can this fact be accurate?

That number seems to be a mite bit low, say by a factor of 10 or so, worldwide, IMHO. I believe it all depends on how the question is defined and what the folks asked perceive to be an 'audiophile'.

Way too many variables to consider.

My friends and family think I'm half in the tank with this hobby and I am, and always have been, doing this half heartedly: its just that I enjoy listening so much that it requires delving into the audiophile bog. It's become more of an academic adventure for the layman in me. Yet, I would answer in the affirmative.

Tomcy6 wrote:

Kal, I can't understand why the high end magazines push vinyl and denigrate digital when this is the path to a slow death for the high end. Can you set me straight?

There are two issues. One is that a large proportion of our readership remains committed to vinyl and they want to read about it. The other is that we do not denigrate digital and have devoted much to digital reproduction and, more recently, to computer-based media. One might see all this as an imbalance but that depends on your perspective.

I do not speak for any other magazines nor do I speak officially for Stereophile.

kal
Great first comment--really funny. Surprised that no one commented. Thanks for a good laugh.

Sounds a bit optimistic. The closing of many high end stores around the country paints a different picture.

If Stereophile has 65,000 subscribers I wonder what percentage of high-end audiophiles that actually represents. I have been a high-end audiophile for years and have not subscribed to Stereophile for at least a dozen years even with their $10/year special offers.

For me there's just too much information readily available on the Internet, and most of it is free.

As I write this I'm listening to hi-res files from my Lenovo laptop into my Home Theater multi-channel system via a Musical Fidelity V-Link USB to S/PDIF converter and a DH-Labs USB cable and I must say the sound is heavenly. But be that as it may, I'm still interested in buying another turntable...