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Is high-end audio dying, if not dead already???

Without sounding like the mad prophet of the airwaves, I think high-end audio is in its death throes. I would like to hear other opinions on this issue, but I think it is time to raise the question and also some hell as to what is happening to the high end audio and audio in general.

Here's why: Most of the major audio publications spend a great deal of time on romancing the "absolute" fidelity of computer audio and music that is digitally processed. On the other hand, you have critics, reviewers, celebrating the comeback of vinyl, analog, and turntables. The mantra goes: "it really does sound better, like real music", so chuck out your CD player, and buy a $5000 analog rig, and have fun again cleaning, preserving (a medium) searching record huts worldwide for pristine vinyl gems. Maybe, there are some shellac gems out there also

It seems the CD format has "OUTLIVED" its usefulness in the pursuit of the absolute sound because its technology and soft ware has never convincingly improved. It is like the BB King tune "the thrill is gone" or saying kids let's just change the channel for something more exciting and new.

High-end audio seems to now ( as the old joke goes)require a degree in engineering or rocket science to understand the circuitous (bad pun) route to audio nirvana. Equipment has gotten more expensive over the last 15 years, under the pretext that the electronic functions have increased and become more complicated. Take a look at the back of a 5 channel receiver or amp, or home theater receiver, a digital processor, etc. and you will see the future of audio. It might be easier to hook up a heart and lung machine.

Ironically, as high end audio and audio in general evolves, the music industry delivers more shit to the public's ears, Geez, I never knew that in order to really enjoy Shakira, JZ, Pharell, and the rest of the talentless trash discovered and pushed by American Idol, The Voice,and the popular Mega media, would require hearing it in absolute sound.
sunnyjim
sthomas12321
408 posts
 
IMO its dead. Even I now would take a more budget on or in wall setup over the huge better sounding floor standers. Only way I have anothe floor stander setup is if I had a room on my house just for me. In a living room, family room, no way. You simply give up to much.

Gear prices are to high also. 1k speakers in todays market needs to greatly impress. Few speakers in that price range do at all unless wanting a small room stand setup.

Once I sell my current floorstanders someday, Im going all on or in wall, no question.
tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,197 posts
 
My favorite speaker company is still designing and building an outstanding product. I know there are high quality electronics out there. So IMO all is well--it's not a case of "audiogone."
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,200 posts
 
It just keeps chugging along.
milpai's avatar
milpai
2,377 posts
 
Yes and No.
Yes - for people who don't care about good music and sound.
No - for people who care about music and good sound.

We are on this site because we love music and this is our hobby. 99% of the people I know don't care or have no interest.

Do you care about egg shell carving? That apparently is also a hobby and so is Cigar band collecting. I don't care about them!
electroslacker
375 posts
 
High-end follows the wealth distribution, which is flowing to fewer and fewer people in the U.S., and also to nations in the East.

There seems to be a new price model targeting this new, narrower customer base of concentrated wealth around the world. Outrageous markups can make the vendor rich when the customer base is not price sensitive, and also be an easier business model than dealing with higher volume at lower margins. Sell 1000 $5000 power cords and you're done.
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