Would vinyl even be invented today?

Go to computer audio dominated forums and look at the vast amount of posters who have obtained their first high res download and are completely unaware they need software that supports the format. These folks are not interested in quality sound reproduction. Afraid they are just hipsters.

Really? I don't think I've seen this. I doubt many hipsters but HD files, in fact I think very few people buy HD audio files. I imagine Chesky wishes HD Tracks annual sales were that of iTunes sales of Taylor Swift.

People that call themselves audiophiles are a strange group. There are those that love music and like it on good equipment and enjoy that, then there are those that have the "best" system and the rest are junk. Those are the ones that spend more on the equipment than the media that goes into. It seems like two very different camps.

"12-27-14: Paraneer
You might be right ZD. The bottom line, most people are just
not concerned about quality sound reproduction, period.
Audiophiles are an extreme minority and vinylphiles, even less.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy vinyl immensely and am anxiously
awaiting a new phono stage. But again, I agree with those that
its just a passing fad. Lot more hipsters out there than us."

I don't think we're talking about the same thing here. In my other post I said that when SACD was discontinued by Sony and DVD-A never really went anywhere, the result was a massive increase in TT sales. I should have been more clear. My comments were meant to be in context of high end audio. Like so many others, I was waiting for the next digital format to replace CD's. When the new formats failed, many of us were very disappointed and just went for the best sound possible that is the most likely to succeed. Obviously, everyone ran to vinyl. It was a matter of sound quality, not trends. As far as the whole hipster thing goes, I had no idea they were buying vinyl, or what they're motive is for doing so. To be honest, I'm not even sure I even know what a hipster is. lol. And I don't give a rat's ass either. Just keep them away from my system.

"12-27-14: Schubert
Its not about being a "hipster", many/ most Americans have a COMPULSION to buy what is considered cool in the circle they roll with. The American dream is defined solely by consumption. It ain't complicated."

After reading that Schubert, I think I get your other posts. I'm not sure where you can go with it. We work for our money (well, about half of us do, anyway), and we spend it however we see fit. That's pretty much how the world works, not just the US. How else would you have it? Personally, I don't think its any of my business as to what you do with your money. The American Dream is whatever we make of it, and nothing more. The system will never change, so why worry about it?

I worry about it because Wall Street speculation in food commodities, just for a start, has put a billion people on the edge of starvation .
There is a word for people who stand in huge lines all night to buy the latest iPhone or version of a war game, not to mention those who camp out for a week to get a cheap TV etc, that word is insane.

You think the American Dream is what you make it, but you are dancing to a tune you never wrote.

Schubert,

As always, the only thing I have for you is respect. But with regards to your last post, I don't know where you are getting your information from. First of all, Wall Street isn't a commodities market, but even if it were, I'm not sure that I could make the connection how it puts a billion people on the edge of starvation.

"There is a word for people who stand in huge lines all night to buy the latest iPhone or version of a war game, not to mention those who camp out for a week to get a cheap TV etc, that word is insane."

Personally, I would call them idiots. I think its a more accurate term. That said, do you really feel its fair to judge a person solely because they wait on such a line? I know a few people who go through that silly ritual on a regular basis, and they're reasons are completely different. Regardless, I don't think you can make an accurate judge of their personality based just on that action.

"You think the American Dream is what you make it, but you are dancing to a tune you never wrote."

I'll admit, I'm not the composer that you are. Few people are. But give me a break, as I do try my best.