The Lawyers Have Taken Over Audio

My thought turns to spending time with my sister over Christmas and her plans to make a dedicated listening room. Imagine my excitement that I could help her "upgrade" a few components to increase her listening enjoyment. So we go upstairs and turn on her plastic Pioneer amp and turntable and little bookshelf speakers and listen. You know what? It made music and she enjoys it! She didnt have to tell me, but I know that it's the music that matters to her. My interest in upgrading her system vanished.

My sister is not thinking about going to the local stereo shop maybe because the local stereo shop has not reached out to her. And she has the disposible income to get a nice system. Their priority apparently is somewhere else.

My point is dealers are leaving the vast majority of people behind because their proirities don't relate. Let's let these folks get farther and farther away and closer to their MP3's.

Jetrexpro~ at first, I thought your comment about the local stereo shop not reaching out to potential customers asked for too much. But, after thinking about it, there are all kinds of things a store could do, from supporting a small acoustic show or chamber or choral group, to doing live v recorded demos to a seminar on 'how to clean and maintain that old vinyl collection you decide to rediscover.' You are right about it being an insular business that doesn't do much to introduce new potential buyers to the joy of listening, but depends on the hobbyist who has already been 'converted' to the cause of better sound.

Whart,

I agree. Here in Brooklyn, There is a sort of vinyl renaissance going on. A smart hi fi shop would be all over this with just the kinds of things you are talking about. In Living Stereo recently had a listening night featuring the Beatles re-mastered box set. That kind of evening would make a for a fun date and would introduce a girlfriend or wife into good sound. Now I am really dreaming!!!

I think Whart has stated his case well. Mass marketing efforts at this point would appear to be a very unproductive exercise for a small hi end shop. I would love to see some of the promo events happen he suggests. I do try every chance I get to introduce people I come in contact with to listen to my Rethm Maargas if they even hint around at appreciating good sounding music.