s and SR80s and some decent Sennheiser cans replacing earbuds and Bose. Media exposure can't hurt--and I think the message is getting in through people's ears.
tgrisham
1,291 posts
 
I think it is a great trend toward enjoying music at home. Interesting that as the youngest generation drifts toward simplicity and portability, we drift toward quality and the unique. It is a great time to be in this hobby as long as we don't take ourselves too seriously. The quality of the gear is outstanding, and sometimes expensive. I wonder what the relative cost is compared to the best of the 50s and 60s, McIntosh, etc.
samujohn's avatar
samujohn
291 posts
 
The relative cost appears to be several time higher. In the era of the $500 McIntosh, a luxury car was around $5000, so adding a zero to the price gets one in the ballpark. Today we have lots of pieces that sell for three to five times that amount. Recordings, on the other hand, are cheaper. Monophonic records were $3.98 and stereo records were a whopping $5.98!
tripper
223 posts
 
Ablang--You sure that isn't A-bling?
ablang OP
165 posts
 
Ha! Not on my salary. :)
nilthepill
842 posts
 
This month or last month's Playboy issue featured all MBL system (top level costing upwards of $!99000) and touted its virtues. Of course this was along with other expensive luxury goods.... Yea I would call this mainstreaming of audiophilia alright ;-)
kmulkey
173 posts
 
Ah yes, the good old days when vinyl was king and only cost $6. Very sweet.
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