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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
sns
3,338 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.




erik_squires OP
16,299 posts
 
There is far more access to diy audio supplies than in the day of Radio Shack, partsconnexion and parts express, amongst many others


For sure! But what Radio Shack offered you was a range of possibilities you could touch. You could be enticed by dozens of different electronic subjects in half an hour. We lack that in person store browsing experience. Of course, I can go online and order custom made speaker drivers made from Swiss cow bells now and pay in Bitcoin or Eth, but nothing comes close to the Shack.

asvjerry's avatar
asvjerry
4,727 posts
 
*S*  Ah, the defense rises to the challenge, blades drawn, beating shields in sync...;)

When the Last DIY'er Dies, so does Progress.
Just because most is done large-scale commercial, does not render the individual incapable of the Moment of "Ah, ha..."

BTW, synchronistically and meta-quantum-istically....

MBL 101 (Mk2) cloning friend emailed this am that all goes well.  Between family, job, school (engineering, likely audio) and the general thresh 'n mesh of what's left, his progress bears 'significant fruit', a worthy comparison to globe radiators.

We have a pact in place:
When each feels we've reached a point where a need to critique' each others' laborious labours and follow up on my invite...

As noted, I buy....and, in our case, I fly...metaphorically. *G*
'Overnight speed tour' distance, and mine will be easier to transport. ;)
whart's avatar
whart
3,057 posts
 
I got into this area pre-1970 and it didn’t take me that long to assemble a serious system.
But hobbyist audio comes from equipment that was raw drivers, amp kits and a turntable, a few of which endure, along with early classics, like Saul Marantz/Sid Smith's work. Before that,  equipment was based on live/pro sound, and before that, music for film, if I’m not mistaken.
What we think of as consumer audio, whether budget or "high end," really went into commercial production in the ’50s, probably coinciding with the advent of the LP. I know lots of people probably had phonographs to play 78s but these were more in the nature of furniture than what we think of as hi-fi from what I can discern. As far as I know, there was no hi-fi as a commercial matter, pre-war other than professional gear, no?
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