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The return of the DIYer

I’ve been thinking about several trends and forces that are affecting our hobby and how this will change things.

The global pandemic and supply issues, unemployment and how disposable income has dwindled in the middle class over the last 30-40 years. The brick and mortar showroom is vanishing, and audio shows have become scarce. About the only aspect of the audio industry which has not dwindled or hurt as much are bloggers/review sites and DIY suppliers.

Our hobby grew up out of tinkerers and experimenters, and then seemed to have been subsumed by the all powerful consumer. The arm chair speaker or amplifier designer who could talk tech without every doing a bit of math or soldering became what we call a "true audiophile" so long as they regularly bought and sold gear.

Now though, perhaps the tables are turning. The lack of funds in many an audiophile’s pocket, lack of ability to go listen for yourself, I’d like to believe the age of the mega speaker holding the cover of audio magazines is over. I honestly wouldn’t mind seeing most mega-speakers vanish, being rarely more than excess without commensurate capabilities. Tweaked sounds, and fashionable trends in frequency alterations dominated the press and showrooms.

Is that all over? And if it is over, are we ready to return to our roots as makers instead of buyers, or are we in a temporary malaise? Nothing more than a flu from which we will bounce back? Or is the DIY er himself to vanish as well with the hobby?
erik_squires
mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,195 posts
 
DIY in my own  case is not about  electronical designing of amplifiers, cables, or speakers...

DIY for me is in the heart of S.Q. experience my own DYI is : acoustic and psycho-acoustic experiments...

No soldering here....

And acoustic after a well chosen or well newly soldered piece of gear it is half at least of the S.Q.


I add that because my point is acoustic exist also for DIY with potential astronomical improvement....For me the more important one...
terry9
2,354 posts
 
Thing about DIY is that you can afford technology that you otherwise couldn't. Anybody priced turntables with air bearings in all 3 dimensions lately? Or phonos with vacuum capacitors?
itsjustme
682 posts
 
OK, a few disjoint comments:
1. MC -- snicker/smile :-)2. Animal House3. Actually, assembly labor and logistics are a huge problem as i contemplate returning to the world of actually making physical stuff rather than throwing designs over the wall.  So, maybe companies ought to sell you nto the parts but the kits, with a real markup.  Hafler.  Heathkit. 

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose?
G
cd318
2,636 posts
 
@alexberger,

"Since then, I realized that it was a fiction that the audio industry progress and what a solution for me is vintage audio and DIY audio."

You are not the only one as this video from YouTuber VWestlife suggests.

Audiophile Audiofoolery: 90% wrong about turntables.
https://youtu.be/Vqtuj2f19vA



@terry9

"Thing about DIY is that you can afford technology that you otherwise couldn't."

That's got to be just as valid today as it was in the 1950s heyday of DIY.

Personally, I've no wish to design anything but if I can save some money I'd happily consider assembling predestined components into finished equipment myself.

Actually, before the demise of World Designs (due to its driving force designer Peter Comeau taking over IAG - Quad, Mission, Wharfedale etc - in China) I was considering buying a pair of his highly regarded WD25T tower speakers in kit form. 

For the less confident amongst us WD were even willing to supply ready made MDF/fibreboard sandwich cabinets.

As such the cost would still have been between 1/3 to 1/4 of what you might have been expected to pay for a finished product at retail.

sns
3,371 posts
 
There is far more access to diy audio supplies than in the day of Radio  Shack, partsconnexion and parts express, amongst many others. Boutique and generic parts are easily available via interweb.There are numerous forums with diy information and help in getting started. Kits pf all kinds available. Without a doubt, this is the golden age of diy!
Based on my observations, specialization in the work place and lack of time are the major impediments to diy in all areas. As innovation evolves ever more specialized work skills are needed, this may require much education, more narrow focus to master needed skills, and finally more time devoted to work. Add family obligations and time becomes really scarce. Still, with the baby boom generation getting on in years, time should become far less scarce, diy audio is an interesting place to spend some of that free time.




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