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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 williewonka

williewonka
3,072 posts
 
@ erik_squires - The name of this thread seems to imply that the DIYer had "passed on"?

DIYers have, and always will be around, mainly because there are so many things you CAN do for yourself in this hobby - i.e. if desired.

From tweaks, like using rebar stands for cable elevators, to building your own gear, the spectrum of DIY projects is vast

DIYer’s choose their path because they are interested in the specific subject matter and are prepared to invest the time/effort in their quest

But those that elect not to DIY do so because they may not have the time or desire to invest in a particular DIY pursuit

I, like many, am somewhere in the middle, in that I "pick my battles"
  • I design/build cables, because basically it is quite easy to build a great performing cable and all the parts are readily available, but my knowledge came by trying many different cables/types
  • I DO make small tweaks to other things, like my turntable
  • I DO NOT build my components anymore because I tried and failed
  • I DO NOT tweak my components by making circuit upgrades, because I feel (rightly or wrongly) that it may impact resale value
  • I personally, DO NOT build my speakers, because when I look at todays speakers and the design and testing efforts the makers go through, I am sure that I cannot build anything that would compete with them - but I could be wrong - and I respect those that do.
I’m sure there are many others out there that take a similar approach in varying degrees, based on their knowledge and skill sets

Someone posted earlier that the demise of Radio Shack had a huge impact on the possibility of pursing a DIY approach.
  • But others have found alternate component sources,
  • some of which provide vastly superior components than what Radio Shack previously offered.
  • The demise of Radio Shack simply made DIY a little less convenient for some in the DIY community

Also, I see no "shame" in not DIYing, but there is also little validity in thinking a DIY solution cannot possibly be as good as branded products.

Should a person that builds from Kits be considered DIYer ?
  • Certainly, because many times they make minor adjustments to either the parts used or the actual design
  • Even if they just built the kit without changes - they probably saved a ton of money in the process, which is another aspect of DIY

A sense of personal achievement derived from a DIY project is no different from the joy of hearing the improvements that the "shiny new whatever" you just purchased has made to your system

Is there a resurgence in DIY?
  • Maybe, but for me it never really went away
Could it be due to the current "COVID" climate?
  • Perhaps
  • maybe it’s due to us all having more time on our hands?
Or is it due more to the plethora of DIY web sites that now make the DIY avenue more palpable - i.e.by "the sharing of knowledge"
  • e.g. This forum has members that posses a vast wealth of knowledge across the entire spectrum of the audiophile world to draw on.
You can use that knowledge to:
  • buy better components and cables or
  • use it to fabricate your very own solutions
  • it’s your choice - which is ultimately the right approach for each individual
But as people attain more knowledge, they may tend to be more "adventurous" in their DIY pursuits.
  • Perhaps THAT is the reason?
My own cable pursuits have evolved by the input from other DIYers around the world over the last 6 years
  • so for me - the DIY world has always been very active
Regards - Steve

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