More potential bad news for some big names...

Having worked in the industry for 30 plus year, the writing of this demise really started in the 80's. The audio market started the transition then from shopping for each and every component (as this group still does), to buying pre-packaged all-in-one systems. The masses didn't care enough about the quality of sound and just wanted a simple buying experience. Then things shrunk to mini bookshelf systems and boom boxes. Fast forward, and now most get their music off their phones. I don't know what the actual percentage was, but I would guess somewhere between 50-70% of homes (through the 70's), had some sort of stereo system with a "record player" in their home. Now I would bet that number is way less than 25% of anything that resembles a stereo system. The audio manufactures (mainstream), dug themselves into this mess, and I doubt it will ever change. With the reduction in sales, it is no wonder brands are experiencing financial hardship. Look at how many of the main stream names of the 70's and 80's are gone. Hopefully the industry can survive, but what has started is likely to be the trend of the future.

Restaurants are absolutely packed where I live. It amazes me how much people spend eating out and on bar tabs these days. I couldn’t do that when I was their age unless I wanted to be a slave to the CC companies.

IMO, below is the number one reason for these companies struggle as noted in the article.

"The changing consumer market"

My kids have very little interest in large speakers and components. Even surround sound systems are not in vogue now and sound bars etc are much more common. The audiophile crowd has small manufacturers to turn to like never before and also a big selection of used equipment. Just a tough market except for super high end equipment being sold in lesser qty’s. Those that can afford this will buy what they want without price constraints so there are margins to be had.

I see companies like schit, cambridge and others finding a niche in the midfi market with small equipment that takes up less space and has minimal controls.

Your traditional recievers, components etc may be becoming a thing of the past.

I seriously doubt the world will come to an end in 2025 and I doubt that all the brands mentioned will come to an end in 2025 either. BUT, as we age out, there are going to be less and less people who care quality sound and quality build.  Home theater is where the money is and it is getting ing in the tooth.

Oh and I don’t care for Andrew Robinson either.😉

On one hand I can see high end audio in decline, on the other I see this as a golden age of audio. Recently I've been reading through some of my 1980-90's era Stereophile mags, fears about the decline of audio existent then just as today. There have always been complaints about the high cost of audio, always plenty of equipment out of reach for many.

And don't forget about the used market, internet gives us easy access, and think about the continuing accumulation of purchases that go onto the used market. I'd like to see some data comparing new sales to used, has to be greatly impacting new sales. I could make an argument higher end audio more affordable than ever.