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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 1 response by artemus_5

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artemus_5
1,913 posts
 
+1 @ mrklas We indeed do

live in a world of specialization.

And this specialization has brought about a society which has knowledge of one small piece of the pie. Yet fewer than ever understand what the whole pie is supposed to taste like
I’m with you. i have no desire to build my components. I love the music. I don’t buy & sell equipment on a regular basis. I just want music
From @ erik_squires

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.


IOW the unqualified entrepreneur entered the mfg sector. But it doesn’t stop with audio. It is every product. We used to have entrepreneurs who were proud of their products because it represented them and WHO they are. this is not true of corporations. No one cares as long as it sells and keeps the investors happy. So, our whole economy is based around the investor who has NO interest in the product but wants to make his profit product be damned.
Will it turn around? I certainly hope so. But I’ve been waiting for it for 30-40 yrs.
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