Why Don't More People Love Audio?

""Audiophile" recording techniques work best on acoustic music, so it's unlikely that many "audiophile" recordings of hard rock, hip hop, R&B, or rap will be produced. These are the kinds of music that appeal to the largest segment of the public today"
wanderingbob Jul-19-02 Audioreview.com

This was posted back when Audioreview was the best audio site on the internet IMO.

It all starts at the source and if no audiophile recordings exist, why spend big $$$ on an audiophile system. EG if you listen to crap recordings, why get a high resolution system which will only uncover more of the recording crap?
Bad recordings sound worse on a hi-res system than a low res system.

Maybe they're watching "us" (audiophiles) and think "we're" crazy!

people do love audio. It is just that peoples definition of what real audio is has changed. When I was a younger fella if you owned a Pioneer reciever with a Dual turntable and a set of J.B.L speakers you were big time. If you sit most people down in front of a $3.000.00 system and put on their favorite tunes they will say that it sounds fantastic, and you know what it probally does sound just fine. Does some lonely audio geek gushing over the improved sound staging that he is getting with his new interconnects that he paid for with all the money that he saved by never dating, sound on his 1950 era mono recording of some classical stuff that he does not even like really represent someone who is really into music.

My 2p

High end is far from inexpensive (I can't see many disagreeing).

This is not something which is immediately demonstrable to our peers and therefore lacks value (bling) unless I let you into my fortress (house).

Since our other high value items atract more attention, I think this will remain in obscurity. Music will always remain accessible and mainsteam (great!), the quality always (very) personal, the value of our gear *always* insulated from the outside world and because of the price tag and the difficulty / passion / animocity (sp?) about personal preference, a very minority issue.

If high quality sounds were eminating from cars bouncing to the latest tunez, then firstly it would be fab for the technologists, but those who hang out here would hate it because we have probably chosen to be a monirity, because it suits us - for whatever reason. You choose!

Here's one explanation.

Should a good system sound bad with bad recording?

Is hi-end audio as it exists today relevant to what most people listen to?