Where are the young audiophiles?

"It will never be a big slice, and it never was."

This sums it up nicely.

There's a whole new wave of us coming to the hobby. I'm 52 and just got around to my first 50k system. Don't worry young people get older and acquire the means to join the hobby.

I’m in my 40’s, definitely not a “senior”. There are many of us my age or younger in this hobby. They just aren’t’t vocal about their age and maybe not spending a lions share of time on the forums here. There will always be an appeal. Look at how fine timepieces came back and digital calculator watches thankfully died (Apple watch and it’s ilk are lame, I’m already carrying a damn iPhone people!). Quality in anything that doesn’t age out is always appreciated at some point. Believe me when I say you want digital streaming to keep this hobby of ours alive. If all we had was cds it would go the way of shortwave radio with younger generations. Furthermore, this is directed to some of the commentators here that think critical listening is only the realm of Gandalf with a cane and bad hearing that saw The Beatles in an armory (😬). It’s not. I work in a very technical Data Centre role in IT and love this hobby and always will. I’m obsessed with high quality music, engineering and the experience of a sublime listening experience in my living room. Some people just don’t realize it yet until they have a life changing experience shared with them by someone older.

I think there's a market to be had, but it's not going to be what their parents and grandparents bought. They don't want stacks of large components and large tower speakers that occupy lots of room and consume lots of power. Younger folks prefer compact, versatile and stylish components. I think the PS Audio Sprout was an excellent example of this. 

I have a halfway decent amount of gear, but if I had to live in a small space, I could be pretty happy with Vista Audio Spark amp powering a pair of Omega Super 3i speakers and a small sub. 

I’m 69, HS class of same.  HiFi boomed as the pot smoking generation came along...not a coincidence IMO!  The High End arose as my generation matured and prospered. The store where I work opened in 1975 and rode the wave.  We are now ageing out and the current generation is not as into HiFi as we were...gaming is more their thing, and while many are just as into music as we were, the science of sound reproduction is less alluring to them. Or so it seems to me based on my observations and my own kids.