Where are the young audiophiles?

Why the concern?

You have  endless cables and digital vs analog debates here to keep you occupied.

There are many examples of things that most under 30, even 40, that hold little or no interest in. Look at Stamp collecting - killed by email and text. Model Trains used to be the "World's greatest Hobby". Coin collecting will be gone soon due to Venmo, Bitcoin etc., Plastic models, I bet everyone over 60 here built at least one plastic model. I agree though that the sky is not falling, but it will change. And  many people do not like change, but it happens whether they want it to or not. Sadly, too many people think any change is bad.

I think this is far from true. There's a big resurgence in hi-fi here in Los Angeles. Bars like Gold Line and In Sheep's Clothing are reinvigorating the interest, plus brands like Common Wave and Ojas have huge followings with high-end designers and lots of young clientele. I think these communities are skewing toward vintage and the Japanese/Kissa vibe, and less toward the "hi-tech", brutish systems of the 90s/early-2000s.

I work at a record label and we're selling more vinyl than ever. The plants are totally bottlenecked due to the covid surge, which I think is being driven by people under 40.

We're also not lingering in forums that disparage entire genres of music, lol. Maybe Millenials and Gen Z have realized that life is too short to bicker on forums.

Most brick and mortar audio stores over last 12 months are doing much better than they've done in years.  I don't buy that clientele all old.  I see younger people in the stores.  Nice headphones are in demand and that's a gateway.  Things are fine 

Headphones are extremely hot these days. They guys into that are as crazy as the folks here. Likely the gateway drug to a home system once these folks get established in career and home.