Is the audiophile history ?

kappclark

Interesting article about the decline of the audiophile

http://www.npr.org/2011/03/05/134256592/whatever-happened-to-the-audiophile

BottomFeeder

Enjoyable article.

Gotta get back to listening to my iPod...

kappclark

HA HA !
Hope you are using a lossless codec !

mantis

As I agree the Audiophile is a dying breed, there are still plenty of us out their who actually care about every detail in our replay systems.

As said in the article , people do other things when listening to music. I believe even the hardest core Audiophile today does that as well. I own a home with music in just about everyroom including my deck and Garage. I use my "house" system more then I sit and listen to a piece of music. Yesterday I was working on the house. I cleaned out our barn shed , put out the deck furniture , cleaned out the garage , did some laundry all while listening to one of my playlists. No matter where you are on my property , there is a speaker close enough for you to hear it.
What makes the system work even better is I can control it with my iphone from anywhere on my property. I have a very strong Wireless N network and i have it covering everywhere I would be.
Every time I feel the juice to purchase a 2 channel system I find myself rather putting that money into my theater system for double duty use. I get more enjoyment out of that system then I'd ever get out of a 2 channel system.

pearsall001

Same here Dan. The key word is "Enjoyment". Since I've had my Sonos system the spark has been rekindled. Music everywhere...& great sound to boot. But when the mood strikes my 2 channel is still there for my listening pleasure. Just having all that music at your fingertips is just awesome. Two channel is still quite nice but it really pales in the overall scheme of my new found music library.

mantis

pearsall001 wrote: »

Same here Dan. The key word is "Enjoyment". Since I've had my Sonos system the spark has been rekindled. Music everywhere...& great sound to boot. But when the mood strikes my 2 channel is still there for my listening pleasure. Just having all that music at your fingertips is just awesome. Two channel is still quite nice but it really pales in the overall scheme of my new found music library.

Sonos hit the market a few years back. When I was with Tweeter we embraced it with open arms. I remember my first job with Sonos.
Before the Zp90 and Zp120 , there was the zp80 and zp100. It came in a bundle with a controller also before iphone aps. We added a few more zp100's around the house all with polk in wall , in ceiling and some LSI's for bookshelf and one pair of floor standers .
The Zigbee network was very cool and worked awesome. I was floored on the price vs flexibilty. The customer loved it and even added more rooms later on.

Today I have modified my whole house spec's to include a ZP90 as a source. It has radio , all the services and your music. What more do you really need?
Even the sound quality is equally impressive.

Every music lover should own Sonos.

polkfarmboy

This article has already been posted before

mantis

polkfarmboy wrote: »

This article has already been posted before

Ok but we are talking about it here.

kappclark

pearsall001 wrote: »

Same here Dan. The key word is "Enjoyment". Since I've had my Sonos system the spark has been rekindled. Music everywhere...& great sound to boot. But when the mood strikes my 2 channel is still there for my listening pleasure. Just having all that music at your fingertips is just awesome. Two channel is still quite nice but it really pales in the overall scheme of my new found music library.

I sometimes consider music like reading a book...it is tough to do something else while reading a great novel..I try to stay very focused, and better equipment makes that process easier, and more rewarding.

Other times, I might 'test' the amp and speakers when no one else is home, and do some chores around the house...play some Donna Summer for example..this never fails to satisfy..it helps living here in the middle of nowhere in VT (smile)

Seems I am always re-discovering my collection..what a great hobby !!

Toolfan66

polkfarmboy wrote: »

This article has already been posted before

And your point?? :rolleyes:

Toolfan66

I got into the audiophile game way to late (2-1/2 years now) and even the first year I wouldn't consider myself an audiophile, I still consider myself green to the hobby of audio,and still have a lot to learn. so many of you guys have years of experiance with so much gear I can only wish to have half the knowledge of some of you..

So those of you in the know I hope you don't mind but I will be riding your coat tails a little longer.. :-)

reeltrouble1

If there is a history of Audiophiles and
History repeats itself
Then Audiophiles will continue to make history.

RT1

codyc1ark

@ TFLF - I agree - I'm very green, I bought my first setup 10+ years ago, a Sony STR-DG635 and a pair of Sony SS-MF515's. Ten years after that, I was brought here after finding a pair of CRS's at an auction. Anyway, this is what I have to say about the matter...

8) Be respectful of new members. If it was only you and me on this forum, we'd have no fun and the whole industry would collapse. The truth is that the world needs people like us to show them the way to great audio. Welcome the newbies. For they will encourage the next generation of audiophiles. You don't want to be the last audiophile, do you?

:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

treitz3

reeltrouble1 wrote: »

If there is a history of Audiophiles and
History repeats itself
Then Audiophiles will continue to make history.

Amen, brother. Amen.

TroyD

Who cares?

High End audio has always been a niche market. The masses have ALWAYS chosen convenience over sound quality.

Nothing new.

BDT

George Grand

Audiophiles? History?

I don't know if they were audiophiles but I understand Socrates, Hannibal, Garibaldi, Simon Bolivar... all BIG R&B freaks.

Gulfstrings

I think the article has it mostly right. Though "high end stereo" spending may be down, what's the home theater spending look like? Heck, when I aspired to be an audiophile back in the seventies, there were no "videophile" aspirations to have!

Now, I look at my home systems and see some kind of hybrid accumulation that fits neither "phile" definition. Could/wouldn't spend the money to join either club!

Tens of thousands for high end speakers. Thousands and thousands for a turntable, players, power equipment - wire. Adding up the pile of receipts that represent the gear in our house won't take us to "audio or videophile" status, but it all sounds good enough.

pitdogg2

looking at the Wilson Audio site and the 10's of thousands of $$$ in those pictures of customers gear i would have to say they're still out there.

tonyb

mantis wrote: »

Sonos hit the market a few years back. When I was with Tweeter we embraced it with open arms. I remember my first job with Sonos.
Before the Zp90 and Zp120 , there was the zp80 and zp100. It came in a bundle with a controller also before iphone aps. We added a few more zp100's around the house all with polk in wall , in ceiling and some LSI's for bookshelf and one pair of floor standers .
The Zigbee network was very cool and worked awesome. I was floored on the price vs flexibilty. The customer loved it and even added more rooms later on.

Today I have modified my whole house spec's to include a ZP90 as a source. It has radio , all the services and your music. What more do you really need?
Even the sound quality is equally impressive.

Every music lover should own Sonos.

Yeah, I'm thinking of going that route too. Did you see,I think it's Underwood hifi, doing mods to the zp90, doubles the price but looks like it may be worth it to have one modded unit for the dedicated 2 channel,and then standard units around the house.

Erik Tracy

Interesting article.

As with any collection of individuals as an organization, group, family, clan...longevity is determined by the influx of new 'members'.

I didn't get a sense from the article of whether the current youth generation is at all inclined to become 'audiophiles' or whether they are content with small, loud, accessible music devices as being the only important factors.

My boys (13 and 15), if they are any indication - are not the least bit interested in audio quality - I've tried to lure them in, but to them, a song is a song - as long as its on whatever portable device they are using (today) - can't keep up with it all - then they are happy.

I came away with the impression from the article that 'audiophiles' are mostly from previous generations (eg older than 30 - so include me there) and are adapting to how music delivery and formats have changed.

So maybe the collection of people that can be called 'audiophiles' are shrinking - but I don't think that they will go away altogether.

My own experience has gone thru cycles as well - college: rabid 'audiophile' with no budget but grand plans, post college employment: went the full separates routes and thought I was 'done' upgrading, started a family: lost interest in audio (or was it no time).

But when I started to get into HT for the family, that sparked an interest again in audio - just for audio and music.

Sure - I multitask just like everyone else with music as the background mood to the days events.

But I do find more and more often that I will be drawn in to the music as I dawdle about the house - and I will just sit down....and listen - cuz it sounds soooo good. And I mean that from the perspective of letting the analytical/critical guard down and just enjoy 'the music'.

[sorry...ramble mode off]

kappclark

pitdogg2 wrote: »

looking at the Wilson Audio site and the 10's of thousands of $$$ in those pictures of customers gear i would have to say they're still out there.

Reminds me of the $65,000 turntable --

a friend's reaction was for that price he would hire the musicians and listen live !

sucks2beme

There are just the same amount of audiophiles there always was.
The shiny new toy bunch has moved on to HT.
The loud showoffs just disturb the peace from their cars instead of
their apartments.

treitz3

Videophiles, the HT crowd and buttmunches with their crap for sound cars should never be confused with an audiophile. Ever.

tonyb

Some just want to be the first to predict the demise of someone else. Reminds me when the LP was considered dead and gone ? As much as they like to talk about the lack of audiophiles, they forget that new ones are created every generation. Maybe for nostalgic reasons, maybe they want to return to quality over ease of use, maybe just the soft glow of tubes to remind them of that one girl and shag carpeting. Who knows, but as we get older, there is a sense of returning to ones roots for whatever reason. So I guess I don't agree that they are all old folks, because new ones, younger ones, are being created everyday. That said, I can't imagine 30 years from now someone wanting an Ipod to relive their youth, or for the sound quality.

Personally I hate the term "audiophile", it eludes to some sort of snooty definition. I like to think of it more as an appreciation of music and all that entails. Hopefully thats something we older folks can instill in the youngsters and to some extent, I think we have. I can still see in the decades to come someone will still want to chase down that old tube gear that dad had.

AudioGenics

things just change....or maybe its planned obsolescence....

treitz3

tonyb wrote: »

Personally I hate the term "audiophile", it eludes to some sort of snooty definition. I like to think of it more as an appreciation of music and all that entails. Hopefully that's something we older folks can instill in the youngsters and to some extent, I think we have. I can still see in the decades to come someone will still want to chase down that old tube gear that dad had.

Why is that?

I have heard this before. Why is the audiophile so looked down upon? We have forums. We have SO many companies to choose from. We chat all the time and try to gain a greater understanding of good sound. Yet, it seems that we are shunned upon by society like a morbid disease.

I'm an audiophile and I may be in the minority but I am proud to say it. I'm disappointed that I keep hearing that the audiophile is nothing more than snake oil, snooty, conceded, predetermined to pycho-acoustics and many times referred to as full of *dog *****.

Sure, I listen critically all the time. I also listen to music for the pure enjoyment of it, sound be damned. I think this is within all of of on this board and also with the folks that read this. Thing is, you wouldn't be here if you weren't interested in better sound....or at the very least, an improvement within your system.

Personally, I try to do my part as the "shunned audiophile" and let as many folks hear what good sound actually is. Dad, with the ol' tube amp inadvertently did the same....which is probably what led us to better sound to begin with. I love it when folks come over and say that they are not into music that much, yet when I play something they like? They sit down in the sweet spot and yearn for more. Like a drug. To me? That's a seed planted for the next audiophile....or at the very least, a seed to explore better sound.

For me, it was listening to my Uncle Tommy's rig when I was knee high to a duck. I liked what I heard, even though at the time I had no idea what made it sound the way it did. All I know is that I liked it and I wanted it for myself one day. My Uncle Tommy planted the seed for me. He passed on to a better place before I could tell him that he was the one responsible for my sickness but I thank him to this day. Music has never been more enjoyable.....3 decades after the seed was planted.

Have you planted your seed lately? I know my less than two year old son already has the seed planted. He's a typical little man for his age and as all of you know, kids his age can act up. Well, when I put music on my rig, he's already smart enough to get right next to Dad [me] and try to hog the sweet spot. No matter what type of mood he's in? Music calms the little guy and he all of a sudden turns into an angel. He can't talk worth a damn but he's quick to point out [in his own little way] that the sounds are coming from here to there. Occasionally, he'll look to nothing and point. What he heard was the stereo effect.

Can the audiophile ever be proud to stand up and be just that? An audiophile. Without ridicule. Without feeling ashamed. Without the attitude so negatively portrayed against one?

tonyb

Don't misunderstand me Tom, I agree with you, but from the general publics point of view, that term is kinda like "wine snob". I've been accused of both. Not because of any sort of attitude, maybe just because ones knowlege of certain things dictates a more snooty appearence to others who maybe less knowlegable in certain areas.

Maybe "audiophiles" should have a comming out of the closet movement.

BTW- Your example from your own life goes with what I said about new ones being created.

inspiredsports

I think the wide variety of audio formats available, video vying to be in the mix, and desire to replace 2-channel with 5.1 or 7.1 has made it somewhat expensive for the average Joe to "go audiophile".

The marketing "sweet spot" is also geared toward multi-channel with video, so many buyers don't even know about or think of 2-channel any more, and it's my belief that audiophile still equals 2-channel.

My 3 college-age daughters and my 16-year old son have hand-me-down 2-channel rigs I would have died for even in my late twenties, so I'm doing my best to breed more 2-channel audiophiles somewhere down the road :biggrin:.

treitz3

inspiredsports wrote: »

I think the wide variety of audio formats available, video vying to be in the mix, and desire to replace 2-channel with 5.1 or 7.1 has made it somewhat expensive for the average Joe to "go audiophile".

Damn good point.

comfortablycurt

treitz3 wrote: »

Videophiles, the HT crowd and buttmunches with their crap for sound cars should never be confused with an audiophile. Ever.

I see your point, but I'm inclined to disagree with this. An audiophile, loosely defined, is basically someone that has a great appreciation for audio, and is always trying to improve on that audio quality. Everybody goes about it in their own way.

The idiots driving their cars around with the subs turned up way too high enjoy their sound quality as much as anyone else enjoys their own stereo. That's simply the kind of sound quality that they like. You and I know that they aren't hearing that music the way it was meant to be heard, but do those guys care? Nope. If you tried properly setting their systems up, they'd most likely be turning those subs right back up. That's just their own personal way of enjoying their music.

Same goes for the HT crowd IMO. They have just as much of an appreciation for their own audio setup as anyone else...they just approach it with different goals and methods. I agree that differences in audio equipment are far less obvious with HT, when compared to 2 channel music. However, the differences can still be staggering, especially where dynamics, overall clarity and low bass slam are concerned.

Simply because someone doesn't listen exclusively to music on a high end 2 channel rig doesn't mean that they should be excluded from the audiophile label. HT and car audio guys can have just as much of an appreciation for their audio quality as anyone else. Many of them spend hours and hours obsessively tweaking and adjusting their systems to squeeze that last bit of performance out of them, they spend hours and hours just listening to them...just like any "true" audiophile.

As with anything else, there are different kinds of audiophiles. A lot of people seem to feel that to truly be an audiophile, you are required to have a truly high end rig...I disagree with that. You can put together a 2 channel rig for $1000 that will sound truly fantastic. I'd know, I have one. Does my rig stand up against the really high end rigs that many of you guys have? Absolutely not, but I guarantee you that I enjoy listening to my $1000 system every single bit as much as you guys that have truly high end rigs...whether you've spent $5000 or $100,000. That's really what it comes down to.



As far as the audiophile being history goes? I think that as times goes on, there will be significantly less people that are into 2 channel audiophilia...and less people into higher end audio in general. However, I don't think the audiophile will die out. As others have mentioned, HT has a huge market, that is always growing, and I don't think that market will be going anywhere anytime soon. Car audio always has a huge market. For that matter, 2 channel has made a resurgence lately really...with the growing/returning popularity of vinyl and tubes in particular.

Toolfan66

IMO a Audiophile is a hobbyist within this hobby one who will tweek and take the time to get to know their gear. Most people want to plug and play and most people today set up a HT setup they want to just sit and watch TV and or play Music just because they enjoy the sounds they hear does not make them an audiophile. and in no way are these people that have these boom boom cars over done with rattling the screws and bolts loose in their cars considered an audiophile just because they like it that way makes them an audiophile. and I'm sure if one was to take a survey we would find out most would not consider them selfs an audiophile..