Why do all audio forums on the internet seem "dead" ?

Actually there are oodles of brands to pick from these days and not all of them are uber expensive.  Pricing for the high end stuff relative to the market demand is appropriate.  As was stated, more people have access to better sound for less money overall, which moves the bar up for what people are willing to buy to improve there already decent sound.  Market forces and dismal long range forecasts also subdue enthusiasm.  I agree that the major improvements in audio were made back in the late 80's through the 90's.  Once the GREEN contingent started influencing design, many horrid sounding products were unleashed.  Combine all these factors with the iPod generation and you have a drastically reduced audiophile market.  Thanks Obama!  Couldn't resist:)

When you factor in the decline of younger audiophiles and the diminishing older generation, combined with the affluent audio jewelry crowd who mostly support the big name boondoggles...the likes of us audio lovers who grew up spinning vinyl on mix n match vintage gear in a darkened basement are far and few between.

Relatively speaking, Einstein had a point....and I think she got the thrust of it!

When you demo two preamps in the same system and then separate them, after installing the other preamp into another system, when you turn one preamp on, the other turns off....no matter how far apart the two preamps are!  They call it spooky audio at a distance....apparently God does play dice with our audio.

Think your over the heads of most on this thread now...of course given that our existence is but a holographic 3 dimensional projection of a 2 dimensional reality, 2 channel audio's attempt to re-create a 3 dimensional soundstage is poetic...don't you think!

I understand and I am happy that you have found an alternative mode of enjoyment.  I must warn you however, I also did what you are doing now and regretted it later.  One day I played my favorite music and it sunk in that the glorious sound I had taken for granted was gone and I began to really hear the replacement Pro stuff for what it was...great sound reinforcement!

Ah, to be a fly on the wall during some of these magical sonic experiences....one person's nirvana is another's nails on a chalk board!  If we are going to pretend to have exceptional sound then please site the recordings used and describe what you are hearing in detail.

Yamaha and Denon stuff with Monster Studio links....the Denon CD player wasn't half bad but the overall sound wasn't even close.  But that's me....most musicians don't own or care for stereo systems.  Enjoy what you does it for you....some like redheads and others prefer blondes.  I'm a brunette guy....they all have the same parts, they just perform differently under certain dynamic conditions:)

Shadorne obviously thinks quite highly of himself and very little of most others.  If we have our own thoughts or personal idiosyncrasies or God forbid have a passion and or the means to pursue it, then we are below consideration and should be ignored.  Perhaps someday we can all just assemble a mix of audio equipment with a subjectively random pedigree and put it in a box on the wall....now that is something to hope for!