Why Don't More People Love Audio?


Can anyone explain why high end audio seems to be forever stuck as a cottage industry? Why do my rich friends who absolutely have to have the BEST of everything and wouldn't be caught dead without expensive clothes, watch, car, home, furniture etc. settle for cheap mass produced components stuck away in a closet somewhere? I can hardly afford to go out to dinner, but I wouldn't dream of spending any less on audio or music.
tuckermorleyfca6
Probably more people than ever love audio these days.

Most of them are loving it using portable devices and earphones and ear buds that already sound far better than most similar fairly inexpensive audio devices of years past.

After that there are those enjoying it on their home A/V systems, not to mention in their cars

Then there is everyone else.
Yes, as has been said several times, there are many more distractions now.
If its not in your blood, it's not in your home. Audiophiles represent a small segment of society and we enjoy the fact that we can, and do distinguish ourselves from the mainstream. This in turn makes us very unique in good way.
you can thank iPods and Sonos..... Personally I would rather drive a crappy car and have a killer 2 ch system. In fact I drove many crappy cars for the past 30 years..... my current preamp actually cost more than several cars I have owned.

Today's generation wants quantity and convenience over sound quality... for example, I recently bought new speakers. I asked my 15 year old if he wanted my old speakers and an amp that I wasn't using, a pair of PSB M2 Platinums which are a great speaker and an audio design associates 200w stereo amp. He declined, holding his phone up and saying "i'm all set". I would have killed for gear of that caliber when I was 15.........
Oddiofyl, very good point & you are right, I enjoyed reading your post. Case in point, my daughter thought my system sounded good but she said I don't know what to listen for. She loves music but she was content going back to her room and listen to her boombox. I think it just comes down to pleasing ourselves.