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Where is great audio going? - Headphones and Mid-Cost

I've been thinking about this for a while. If CES is any indicator, the high end audio market is shrinking.
However, music consumption is not. Where is the disparity?

In my humble opinion, it is going to headphones and mid-cost gear.

Before I go too much deeper, let me say that I feel there is a big difference between "high end" and "very expensive."  Not everyone agrees with me. If a cable costs $30K it MUST Be high end right? That's not me.

The modern audiophile is much more likely to be into headphones. Discussions about headphones, and DAC/headphone amps have incredible high participation. I'd venture to say that there are a lot more headphone audiophiles today than traditional 2 channel.

This is for a couple of reasons. Cost is a factor, but also space. You don't need much more to have a great headphone setup than your desk. To get a great stereo setup you need the space, the acoustics, and considerate neighbors. The average apartment dweller (like me, sadly) just does not have the resources to build a home, with a separate listening room. Also, we spend so much time in front of our PC's, that if we are going to enjoy music, it makes sense we optimize for it rather than a listening room.

My point I think is that we are going to have to stop looking to $50k amps to drive the high end. We have to disconnect ourselves from the idea that price = value and start thinking about our community as being able to encompass more music lovers in the way they live today.

Best,

E
erik_squires

Showing 4 responses by michaelgreenaudio

michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

HEA is at an impasse but the audiophile market, hobby and lifestyle is alive and well. How many more folks are going to spring for over built/over priced components is an issue that belongs only to HEA now. Quality of sound is no longer an issue with the lower priced systems. I don't see the decrease in in-room listening either. From where I'm sitting it appears that listening to music is increasing on all fronts, again except for HEA.

One of the big shockers hitting HEA is the development of Class D amplifiers and that kind of has some shakin up and defensive to a degree. How can a $50.00 amp compete with a $50,000.00 one? Well they do and that turns HEA on it's ear. The bright side to this is, it gets listeners looking into the other low mass changes taking place that maybe haven't yet been talked about as much. But lets not be mistaken, the hobby of listening is growing and learning more about quality sound then it ever has.

Michael Green


michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Not me

I would take a spare bedroom, empty it out except for one chair (leather). Loosen the AC outlets around the room. Make me an Audio Platform to set components on. I'd install a RoomTune TunePak. I'd then go online and get me Dayton Audio 652's (probably the air), wood stands and speaker Platforms. I'd get one of the matching DA subs (with platform). MGA cables and cable grounds. Some Tuning Blocks and pick up a used Maganavox 2100 CDP. I'd pick out my Class D amp, tune it up and say goodbye to complicated for ever.

Never has there been a better time to be an Audiophile Cheapskate.

mg

michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 
Yep, open it all up. Crack the screws barely on speaker screws as well. Do the drivers, tweeters and binding post cups and plate amps. That first year or so you want the system to resonate as much as possible (within reason), especially during breakin periods. Get all the vibrations active even if it sounds wooly and loose. After a nice settling period, then come in and tune things back up.
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 
Or get rid of big transformers in audio systems altogether, which is where things are heading, bout time.
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