So I am 74 and just 5 years ago just learned by accident what tubes sounds like compared to Solid-state to my ears..I feel blessed and was blown away what oldie songs can produce in detail that I never heard before..But I started with 6k Tube Amp and 8k Speakers..And was very happy for 5 years.. And if people come in to hear that system they would say it sounded Clear..What most would say Clear..Only a few could hear the real detail of the music..I only use my system during very late Fall and Winter..And maybe 2 hours a week at that...I play at 75bd with tinnitus and my wife hates to hear my music...I hate country but her and her son will go to Country Music Concert couple times a year and listen at 100db but my music at 75 is to high..But this year decided to trade old tube amp for one 3 times cost of old one... Now most who know me thought I was F'''' Nuts with what I had before and money spent....So talking to wife and if something happens to me and what to do with equipment...Funny how you think when older..But had a cousin come in with his wife and turned tube amp on and of course they were both blown away of the sound... And yes of course if something happens to me now they want it.. LOL....But these are people who would not pay few hundred for just the cables I have let alone thousands..Most young people are to connected to even sit down with out ear buds and listen to fine tunes from a set of speakers..And to take the time to setup to get best sound from system...And very few young people do not know how to assembly from directions today... Lets face it we have enjoyed a hobby that is slowly going away ...And if my cousin gets my system it will never sound so good for he has NO Clue as to why it sounds so good ...Enjoy what we have for the time we have with it..
What do the statistics say about the age of Audiophiles and the replacement rate?
I'm unable to verify this so I'd like some guidance. I have a family member who is an authorized dealer of some really nice product lines (ARC, Magnepan, Sonus, Bryston).
He won't confirm or deny my hunch, but at his shop I see mostly older white, affluent men. I see very few middle age men and no men in their 20s. I don't keep all shop hours, but I do spend about 15 hrs./wk. there. My relative won't show me his sales demographic but I can see with my own eyes.
So my question is this: Is there an equivalent replacement stream of new blood entering the Audiophile world or not? Do you have statistical proof?
If the universe of Audiophiles (supposedly 20,000 in the lower 48) is indeed shrinking where does that leave the manufacturers and dealers?