Hey, we don't get no respect

Fatparrot,
I've always known you as a resonable man and to emphisize my point I'd ask why would you care?
We're in the world that we have to follow the rules of a perfect live music despite the numbers marketed...
Follow?

the new issue of stereophile reads like a harvard lampoon. its no wonder most music lovers steer clear of high end audio.

Quite the contrary, I think this just shows what a special breed we are!

WE know how laughable it is to speak of Bose as Hi-Fi, the "masses" have no idea!

Just think how many people out there that don't know sh*%# from shinola about Hi-Fi have no idea what powerful AND defined bass response is.

I realize this is somewhat of an overstatement; however, I doubt anyone who doesn't understand Einstein's or Hawkins' work could be accused of "disrespecting" physics!

This hobby doesn’t get much respect because of the willingness to accept snake oil and defend it vehemently, notwithstanding empirical evidence to the contrary. So much laughable stuff being promoted to decent but gullible, insecure people with more time and money than sense.

$4,500 power cords that “soundstage like crazy”, absurd arguments attempting to discredit Double Blind testing, undefendable manufacturers claims; modifying multi-thousand pieces of equipment to immediately reduce its value; modifying (and of course improving) ‘statement’ pieces without any of the facilities or measuring instrument available to the manufacturer; magic stones, digital clocks (see DBT again) – yup, hard to understand why there’s a lack of respect for this hobby.

As Tarsando rightly indicates, there is not necessarily any relation between equipment levels and musical appreciation. You want musical accuracy? – buy a $150 acoustic guitar, and a few $50 lessons and be way ahead of the silliness that pervades this hobby. And by the way, acquire some respect from your associates too.

We who are into this hobby can be silly - there are no two ways about it. Please try to tell some one you long for 5K interconnects - several pairs of them - and several 3K powercords and see if you have any credibility left to suggest they should take audio seriously.

But silliness aside - and I know we never all agree on when things begin to get silly - the sad thing is that there is so much added richness that comes into one’s life with a good Hi-Fi, and so many are needlessly missing out. That Hi-Fi need not cost a lot, at least not compared to other luxury goods: $3000 on the used market will get you wonderful two channel sound; $5000 will make it fairly awesome; and $7500 or so will get you to where there is really no need to go further. Unless of course you get bitten by the bug. (Or, if you want to add analog!)

It seems it is a sad failure of the industry and its marketing that more people haven't been made aware of the joy available for these relatively modest sums. Okay, the industry is of course trying to sell new gear, but just double the figures and the price still doesn't look outrageous for luxury items. I mean countless numbers of fortunate people in North America, Europe, and many other affluent places have more of an investment than this sitting in their wine cellars.