What happened to all the highend stereo shops

I was in college in the 1970s.  I was using photography for income shooting sports for the local newspaper so that I could eat.  We had a few camera shops in town but I found that I could mail order gear at a 30% discount at the time.  As I developed a rapport with these shop owners- buying film, paper and chemicals from them I could sometimes get a good discount on gear from them- but not always.  My best over the counter purchase was an electronic flash with a one year replacement warranty.  It was not professional grade- ie not for everyday use.  I would wear the flash out in about 6 months.  The shop owner replaced it for me over the counter, no problem for about two years.  I miss those relationships.  A few years later I walked into a camera store and offered the owner cash at a discounted price for a lens.  He kicked me out of his store.  Gotta take the bad with the good.

I miss all the stereo shops and camera shops but we all got what we deserved.  We chose discounts over personalized service.  My biggest frustration is it takes me an extra 20 minutes to search through the big box store looking for a schedule 40 elbow when back in the day all I had to do was walk into the hardware store, show the proprietor what I needed and he would get it for me.  Plus he would offer helpful advice on how to best complete my little project.  Looking back, all that helpful advice was priceless.

In Bloomington MN we have a high end audio store. I auditioned in a private room for an hour, treated like a king. He asked what system I had, about the room and speakers, my expectations for sound. About what I liked to hear, type of music. There sat 50k a pair speakers. I asked for something else more like my rather bright speakers. He connected paradyme $4500 / pair. I took home an integrated and on my system it sounded great. Nothing but a wonderful experience and top notch customer service.

I attended Axpona 2023 in April, and the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center where Axpona was being held had so many people at the show that the hotel had to constantly run a fleet of shuttle buses between the Convention Center and several outlying parking lots because their main parking area was overflowing. Although there were plenty of middle-aged and older people there, I also saw quite a few younger people.

Once people who’ve grown up accustomed to hearing their music over smartphones and BlueTooth earbuds get a chance to hear what really good sound is like, they may find themselves, like anyone who’s blessed with good hearing, WANTING to explore and learn more about this new-to-them world of quality audio. Furthermore, with a little research anyone can now put together a decent audio setup and stay within their budget, even if today’s reality with brick-and-mortar audio dealers requires that most of us must now shop for our gear, unseen and unheard, over the Internet.

There are trustable reviewers out there covering most if not all of today’s better-known brands such as Denafrips, Schiit Audio, Holo Audio, Gustard, plus numerous other brands in every category from streamers and DACs to amplifiers and headphones/speakers, not to mention all their interconnects. There is enough decent audio gear to satisfy nearly everyone’s income bracket. I think it was no accident that there were so many people in every age group attending this year’s Axpona event. Quality audio seems to me to be alive and well.

It's a rough time for all brick and mortar retail. Small boutique shops that specialize/focus on the best stuff available in any area of interest have all but disappeared. Fine butcher shops, delis, bakeries, lumber yards, woodworking shops, electronic supplies...you can't even buy a nice suit in most towns these days.

I think it has much to do with the reduced size and relative lack of wealth of the middle class compared to the 70's and 80's...when many of us got our audio start. It was easier to splurge once in awhile. You could pay for your car in 24 to 36mos, your phone bill was $20, and student debt was minimal. (Tuition at the best public universities was $500/semester!)

The wealthy are much better off today and many more can afford a $100k system. I'd guess the total dollars being spent on high end may be a record...but the total units have declined. It takes fewer dealers to sell fewer units. The wealthy always had the finest things delivered or by appointment. Twas the the splurges of the middle class that paid the store rent.

That said, I can sit in my chair and watch Miles Davis play full concerts from just about every year he performed on YouTube. Or listen to every recording he ever made. On demand.  If it's about the music, there's never been a better time to be a fan. And IPods sound betta than the average all in one record changer in 1972.

weird moderation for sure. The crazy dude's ranting stayed for the most part, and my response removed. 😂