High-End Audio Faces a Reckoning

[Mike]

Vinyl is alive and well for young people people. Whenever I go to a vinyl shop they are loaded with teens and young adults. A good friend of mine has 2 daughters in their 20s and they are into vinyl.

The elephant in the room is price with high end gear. Young people don't have that kind of money and they worry about the cost of living and money.

Besides, you can put together a great sounding digital system for $1k to $2k. And a vinyl system for about the same.

The issue with the ChiFi gear is reliability and disposabilty. You can't get that stuff repaired.

That’s an interesting perspective and I don’t disagree. Disposable audio perhaps? I mean, if you buy a $399 dac/streamer and it breaks, might not be worth repairing?? I mean, I see my kids (both have jobs and use their own money) just buy new ear buds when the old ones break. Maybe it’s a generational thing? Disposable audio.

 

[BendingWave]

great post Mike. Audio is its own worst enemy. The negative energy, tribalism and the entire Industry waiting for someone else to help them market. That's the failure. We are living in the golden age of audio. The products are amazing so are the possibilities for amazing results. Stop fighting for every inch and start looking at the bigger picture. People of all generations love music they just don't get the bullshit .

 

[nicoff]

That’s an interesting perspective and I don’t disagree. Disposable audio perhaps? I mean, if you buy a $399 dac/streamer and it breaks, might not be worth repairing?? I mean, I see my kids (both have jobs and use their own money) just buy new ear buds when the old ones break. Maybe it’s a generational thing? Disposable audio.

Disposable audio is a good term.
Any of these electronic devices under $500 qualify. Not worth repairing or the hassle.