Why Don't More People Love Audio?

Reminds me of a print ad campaign many years ago that asked, " Why do so many people buy Kenwood?" The owner of the Sound Seller in Marinette, WI (You still out there Roger?) posted the ad in his store with his own rhetorical question as a response, "Because they can't hear?"

I made a statement that we are doing ourselves a great injustice by supporting companies that have " money is not an obstacle" attitude. The cost of brewing up a true reference system is extraordinary. I'm sorry, but I can't justify spending $50,000.00 on a pair of monoblocks, even if I had 10 million in the bank. When support these companies we are hurting ourselves and the possibility of increasing the numbers of audiophiles. Anyone can learn to appreciate a good system, just ask my wife, but what do you give up in the process of aquiring a good system? I buy used equipment primarily. Champagne tastes, sparkling wine budget.

I find most people don't even know high end audio exists. Most people think Bose makes the best speakers. People also don't want to see speakers. I was at a friends house the other day and he has a pair of Snells behind his couch!

Jsbail makes a very good point: Even if people know about the high end and even if they like the great sound, for 95% or more of the population convenience trumps quality anytime. People don't want to sit and listen. Heck my wife is so used to my system that she always remarks on how bad other systems are. But I can get her to sit and listen maybe once a month. The rest of the time she's busy, or would rather read or watch tv. And she's always hoping for a high end system that's smaller than a boom box.

I think the price no obstacle systems are good for us all. Its there research and development that gets handed down to lower systes as the years roll by as they find cheaper ways to do things. I think if it wasnt for these companies high end wouldnt be what it is today.

Its easy to look at a product and say it only costs x aount to make it and complain about the price but there is so much more to the cost of business then the amount it takes to build it. Research and development and advertisement are two of the biggest. Nevermind payroll, marketing, machinery, rent, and electricity.

I use to run a small metal fabrication plant and our electric bill was seventy thousand dollars a month! Nevermind machinery which easily got into the millons. Thats just the factory. Then you have all the middle men who sell the product, pay for inventory, rent, employess, and on and on.

The electronics in your systems were the ultra hi fi of the past so remember in ten years you will have some of that awesome state of the art technology of today in your system.