Why Don't More People Love Audio?

I think that sometimes people are also intimidated by the good systems they hear / see. They recognize the quality of what they're listening to, but believe that to get much better sound that the boom box they have, they're going to fall prey to spending thousands more than they want to. I find myself constantly reassuring my friends who are kind of interested that they don't have to spend what I spent or become as fascinated by it as I have to get much better sound. I was out looking at big-screen TVs with one such friend and went into the speaker demo room. They had selectable CDs and speakers to choose from, so I put on Diana Krall's latest over some inexpensive speakers - it still blew him away, but it seemed achievable so I think it's more likely to stick. We moved down a couple rooms (up in price) and played the same song and he heard an even (much) better rendition, so I think he began to see that you don't have to spend a fortune, but that the more you spend, the better it gets. The key is to demonstrate that you can get a lot better sound for an amount of money that pales in comparison to what people spend on many other things, and that it can be simpler than the huge stacks many of us have built.

I find it amazing, too, how many people don't find music to be an important component in their life. Many were fanatics when they were young and have lost all zeal - I don't understand why. -Kirk

Good points, KT. When I have fairly naive (aka Bose or boom box) listeners over, I usually play music through my HT system (Paradigm/Parasound) rather than my music system (JMLab Utopia/Belles/Rega). I do this for two reasons. First, the warmish, somewhat colored sound of the HT system is more inviting and friendly to the inexperienced listener whereas their initial experience of the music system may be that it is cool and analytical. Which it is, of course; that's why I chose it. Also, the price of the HT system seems much more do-able than the price of the music system which, while not very high by High End standards, seems totally absurd to beginners.

By all means play the music THEY like, not the music YOU like. Volunteer to go with them to shops, not just to help with the listening but to ease the interface with arrogant, know-it-all salespersons....

And for goodness sake, show them that this hobby is supposed to be FUN. I.e. keep them away from your audio-is-my-whole-life friends until they have built up some antibodies.

Will

I believe three reasons (at least):

1. Some people don't really love music (as much as they even think they might).

2. It does take a while to gain a critical ear.

3....and most important...I have many people who work for me in a demanding capacity with which some very talented people float to the top ("the cream") in many an attribute. Perhaps coincidence, but after some years of intimate dinner parties (I'm NOT rich by the way!) or holiday parties, ironically I find that the ones who are very talented also appreciate my system much more than others. (Yeah, yeah, yeah, they're not kiss asses either..)
So pat yourselves on the back! You are the chosen ones! (yes I jest, but I have in fact observed this phenomenon...)

I think the original premise is wrong. Most people really don't like music. I leave in evidence just one observation. How may people do you invite to listen to music who actually sit and listen without wanting to talk about 30 seconds into the first band? For most Americans music is background soundtrack to their life and parties. Unfortunately some of the must talk crowd are audiophiles whating to praise or criticise the sound of the stereo.

On an independent issue...audio has very little positive feedback. Any friend or stray person off the street will glaze over when I tell them I own Krell or Sonic Frontiers or B&W or Thiel or Levinson etc etc. Now if I mention Aiwa or Sony or Toshiba now we are talking. So the pride of ownership has nothing to do with the previous discussions about Porshe etc. Everyone knows if you own Porshe you got good car taste and lots of money..Krell? You don't get girls with Krell.

Keis, I agree with both your points but especially your first. Many people who love music and go to live performances at every opportunity simply don't regularly listen to music at home. My wife and I play music all the time! Maybe it's a "chicken or egg" and people would listen more if their sound was better ... personally, I think that the majority of people simply don't want music as a priority in their lives. For those who do, only a portion will take the time to sift through the hype and audition great equipment.

Your last sentence is also a killer though: "You don't get girls (or guys) with Krell".