Is the idea of audiophile listening a dying concept as boomers die off?

@nitrobob

Agree with your comment. I am 57 and have kids in college or just out. None of them have a decent stereo and they have very little interest in one. I have tried to get them interested and even have equipment I could give them. I guess it's just not cool anymore. Headphones and bluetooth speakers seem to be the norm. When I was in college about every dorm room had some kind of stereo and we went from room to room listening. Times have changed for sure.

I upgraded all my equipment once the kids got older and started driving etc. I think that is pretty normal for our generation but not sure if the younger gen will do this when they are our age.  Various streaming devices with wireless speakers seem to be the more likely path for younger generations. The one thing I do see is a fair amount of younger people buying vinyl. There is interest there but hard to tell how much. 

I don't think its dying at all, it is certainly changing.

The thing I find the most disturbing is that I've been asked "Yeah it sounds amazing but where is the video?"  I just shake my head and reply "If you can't see it then this is not for you."

Regards,

barts

@rcm1203 😂 I respect your brutal honesty!

I don’t think so. But this thread made me think back to the first high-end audio store I visited in the mid 80’s. I remember listening to a MacIntosh rig - separates- a - Linn TT, and I think some Cerwin Vegas (horns?)

I think the Mac gear was $5K each. Pre, amp, Cd player

Mesmerizing.

I bought some mid fi home audio gear but also 2 pretty decent custom car installs from them including the same Luxman/Alpine head unit that came with Lambo’s back in the day.

Anyway, that store is still there, sound hounds in Victoria established in 1973

Well... If you take a look at who’s attending the Audio Shows, from what I’ve seen it appears to be more folks over 50 than under. I retired in 2023 and during my work life, my career offered me enough discretionary income to afford some really nice gear. I went through an evolution like many of us as we traipsed down the halls of equipment upgrades for promises of sonic improvement. Now that I’m retired, I don’t have that luxury of discretionary income, however I’ve managed to have a good system that I can thoroughly enjoy for my listening. Younger folks who are budding audiophiles as many have said just don’t have the time and $$$ to make high value equipment purchases, nor enjoy them due to lack of time.

In the 80’s and early 90’s, you could swing a dead cat and hit an audio store in most towns, and now they’re but a memory in many cases. I visited one this week and enjoyed it, however it was a far cry from those stores of yesteryear. More mid-fi than hi-fi. Yet the major equipment manufacturers are going gangbusters with new designs, especially in the digital realm. And price/performance in the digital realm has actually come down putting quality digital reproduction in the hands of more people. My daughter (36 Y/O), a budding audiophile has gotten some of my hand-me-down equipment and nearly all of my vinyl since I’ve gone strictly digital. But like many other young folks, doesn’t have a lot of time for serious listening. But I do think though that while the days of Boomer audiophiles may be numbered, many others are coming that will carry the torch and keep this industry moving and thriving.