Is the idea of audiophile listening a dying concept as boomers die off?

Bottom line for me. Industry is doing fine. Look at any of the recommendation threads here. 1 question, 100 brands mentioned and recommended. No real consolidation, no companies dominating the market, lots of new entries every year and very few companies that seem to be shutting down. Especially the amount of cable companies always amazes me. Low initial investment and high margins it seems. 
 

Forum is always active, I think we are in good shape…

Audiophile listening isn't dying.  The music worth listening to is old, just like the audiophiles who listen to it. We are a dying breed of connoisseurs, soon to be extinct. Equipment designers see that and are exploiting their dwindling market before it's completely gone. 

I am not an audiophile

l am a music lover.

I was dancing when I was twelve
I was dancing when I was twelve
I was dancing when I was aaah
I was dancing when I was aaah

I danced myself right out the womb
I danced myself right out the womb
Is it strange to dance so soon
I danced myself right out the womb

I was dancing when I was eight
I was dancing when I was eight
Is it strange to dance so late
Is it strange to dance so late

I, I, I danced myself into the tomb
I danced myself into the tomb

I, I, I danced myself out of the womb
I danced myself out of the womb
Is it strange to dance so soon
I danced myself into the tomb
But when again once more

I danced myself out of the womb
I danced myself out of the womb
Is it strange to dance so soon
I danced myself out of the womb

I’ll dance myself into the tomb 

@rcm1203

Audiophile listening isn't dying.  The music worth listening to is old, just like the audiophiles who listen to it. We are a dying breed of connoisseurs, soon to be extinct.

You seem like a fun dude to hang out with.

Equipment designers see that and are exploiting their dwindling market before it’s completely gone.

And you know this how?

It is the Source Device today that creates the growing market and defines the end user as to how they wish to participate in being entertained as a Audiophile ( Hearing Sound that they are enthusiastic / passionate about ).

There is one thing for sure today, the Source selected will not be parity in the performance it can offer to alternate options. Making each who selects one Source only limited in how they experience the end sound from music recordings. 

The user of the Source, whichever one,  will decide which supporting Electronics they would like to see in use downstream. Is an individual using a USB to attach a Phone to a DAC to listen to replays of stored music files, any less an audiophile that somebody with a Vinyl Source and a history of years of building a Album Collection ? 

Is the individual when using that same Phone to listen to music in a different environment using a completely different method to reproduce the music replay no longer an Audiophile ?

As stated previously, the broadness of the options on a Source, has created a opportunity to express an interest in using recorded music replays as a form of entertainment, that has been adopted by an incalculable amount of the Global Population. How to separate how many are Audiophile is a futile endeavor.

Much better to engage with the individuals using Portable Sources and learn from them. 

I have not tried out the Phone as a Source on my Home System, but at a HiFi Event heard a young individual presenting a home built DIY HiFI System with his Phone as the Source, from recollection this system was very likeable and worthwhile mentioning. I would class this young individual as Audiophile as anybody I spend time with around this hobby.