High End Audio-Gaining Higher Ground?

Part of what marginalizes so-called high-end audio is the hopeless complication. Use a PC or a Mac to stream music? No so fast; one has to "clean up" the power supply and, laughably, place the computer itself on uber-special footers to guard against "vibrations." (This ignores the fact that the computer itself performs hundreds of computations all of the time, and streaming music is itself, one of many functions it can do in an audibly error-free manner.)

Then, there is the media/reviewers. Try to look up a simple question ("how does a certain component sound?"), and one sees gems like the following:

"A fat toroid feeds the power supply from its own chamber to isolate the main circuitry from stray radiation. Rectification is via ultra-fast MUR 860 diodes, filtering by low-ESR Elkos. The 32’000uF storage capacitance could have this or that preamp cough in amusement but [the product's manufacturer] deliberately refrain from overkill to shorten capacitive recharge times."

Can't imagine why that's off-putting.

Food for thought, there Macrojack. However, I would prefer to remain optimistic to a point. The high end is slowly going up the creek without a paddle, but hopefully, hopefully this will turn around somewhat. I will continue to support and buy from companies who are not snake oil, and built and/or designed by licensed professional engineers. Accuphase, McIntosh, JBL, Bryston, Luxman, and to a lesser extent Yamaha and Onkyo come to mind.

I think audiophile "disease" starts in childhood ,only later when we grow up ,it transforms to hi end.

I concur. I always say most audiophiles are born, not made. It a pursuit of the finer things in life, and to hear music they way it's supposed to sound. Of course this applies more to acoustic rather than electronic music, but electronic music can sound quite good on a high end system. Not really for serious listening, but it's a lot of fun listening to a hard rock album on a killer system.

you are more than welcome to shop at my discogs iriedog account or any other account to see vinyl prices and they're not $30. you can find great titles(but hurry up) for $5 or bellow in perfect condition.

my storefront is full of teenagers purchasing records at various prices too depending on value. i'm optimistic and cheered to have great sales that bring joy to people.

i was born in rural area with no stores around, no roads in the middle of woods. the only my toy was old phonograph and records that gave me love to music. after curious roaming in the attic, i discovered old dusty 2-row harmonica and started picking melodies i listened on old phonograph. the demand for audio quality i found out much much later in my youth when moved to the large city.