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The return of the DIYer

I’ve been thinking about several trends and forces that are affecting our hobby and how this will change things.

The global pandemic and supply issues, unemployment and how disposable income has dwindled in the middle class over the last 30-40 years. The brick and mortar showroom is vanishing, and audio shows have become scarce. About the only aspect of the audio industry which has not dwindled or hurt as much are bloggers/review sites and DIY suppliers.

Our hobby grew up out of tinkerers and experimenters, and then seemed to have been subsumed by the all powerful consumer. The arm chair speaker or amplifier designer who could talk tech without every doing a bit of math or soldering became what we call a "true audiophile" so long as they regularly bought and sold gear.

Now though, perhaps the tables are turning. The lack of funds in many an audiophile’s pocket, lack of ability to go listen for yourself, I’d like to believe the age of the mega speaker holding the cover of audio magazines is over. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing most mega-speakers vanish, being rarely more than excess without commensurate capabilities. Tweaked sounds, and fashionable trends in frequency alterations dominated the press and showrooms.

Is that all over? And if it is over, are we ready to return to our roots as makers instead of buyers, or are we in a temporary malaise? Nothing more than a flu from which we will bounce back? Or is the DIY er himself to vanish as well with the hobby?
erik_squires

Showing 3 responses by alexberger

alexberger
865 posts
 

I started my hobby around 1998. I changed components very frequently like many audiophiles.

And around 2002 I finished with a system: Nottingham Spacedeck turntable, Cary 303 CD player, Plinius 8200 integrated amp and Spendor 2/3 speakers. I was young bachelor and I had a good job in High Tech company, but even than this setup was crazy expansive for me.

But I wanted a better sound without spending more…

As result I moved to vintage (McIntosh MC30amplifier , Lenco L78, EMT 948 turntables, Altec 604E speakers) and later to DIY (300B SET, phonostage).

Now my system doesn’t cost more versus my 2002 system, but in term of sound and musical enjoyment it is a number of steps ahead.


alexberger
865 posts
 
Hi @mrklas ,

I have a much more interesting journey that most audiophiles buying a new stuff. I always tweaking my amplifier, phonostage, crossover. I change schematics and parts. I customize everything for MY TASTE.
And yes I have some background that helps me too, BSc in Electronics.
My DIY experience gave me much deeper understanding in audio compared to people that know nothing about electronics but brainwashed by sneaky audio dealers and reviewers.
Yes, I went to audio show and audio salons before the pandemic. A just a few of rooms I heard sounded good.
And the most interesting no correlation between the prices of the systems and sound quality. Actually most super expensive rooms on shows sound horrible!
alexberger
865 posts
 
In 2001-2003, my friend and I traveled several times a week throughout Israel to the apartments of the audiophiles. At that time, I was looking for an amplifier instead of my Plinius 8200, the sound of which did not suit me then. Then I had Spendor 2/3 speakers.

1. I then came across an amplifier from the 50s MacIntosh MC30. I was shocked how much better, more natural, more musical it was than my not cheap Plinius 8200.
2. Once, we ended up in a house where there was a homemade system with Lowther speakers with large front horns Oris 150 and 2a3 amplifiers. The sound that we heard shocked us. Everything that we have heard before could not be compared. We were like medieval knights who suddenly saw a modern army with tanks and aircraft.
3. After some time, I bought a Lenco L78 turntable for a penny. I put it on a heavy birch plywood plinth and fitted a vintage SME 3009 tonearm. I was surprised how much more accurate this turntable sounded in reproducing the rhythm of the music, how much better and more elaborate the bass and more natural tone of the piano compared to the much more expensive Nottingham Spacedeck which I had it then.

Since then, I realized that it was a fiction that the audio industry progress and what a solution for me is vintage audio and DIY audio.
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