I think there are several reasons why high end audio is such a limited market. First of all the general public has no idea it exists. The greatest product in the world will not sell if no one is aware of it in the first place. Secondly, people need to be moved emotionally by a system if they are going to shell out extra dollars for a high end rig. Friends of mine thought I should have my head examined for the amount of money I've spent on my system until they came over and experienced an evening of music. When the lights went out and the music started they were awestruck because for the first time an audio system delivered the emotion of music. Every audiophile out there knows exactly what I mean. Another reason is the fact that people tend to be more visual than audio. This is why a family will likely spend several thousand dollars on a new HDTV and next to nothing on audio. Hopefully some day more people will have experienced what hi end is all about!
Why Don't More People Love Audio?
Can anyone explain why high end audio seems to be forever stuck as a cottage industry? Why do my rich friends who absolutely have to have the BEST of everything and wouldn't be caught dead without expensive clothes, watch, car, home, furniture etc. settle for cheap mass produced components stuck away in a closet somewhere? I can hardly afford to go out to dinner, but I wouldn't dream of spending any less on audio or music.