High End Audio Growth

Good article, and as usual, great work by Tom.

At first blush, I was thinking that more high-end dealers doesn't necessarily translate to more high-end buyers.

After reading the article, I came away thinking that there were two possible conclusions: Either a stagnant or shrinking pool of old audiophiles are buying and hoarding more equipment -OR- the number of new high-end customers is growing enough to keep the established companies as well as the new companies in business.

I can only conclude that it is the latter.
 
Interesting take on the subject, but I have to question the author’s definition of a high-end audio manufacturer:

“For this analysis, a manufacturer qualifies when it offers at least one product intended primarily for high-quality music reproduction in the home with a retail price above $500 in 2026 dollars.”

I would maintain that a single specialty audio product retailing for over $500 hardly qualifies an audio manufacturer as high-end, and that by using that definition the numbers have been significantly inflated, thereby seriously skewing the data. Of course, that same observation begs the question of exactly what does constitute a high-end manufacturer? I’d suggest that a manufacturer whose least expensive product retails for $1000+ would more accurately define the category.

Just my observation. As always, YMMV.
 
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