Forums are slow, does that mirror the industry?

Of course, we have no data.

Seems a few of us feel the same way. Forums, in general, maybe not all, have been slow recently.

It also appears, to me at least, that used equipment sales are slow, but again, I have no data on that.

Not surprising Suncoast is up YoY as they are run by a dude who knows his stuff 😁

So what’s the point you might ask?

Just trying to spur some conversation. No agenda here.
 
interesting that the most active thread here is one on how slow this and other audio forums are currently!! 🤣

my interest in audio has experienced a marked drop off in 2024 ...having listened to my system almost every day for the prior ~10 years, i am now down to listening maybe once every 2 weeks. at the same time i now just follow along with a few forums but rarely contribute.

my level of interest has waned so much that i have even gone so far as to sell down my air tight gear and return to my beloved almarro a318b amp ...this and a few other sales are all aimed at getting to a more simple, straighforward system that is in line with my new listening habits.

so to the extent this is the case for a precentage of the audiophile population, then it might be one explanation -- among others.
 
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Sales been riding high for a longtime this slow down was eventually gonna happen and expected , seeing its a very limited closed ended market.

How many amps , TT and speakers are Audiophiles gonna keep buying ..!

:)
 
I can't remember the last time I bought a CD or download. Today's music sucks. Please don't tell me there is a lot of great new music because nothing I am hearing is working for me. It is all just noise. I am not excited spending more time listening to music I have been listening to for 50 years. Maybe that is the impetus that keeps us buying new equipment, trying to eek out a little more excitement from the past.
 
Dizzie said:
I can't remember the last time I bought a CD or download. Today's music sucks. Please don't tell me there is a lot of great new music because nothing I am hearing is working for me. It is all just noise. I am not excited spending more time listening to music I have been listening to for 50 years. Maybe that is the impetus that keeps us buying new equipment, trying to eek out a little more excitement from the past.
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I find I'm listening to my system MORE as I've enjoyed exploring and discovering older music.

There is some OK new stuff, but I am easily 70%+ in "not new" music that I now discovering.

That has led me to want to explore new gear.
 
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Sorry the industry is letting you down Dizzie.

I am finding ‘new to me’ music all the time. It’s dizzying how much I haven’t heard and how much of it appeals to me.
 
treitz3 said:
As long as seeds are planted and audio aficionados still want to reach higher plateaus along their audio journey? Lots of gear.

Tom
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That's where I am right now. Investigating the new world that exists above my current playing field and dreaming of someday playing there. Just getting ready to rearrange the room completely and put my two new Theta NR power cables (Thanks, Mike!) to work on the amps, and even planning this is giving me goose bumps.
 
Dizzie said:
I can't remember the last time I bought a CD or download. Today's music sucks. Please don't tell me there is a lot of great new music because nothing I am hearing is working for me. It is all just noise. I am not excited spending more time listening to music I have been listening to for 50 years. Maybe that is the impetus that keeps us buying new equipment, trying to eek out a little more excitement from the past.
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Do you stream music or just listen to purchased music?

Of course, much of the new music bites but on the flip side. there is some new music that absolutely smokes the music from days of ol'. I used to think along your thoughts here, right up to the point of being able to stream. This opened up my musical horizons to a vast amount of music that is, quite frankly better than the music I had been listening to for decades.

Of course, having a system that you yearn to hear more music from matters. Whether it's from a bad recording or an exceptional one. If the system doesn't suck you into the music, then the emotional impact of the music itself decreases in spades and in fact, can make the music suck.

Tom
 
treitz3 said:
Do you stream music or just listen to purchased music?

Of course, much of the new music bites but on the flip side. there is some new music that absolutely smokes the music from days of ol'. I used to think along your thoughts here, right up to the point of being able to stream. This opened up my musical horizons to a vast amount of music that is, quite frankly better than the music I had been listening to for decades.

Of course, having a system that you yearn to hear more music from matters. Whether it's from a bad recording or an exceptional one. If the system doesn't suck you into the music, then the emotional impact of the music itself decreases in spades and in fact, can make the music suck.

Tom
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Tom,
I do not stream. I read magazines and forums and then go to YouTube or HD Tracks to check out the artists that seem to have potential. I prefer simpler fare, not a cacophony. I prefer artists with good voices. Not ones who need a lot of instrumentation hiding the fact they can't sing. But I don't like "lounge lizards" either. Those who sing everything perfectly but without a hint of passion.

Other examples of what I like that are not female vocals are the cleaner and simpler tracks from Pink Floyd The Wall and some Dire Straits. Hans Theessink albums Slow Train and Call Me.
 
Mike said:
All good here (up YoY). I think what you are seeing with respect to the medium is a paradigm shift. The medium is changing. Far far far more people turning to YouTube. Dealer YouTubers are growing in droves. I won’t comment on the good, the bad and the ugly in that group, but there are some quite good channels and then some not so good ones. Rick and I haven’t made a video in months (he’s been sick, repairing his roof, I’ve been super busy…life gets in the way), but we intend to do another series and interview some interesting characters in the HiFi industry. I am not kidding when I say, I have lost count of the number of people who have stopped me at shows, called, emailed, etc. and asked when we were doing another episode. You also have reviewer channels, HiFi consumer channels, etc. Some good, some not so good. Pick your favorite channels and enjoy the content.

Some of the forums out there have become filled with complete and utter nonsense and constant bickering all the while claiming “best”. Best bickering, yes. Who wants to spend hours reading that? I think Audioshark has maintained a rather positive decorum overall through the years and that’s thanks to the great group here.

But even as an owner of a forum, I can honestly say, YouTube has seemingly become the medium of choice. Want a good laugh? I get far more conversation, views, dialogue going by opening a stupid box of a product than I do making a post on any forum. Just saying…
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The medium is the message.
 
Mike’s observation about a potential paradigm shift in high-end consumer audio resonates with me. Several factors, including changing demographics and the high costs of gear, undoubtedly contribute to this transformation.

However, the biggest shift may stem from changes in consumer behavior influenced by technology. Today, our attention is increasingly focused on handheld devices like phones and tablets, where entertainment is immediate and visually immersive. Platforms like YouTube provide instant access to performances that combine audio and visuals, creating a more engaging experience even if sound quality is compromised. For many, the thrill of ‘seeing’ a performance—catching the artist’s expressions and energy—enhances enjoyment in ways that high-resolution audio alone can’t match.

At the same time, advancements in audio technology mean that high-quality sound is more affordable and accessible than ever, reducing the need to invest in prohibitively expensive setups. As a result, we’re witnessing a shift in what consumers expect and how they define value in high-end audio.
 
nicoff said:
Mike’s observation about a potential paradigm shift in high-end consumer audio resonates with me. Several factors, including changing demographics and the high costs of gear, undoubtedly contribute to this transformation.

However, the biggest shift may stem from changes in consumer behavior influenced by technology. Today, our attention is increasingly focused on handheld devices like phones and tablets, where entertainment is immediate and visually immersive. Platforms like YouTube provide instant access to performances that combine audio and visuals, creating a more engaging experience even if sound quality is compromised. For many, the thrill of ‘seeing’ a performance—catching the artist’s expressions and energy—enhances enjoyment in ways that high-resolution audio alone can’t match.

At the same time, advancements in audio technology mean that high-quality sound is more affordable and accessible than ever, reducing the need to invest in prohibitively expensive setups. As a result, we’re witnessing a shift in what consumers expect and how they define value in high-end audio.
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Phones and tablets are easy to combine with high end audio. For instance with Roon or the Lumin app.
 
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