Audiophile has a lot of baggage. I prefer music lover. Except some audiophile is likely to dissect what even that means to bits. You just can't win. Better off just listening than talking about it maybe. 😖 |
An increasingly small % of people have all the pre-requisites to love audio (as opposed to just loving music).
The pre-requisite that is the most increasingly restrictive is perhaps the desire to spend a lot of time just listening to music. Time is increasingly short these days for many in that more things than ever compete these days for peoples leisure time. |
It's a cottage industry largely because it portrays the image of being expensive and inclusive while the reality is any smart guy who knows what todo can put together a top notch sounding system for not much. Know how is the key ingredient, not money. |
"It's not that difficult to get high quality sound."
I agree.
But there are many flavors of high quality sound.
I think what people struggle with more is getting the right flavor for them.
Some flavors are more popular than others.
Some are more esoteric.
But they are all pretty "high quality" . |
Doing anything really well is not easy.
That reality excludes all but the most motivated from doing anything really well.
Still, many are motivated enough to do some things well, whatever it may be, for better or for worse.
Audio is merely a hobby, a trivial pursuit in the big picture of things for most. Doing audio alone well is not enough for most to subsist. There are other things that may provide greater return on investment if done well. Those are the things most will put their energy into. Only a few will need or want to put a lot of though or energy into audio when music can be heard fairly easily and for low cost otherwise. |
"It's expensive and you sit on your arse to do it. "
Bingo???? |
There is a theory going around that real audiophiles do not like remotes. Maybe most people like remotes better than good sound? |
Whoops, i forgot to sign the post as my sarcastic alter ego "MADman", not mapman.
I drive a 96 4runner. |
No doubt there are most likely way more music lovers in the world than audiophile/techno-obsessive types.
I believe most of these tendencies are well established as youths and have perhaps some but minimal chance of changing significantly as we get older.
When I was a kid, I spent almost as time taking my electronic gear apart to see how it worked (and getting shocked in the process) as I did listening to music. I also work with technology for a living and started out by selling stereo/hi-fi and other electronic gear.
Just a thought. |
Macro,
Its true that some people (not many) don't even like ice cream.
Some are even allergic.
Many more are just prone to seeking enjoyment elsewhere.
Cheers, Merry Xmas, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year and whatever other flavors of celebration I may have overlooked to all! |
I hope this thread does not become yet another good example of why more people don't love audio....... |
I think its mostly more things to compete for peoples leisure interests and affections these days including portable audio. Mobile is where its at these days. And even when sitting at home on ones arse, just for entertainment purposes, internet, gizzilions of cable channels, video games, HD TV etc. Times change... |
Too busy listening to music? |
I tend to agree with Charker.
But there are many choices out there for anyone interested, like always, from the cheapest mass produced garbage to the biggest and most expensive "high end" gear. VEry few who like audio probably pay all that much attention to the "high end" as represented on Audiogon. The Internet is the main source of stuff to buy however these days, not walk in stores.
There is a lot of good stuff to be found on Audiogon but little or no quality control to go with it. If you do not know what you are doing, you can waste a lot of money in the pursuit of "high end" sound. But if you are one who likes to tinker with expensive audio gear and tweaks, more power to ya. But that is a very small % of teh people out there who love music or even audio to any extent. |
"Mapman, but I know many of them. They tend to not be "technical" in the university sense of the word, but rather military or self trained."
Lots of reasons why people like to tinker. Formal education is not a pre-requisite. I've been doing it with audio gear since I was 8 years old or so. People are curious beasts. |
"Poll most audiophiles and you may find that among many 'hardcore' ones, anyway, they not only often trace their interest back into their childhood, but can also relate it to even a specific event - a moment in which things crystallized for them, and some kind of dream is born. I know I can. But, maybe I'm right about that and maybe I'm not, I guess."
You nailed it exactly in my case!
When I was about 5 years old, I became fascinated with records and record players. The one I had did not work very well though. One day, I was twiddling with it and got a nice electrical shock. I've been a glutton for punishment ever since!
That's a true story, but seriously, I don't need anyone else to love listening to my system. I'm by far the most picky about what sounds good to me. It's a non-issue for most everyone else. THough I am glad to listen and share together when opportunities present themselves. |
Probably more people than ever love audio these days.
Most of them are loving it using portable devices and earphones and ear buds that already sound far better than most similar fairly inexpensive audio devices of years past.
After that there are those enjoying it on their home A/V systems, not to mention in their cars
Then there is everyone else. |
Why don't more people shop at Nordstrom? |
They might have to put up with other fussy audiophiles? |
Someone will call them an audiophile? 😶 |
Madona sounds really good on my $90 high quality table radio fed from my computer at work. In mono of course. :^}
Tbg, my system comes in arounfd $10K or so in terms of what I actually paid, a lot more at list price. It does it pretty good! I've been to many concerts and symphonies and pay close attention to what I hear. I can think of many other combos that could do it as well. Its a silly question to ask really in that its all a matter of opinion, even when its yours. Although I can say that on paper my setup has the specs to pull it off at least. Plus all my tweaks are cost effective and practical. |
Tbg,
I appreciate that.
Everyone has to start someone and fulfill their own needs.
We should encourage people to not be afraid to try out the waters always as best they can, not scaring them away with talk about how hard or expensive it is. Nor by challenging whether or not they know what they are doing are not. We all can learn something along the way with that approach I think. |
Yup me too.
I did have the advantage of employee discounts at the time though to help me stretch my very limited student budget that went into both equipment and buying music regularly.
I started off as a kid with a Magnavox record player with built in amp and fold out speakers. Actually that belonged to my older siblings. I really started out myself with a $10 transistor radio, then a $30 8 track player, then a $200 Sanyo compact system as a gift at about 13.
TOday kids start out pretty well with computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc. compared to a transistor radio or even a Sony Walkman. Plus they can download and acces a lot of music for free. SO they have a big head start at their age than many of us older geeks. |
IT's probably just "high end" audio as defined in these parts that more do not love.
I think many love good music and good sound and find their version of it in more ways than ever tehse days, often on a limited budget.
Many people do love anything "high end" though in general. Especially if it would fit their lifestyle. Its just that most just want enough good sound to fit their needs. And most also want high end cars, houses, clothing, cigars, mates, etc., the list goes on forever more than they do "high end" audio. The numbers don't lie! |
The only solution is to offer better value over time in "high end audio". Then more will come. Will the "high end" vendors profit more or less? Like most things I suppose it all depends. |
Home audio is like photography. Put an even modest camera in the hands of a good photographer and great photos result. Same true with home audio. In the end it's the skills of the user that determine the results. Most results will be average but many can and will be quite excellent even on a modest budget with less than sota gear. |
Tbg not sure what needs explaining. Assuming high standards to start not all achieve results to their satisfaction as fast or easily. That's pretty much how all of life works. Ability to learn and apply knowledge is probably the most important ingredient in any endeavor.
I'm better now than I have ever been prior I think. So I'm making progress. I have been mostly satisfied with how my stuff sounds now for a few years. That has not always been the case in the past. I've learned a lot from others on this site in recent years.
How about you? |
live music is my ultimate reference. But of course there is a continuum of quality and scale even with live sound. Live music consists of players venues and listeners just like home audio. All good sound have two things in common low noise and distortion. Other than that anything is possible. One either enjoys or not. The most useful metric for how good something sounds to an audiophile is probably hours listened. If one spends a lot of time listening and even goes out of ones way to and comes away satisfied. That is all one can hope for. Then there is always to what extreme one chooses or feels compelled to go in order to be satisfied. No right or wrong there. The best never comes easy. |
e more music you listen to the more you need a good hifi. It's that simple. |
