Why Don't More People Love Audio?

Opapa - I too am surprised at the absence of not only quality playback gear, but usually no gear at all. Not just in nicer homes for sale, but also show homes on tour. It's not like these folks don't have the funds for it. It is simply off their radar. But then again, perhaps they are wealthy because they have not spent their fortune chasing audio gear. Hmm ...

Amen to that brother.

Already tons of good points made in this thread, obviously.

I have recently noticed the rather strange, yet somehow incredibly addicting, phenomenon of High End Audio being "displayed and demoed" on youtube. That is, both owners of stereo systems "playing" the system for the viewer, and then
tons and tons of video of systems playing music at high end audio shows.

Putting aside the issue of trying to ascertain a system's sound vie youtube...:-)...one thing that struck me in watching them reminded me of this thread:

When you see video of a bunch of audiophiles listening to high end systems, it does tend to invoke some of the negative cliche's. Mostly, it's a bunch of nerdy, middle aged white guys, leaning forward in their chairs, motionless, eyes closed or with furrowed brows, concentrating on the sound (or music). It looks, frankly, sort of stuffy and joyless, and not very social at all.

Now, I put on my system at home and love it. But, yeah, it's not easily amenable to a relaxed sociable setting, the type of which most people enjoy. I mean, if you are talking to someone over the sound, you are mostly missing the types of sonic features most of us are paying for in the first place.

I totally get why this is not a popular pass time, especially these days.

Oregonpapa,

That's fascinating about the homes without books and music.

Recently on another AVforum someone mentioned that they didn't really listen to music. I queried, perplexed by this, and he responded that he appreciated what music added to movies and games or whatever, but beyond that music just didn't interest him at all, he never listens to music.

Frankly, in all my life, I have never encountered such a creature. (Then again, I grew up in a very musical family, father being a music teacher, all of us playing instruments, everyone I know being into music).

Your post suggests this creepy, twilight-zone phenomenon is wider than I would have guessed.

My conclusion is that we have, fortunately, stumbled upon a way of telling the body-snatching pod people from real folk!

I have books in my house , I had a pretty nice system going. I figured out that I enjoy listening to music through headphones more. So I bought a nice pair of Shure 846's.
I sold my system off and downgraded to a system that I'm thrilled with.

I realized that I was just too antsy to sit in the sweet spot for more than a couple of minutes. I can however sit through movies , plays, concerts , etc.
for hours.
I would think many people in today's times are the same way. To really enjoy a high end system , I think it's import to stay in the sweet spot. I don't need an eight grand system to dust around the room, do dishes in the next room over.