What's going on with the audio market?

calvinj- I agree that younger listeners aren’t listening to the same "playlist" of geezer-pleasers, but they pick and choose- they may be doing metal (that seems to be the guy-rock of the 20 and 30 somethings) but every once in a while, a question like "Anybody heard the James Gang’ will pop up. My read is that two channel at the moment is back, but of course that can and will change. Look, I think we’re all speculating here in part on what the future will bring, but the one thing we can be certain of is that the hobby will keep changing. Does that mean the death of what AVSJerry called "Serious" audio? I don’t think so, and that branch was always a little bit of a rich man’s game (though the numbers in today’s dollars do seem staggering for some components). I’m also not sure about the class distinctions- some of the nuttiest audiophiles I’ve known have been poor as church mice, but spent what they had, and wrangled, to get "serious" gear. (Many worked in the industry to do this). On the other hand, the wealthy folks I know seem to have little interest in purist audio (another elitest term but you know what I mean) and have computer controlled whole house systems.... We’re geeks, that’s all.

Mapman, right on. *G* (Just showing my age... ;)...)

"Serious Audio"...I think I'm 'doing' a variant of that...I'm serious about what I'm about, and I'll posit that the guys with the megabuck systems are, too.  The guy jogging by with the buds in his ears, the musicians posting on Soundcloud, the galaxy of streamcasters, the entire continuum of musical endeavour spanning the globe, all that.  And although I sometimes think the heated discussions that occur over cables get a tad over the top, I'll support the right to do so and applaud AG and any site that gives us the forum and freedom to do so.  So rave on...

I know that I sometimes edge into trollishness in apparent attitude... I feel that there's more important issues of our life and times that should be concerning us, But...  

I'll agree that the 'market' is changing, responding to tech, 'mass market desires', the global production community, economic forces, and whatever the ad agencies can blow up our butts and make one want to drain their wallets/purses/credit accounts.  One picks and chooses their level of co-operation with all that. *L*  'Ell, I'd like a faster 'puter to run my junk on, so I'm not immune, either...

Support your B&M favorites.  Support that local guy.  Hey, I'm a micro-biz type, too.  I like it when the phone rings, or the email beeps.  Answer that ad, call that number, enjoy.  Get behind whatever floats your boat as best you might and may.

Everything changes.  That which remains in stasis is either dying or will get marked down shortly. *G*  Just try to keep the fun factor in it and in mind. ;)

70, 20, 100+