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Where is great audio going? - Headphones and Mid-Cost

I've been thinking about this for a while. If CES is any indicator, the high end audio market is shrinking.
However, music consumption is not. Where is the disparity?

In my humble opinion, it is going to headphones and mid-cost gear.

Before I go too much deeper, let me say that I feel there is a big difference between "high end" and "very expensive."  Not everyone agrees with me. If a cable costs $30K it MUST Be high end right? That's not me.

The modern audiophile is much more likely to be into headphones. Discussions about headphones, and DAC/headphone amps have incredible high participation. I'd venture to say that there are a lot more headphone audiophiles today than traditional 2 channel.

This is for a couple of reasons. Cost is a factor, but also space. You don't need much more to have a great headphone setup than your desk. To get a great stereo setup you need the space, the acoustics, and considerate neighbors. The average apartment dweller (like me, sadly) just does not have the resources to build a home, with a separate listening room. Also, we spend so much time in front of our PC's, that if we are going to enjoy music, it makes sense we optimize for it rather than a listening room.

My point I think is that we are going to have to stop looking to $50k amps to drive the high end. We have to disconnect ourselves from the idea that price = value and start thinking about our community as being able to encompass more music lovers in the way they live today.

Best,

E
erik_squires
oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,797 posts
 
I'm recently separated, so my living situation has changed big time.  Right before I left I picked up a pair or Grado RS2e headphones and Rupert Neve RNHP headphone amp.   Best $1000 spent on audio in a long time.

While my gear sat there in storage for the last 6 months I was enjoying my music on a hard drive through my BluRay player, streaming from my tablet, etc.  

While we are on the topic of mid fi, I just picked up a Bluesound Vault 2i and it is awesome.   So between that and my headphone rig I have a setup that is pretty enjoyable within the context of what it is.   
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I think if there was a law stating you had to listen to a say, $1500 headphone system
for a least a year before you could buy anything else there would not be many speakers sold .
orpheus10
8,668 posts
 

Schubert, a $1500. headphone system sounds better than speakers because you don't have to deal with the complexities of the room, but I can only wear headphones for so long. No matter how good Grado headphones sound, they are uncomfortable to me.

My son only uses wireless headphones, which he wears every where; he's done this for years now.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
Same here , O-10 .My point is that if we all had to do a year on "phones most of us would be comfortable with them as would our bank accounts .
michaelgreenaudio's avatar
michaelgreenaudio
1,019 posts
 

Not me

I would take a spare bedroom, empty it out except for one chair (leather). Loosen the AC outlets around the room. Make me an Audio Platform to set components on. I'd install a RoomTune TunePak. I'd then go online and get me Dayton Audio 652's (probably the air), wood stands and speaker Platforms. I'd get one of the matching DA subs (with platform). MGA cables and cable grounds. Some Tuning Blocks and pick up a used Maganavox 2100 CDP. I'd pick out my Class D amp, tune it up and say goodbye to complicated for ever.

Never has there been a better time to be an Audiophile Cheapskate.

mg

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