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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 5 responses by orpheus10

orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Schubert, a $1500. headphone system sounds better than speakers because you don't have to deal with the complexities of the room, but I can only wear headphones for so long. No matter how good Grado headphones sound, they are uncomfortable to me.

My son only uses wireless headphones, which he wears every where; he's done this for years now.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

I think that's called "inflation".
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Not long ago at all, a Grado Master Cartridge cost $800. now they cost $1000, that kind of price increase occurred for all the solid, but not extremely expensive components in the high end.

PrimaLuna; the brand that's considered budget high end electronics, has almost doubled since it came out.

You will see Koetsu Urushi in sterophile listed at 4K, but it's now 6K.


While I consider that Urushi extreme high end, others may not; I don't consider Grado and PrimaLuna extreme high end, but their cost, while relatively high, is near the bottom of true high end audio.

I know that based on my income, I wouldn't even consider those components, but one must maintain one's standard of living whether one can afford it or not.

When people who consider HEA a necessity are dead, you can forget about it.




orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

I spent a lot of time in high end emporiums talking and listening to components with prospective buyers of high end audio in the early 90's, and they were like firemen, and postmen; people with solid jobs and good taste in audio who were willing to sacrifice for good sound. Of course there were some some high rollers.

Since that time, salaries have gone down relative to inflation, and so have the number of good solid jobs.

From my point of view, in regard to economics, everyone here is living in a "wannabe" reality as opposed to a real reality.
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Erik, are you talking HEA, or economics; from my point of view, poverty is walking up the ladder of success. High end is what it is, and it wont change; the percentage of people who can afford it has changed dramatically in the last 20 years.

While the rich have gotten richer, the poor have gotten poorer, along with the shrinking middle class; hence the lowering of expectations for HEA for the masses.

In the meantime, there is a demand for 350K amplifiers, and 14K cartridges; that tells me something, I don't know about you?
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