Where are the young audiophiles?

@ironlung - sorry you are down on the industry, disillusioned and miserable. Most of the stores I see out there are exactly what you say you need to find; someone who knows what they are doing and gives a s**t. They are the owners of the typically higher end stores who might have an assistant or two, but the owners negotiate the prices. If those guys are what you say they are, they wouldn't be in business. Most of them have been around a LONG time, some 40+ years. They don't need the money anymore, and the ones that are gone from the business are the ones who weren't as passionate about it as their competitors. I don't know what you mean by an "entire dealer".

The multi-location stereo chains are a rarity, other than Best Buy's Magnolia, which used to be a chain. They are more a home automation and video business/installation service that happens to carry audio, which takes up a lot of their space, and probably is a money loser. I think in all of metro Phila there is one multi store chain that I have never been in - they are lower end and focus a great deal on video and installations. Nobody there knows anything about a turntable, and I'd be scared to have them install a cartridge for me.

Younger people don't have much money, and they were raised on iPhones and iPods. As they get older, they will spend more on audio, but most will not have the passion because they never really were interested growing up. There is however a growing group of hipsters that think turntables are cool. Hopefully, they can make some money and maybe will actually be interested in great sounding audio to keep the industry strong, not just the coolness factor because some demographic chasing talk show host has a turntable in the background on their set (the pompous hipster doofus wannabe Steve Colbert). I don't think anyone thinks being an audiophile is cool.

@sokogear 

+1 👍

Artists make their money now from touring, not selling media. It has changed the nature of the business. Look at what is playing on my turntable thread. I relatively small cross section of popular music. There were as a lot of awful music in the 60s, 70s, 80s, just like today. There is also some very good music today. I expect more 60+ year old are not looking for it.

@ironlung @sokogear
Excellent points, thank you both for posting.


I would like to offer a counterpoint for the community to consider. Let me preface by saying that I admittedly work in the high end/luxury end of my industry (not audio video). I am fully aware that my observations are not remotely applicable to most areas or industries. Young people are not all poor barristas with $50k in student loans, get that out of your frame of reference for a moment. Certainly some are but each generation creates and makes its own kind of mistakes. If you know someone living in their parent’s basement please know there are quite a few others in that same age group who are buying and selling mortgage traunches in their own portfolio.


The "clientele" I serve are very wealthy, mostly self made individuals. Think 8-12 figure (3 commas for those keeping score) net worth individuals ranging in age from 25-70. As a general rule, they don’t like clutter or disorganization, that is a common trait. Items they place in their homes must fit the decor so in most cases you wouldn’t find speakers like Magnepans, Sound Lab, Tekton, Tannoys nor Klipsch from a visual arts standpoint. Their interior designers have major input. I have seen plenty of Wilson Audio, some Tidal, a few Devore O series, etc. Custom colors abound in the more contemporary homes or unobtrusive visually in both size and finish in the event the speakers are wood finished or the home is more traditional in decor. They are an active demographic (travels and fitness) and in every case, their main systems are in a room where many can listen. Other than someone’s office, I have never seen an elaborate listening room that wasn’t simply an elaborate room where people (more than one LOL) could also listen to music. 99% of the time it is integrated with video.They pay people to pick and install and only occasionally would they venture into a store unless they were trying to contrast items to aid the decision. This group does flybys and they don’t post on internet forums.


So, what kind of system would a 30 year old high net worth individual have? Typically all one brand of gear (that way there are no excuses about compatibility), neat and tidy, pleasing to the eye, able to close it off from view when not in use and its more than likely digital only and controllable completely from their iphone, ipad. They would also like if their friends can control it from their phones too. That’s a modern day jukebox. I’ve seen more than one person in this demo buy a 8 figure vacation home all cash, no contingencies, over the telephone having never set foot in it. Its just not alot of money to some people ESPECIALLY because many have made so much money so quickly that it isn’t real. Their time is priceless and further, they can make alot more money doing what they do well that its highly unlikely this will change.


At the other end of the age and wealth demographic, I have a number of 25-35 year old co-workers who make a fine living, low to mid 6 figures, who are squeaky conservative with their money. Many came up in the aftermath of the recession and while many are big savers, many others have chosen not to be ostentatious as a rule in order to not make a scene. Others still are philanthropic and also have a wide array of interests. They may have a few $15-20k mountain bikes in their garage and a home theater in a box. So, next time you are sitting next to someone who looks an awful lot like the average lumberjack with a Subaru its just as likely you are sitting next to someone who has the financial means to do anything and they are doing exactly that.


I would argue that the demographic in question aren’t too poor to afford the average system discussed on Audiogon, they could care less. They like good sound but want it packaged to fit them: decor friendly, space friendly, user friendly. This group could generally care less about a Porsche 911 and instead would prefer a Cayenne, a X5 or a FFRR...something that can easily carry their gear and their dog. I have one acquaintance who spent over $250k so that he could have the ultimate 1980 Toyota FJ40. Why? Because that’s what he would rather drive.

Best to all but my advice is to not try to figure out why young people or any people do what they do. Its too wildly different today. The poor remain poor but there hasn’t been a time in the US economy since the gold and railroad booms of the 1800’s where wealth exploded like it has over the past 30 years.

I would argue that the demographic in question aren’t too poor to afford the average system discussed on Audiogon, they could care less. They like good sound but want it packaged to fit them: decor friendly, space friendly, user friendly. This group could generally care less about a Porsche 911 and instead would prefer a Cayenne, a X5 or a FFRR...something that can easily carry their gear and their dog. I have one acquaintance who spent over $250k so that he could have the ultimate 1980 Toyota FJ40. Why? Because that’s what he would rather drive.

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I believe you are correct. Most people on here I suspect have had good systems since their 30's. Maybe not everyone, but a lot of people. That is not occurring with todays 30 years olds and lots of them have money. The bottom end is poor, but the top end is doing well. They may not have the space, but their priorities are different.