Why Don't More People Love Audio?

Boa2, you're point about high end being in the hobbyist realm is exactly the problem. Look at how daunting and ridiculously expensive home computers were while they were still for hobbyists back in the late 70's.

With hobbies, user unfriendliness and crazy prices for little iddy biddy things are the rule. Practicality is the very last thing that's important. I guess that's what makes it a hobby.

Unfortunately the kind of good sound you can get before entering the hobby realm has a very low ceiling. This wasn't as true in the days of analog. Those mass market Marantz receivers, a moderately priced turntable and a decent speaker kit where all you needed to get a very pleasing sounding and versatile rig.

The mass manufacturers at some point figured out that features were more important to the consumer than sound quality, so for those where sound is king, we're forced to wade into the waters of the hobbyists. I guess there aren't enough of us around to cater to.

It takes a learned skill to appreciate music. If you never learned the skill you dont need an audiophile system.
Most people listen to "pop culture" music which requires no skill or time investment - very quick catchy 3 minute tunes.
As an example compare this with an opera singer who spends many many years learning to sing. It would be strange (and insulting to the singer) to think we could immediately appreciate that music with no investment. I would suggest it takes the listener many years to learn to hear and appreciate an opera singer. people dont invest that much time in music anymore and therfore have no need for high fidelity systems or ability to use them. Society is looking for quick gratification and music doesnt offer that. You need many many years of learning, education and patience which is a major commitment.
andy

That's the best explanation I've ever read for why opera accounts for less than 1% of music sales.

To Bombaywalla,

Point #2 analytical listening. I checked with my wife who has no interest in high end audio. She doesn't listen to how the music sounds. All she is interetsed in is what song is on and if she likes the song. I began my analytical senses by buying a $10 woofer and hooking it up to my tape recorder back in college in the early seventies. i know I wanted to have strong heavy bass. I didn't care whether it was boomy or not, I just wanted bass. So I took the bare woofer, and pointed it into a corner where it would exhibit a "boom boom" during certain passages.At that point every song that i listen to from then on had to meet a certain criteria. I found that I enjoy music but, it had to sound pleasing to my ears. On the other hand, when I had a friend over and wanted to show off my system, most of the ones who liked music really didn't appreciate my systems dynamics. They either liked the song or they didn't. This is what separates the analytical from the "just plain" music lovers. I have records that I like the music but, can't play them because the recordings are so bad. Every CD with old groups that I purchase has to have a notice that it was digitally remastered or i won't touch it...

Just my .02......

Larryb "The most popular types of music - pop, rock and rap is reproduced better on non-audiophile systems."
Huh?
Maybe it's that people who like this type of music aren't the type who are willing to spend a lot of money on a stereo. People making stereo stuff know this and tailor the sound to classical (Sonus Faber for example, Musical Fidelity for another).
I like rock, pop, and some rap and IMHO is is VERY difficult to find a stereo which can do justice to this type of music. ATC active 100's and Naim being the exceptions to the rule.