I believe the dearth of welcoming high-end audio brick and mortar audio stores only adds to the nonengagement of younger persons. How many of us curiously found our way into one and was knocked out by what we heard?That's how I started at fourteen. More than five decades later still going.
@barts exactly my experience. I found my way into a very high end audio store at 15 in 1973, and was blown away by the sound that I heard. I think that the system might have been Quad ESL's stacked, powered by Mark Levinson separates, and some turntable that I don't recall. What I do recall is that it sounded as if the band was in the room in front of me. Incredible. I have been chasing that sound my whole life, and now, in 2024, I am most of the way there! The other thing that others have also pointed out is that the '70's was an era filled with incredible rock music, with new and amazing albums being released by amazing groups like Led Zep, ELP, Yes, Tull, etc. and a whole wave of ECM jazz. Listening to that new album when it was released, like Physical Graffiti or Led Zep IV, or Brain Salad Surgery, to name a few, was a religious experience. I still listen to that music. Kids growing up today don't have that kind of music any more, and I think that music fueled the creation of audiophiles. In addition, we sat around and listened to music as a social activity while smoking pot. There were no video games, 100 TV channels and movie channels, etc. to choose from. So we appreciated it more, I think. I am sad that we are really a dying breed. My step-son likes to listen to my old dinosaur rock on my system, but has no interest in having his own. That is the way it is. I will enjoy my hobby until I croak, and get huge amounts of pleasure in doing so. What happens after I croak, not my concern, I suppose, other than in a theoretical way.