I think we can break music lovers down into a number of groups. I don't know how many, but I'll figure that out as I type, hopefully it will make sense once I'm through. I feel there's a finite number of people that are predisposed to become audiophiles. Now whether or not that happens is based a couple of factors. Some may just have an innate desire to pursue possess music in its ultimate form, be it going to as many concerts as possible, or having the best audio gear (money permitting) at home, on the road etc. I believe some of these people need an external factor to prod, suggest, coax, entice, or in some cases enrapture them to go in the right direction. Therefore, they are dependent on their environment, and their audiophilia may rest dormant throughout their lives. Then there are those that i consider absolute audiophiles, who were destined to be. They probably can't remember themselves as ever not being. They always wanted their music to sound the best. They may probably think someone or something influenced them, but it was always the good music in its purest obtainable form in their lives.
Outside of this group, I feel there is another group within the audiophile realm who are audiophiles simply because they demand the finest and want the best experience in different realms in life. I feel I fall into that category, no one got me into this hobby/lifestyle/religion?/money pit, I just wanted a better pair of computer speakers, got klipsch promedias, wanted better headphones went from logitech xxxx to sennheiser hd 580's, found out they could run better, got headphone amp, Got B$W speakers, got Pioneer receiver, sold it got Rotel amp, got preamp, got cd player, will sell x, will get DAC, plan to sell amp,......As time went on and things sounded better I began to love music more than I thought I could, or was permissible...WOW.
Now there are people who probably love music more than I do (If that's possible, but only need to hear it to love it,...SIMPLE. They will love yours when they hear it, but they don't necessarily need to hear it that way all the time for it so sound complete thereafter.
What we should be worried about are those who have that innate audiophile locked up in them, who will eventually pass through this life without unlocking it, and finally expire. They need the external stimuli, which is becoming less and less available in this day and age, like many have pointed out here.
Another question is, are the numbers of those predisposed to turn into audiophiles, given the right stimuli or spark, dwindling? We can never test that. We cannot force others to be. What is blatantly obvious is that the lack of exposure of kids to more accomplished forms of music, be it in performance or reproduction, and the non-existence of a prominent culture of accepted audiophilia will only further serve to reduce our numbers
