Are we, as a breed of 'Audiophiles' dying out?

[Barry]

But that is exactly what Veblen status products are - they are status symbols, regardless of whether they are watches, designer goods, luxury cars, or hi-fi. They are bought to display the owner's wealth, are expensive and inaccessible to those who cannot afford them.

The paradox is that with Veblen status items, if the price asked rises so too does the exclusivity and desirability, and hence the demand by those interested in using them as status symbols.

I have to admit that only audio cognoscenti would recognise the worth of something as mundane as a piece of electronics - but a turntable, especially some of the high-end, and hence expensive, items could look very impressive to some.

I've been trying to think of any camera manufacturers who might claim to have Veblen status. The only names that come to mind are Leica (for their history and quality) and Alpa (for their exclusivity and quality).

[Pigmy Pony]

If my kit had been bought to be a 'status symbol' it would fail miserably - apart from a few friends and family, the only visitors we've had in the last 6 months were a gas engineer doing our annual boiler check and two Jehovah's Witnesses (who to be fair did comment on my set up). Oh and a monthly visit from a Polish chiropodist, and she wouldn't notice if I'd added flashing disco lights.

It's more likely they would be thinking "silly sod, that kind of money would buy me ten years of Benidorm holidays", but like the ladies who go for cosmetic surgery, 'I'm doing it for me, not anyone else'.

Different with cars, watches, designer goods, they are out there in the wider world impressing much larger numbers.

[Barry]

That is the point - none of us have bought our audio systems to be a status symbol. We have bought them to allow us to best enjoy music which is one of our pleasures. We may have spent a lot of money to achieve that situation, but we haven't done it solely to impress our friends, or anyone else who may visit our homes.

I still maintain that there are some very wealthy people out there who will buy an impressive and showy audio system, which may be "state of the art" and therefore expensive, simply as a status symbol. It is there to display the owner's wealth, not his interest in music. They are not audiophiles - unless that is they have a large music collection.

It is for those that Veblen goods are aimed.

[Macca]

I still maintain that there are some very wealthy people out there who will buy an impressive and showy audio system, which may be "state of the art" and therefore expensive, simply as a status symbol. It is there to display the owner's wealth, not his interest in music. They are not audiophiles - unless that is they have a large music collection.

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I don't think I've ever encountered that, at least not overtly, but people say they have. I suppose it can confer some status if your social group are into hi-fi.

Size of the record collection is no longer a gauge of anything, anyone can have millions of records just by paying a £9.99 a month subscription.

In any case that 'size of the music collection' thing was always just another form of snobbery. Someone can love music but simply not afford to buy lots of records. Maybe they just have the radio, it's still listening to music.

[Barry]

Can you claim to be an audiophile if you just listen to the radio? I think the term audiophile means more than a music lover. What about those that only attend concerts and do not listen to anything at home. Admittedly they are a rara avis but they may exist.

I wouldn't rely on streaming as my software source. The quality is in the hands of the streaming provider and can change at any time.

Yes I agree that the 'size of the music collection' should not be a criterion for an audiophile, but when the cost of the reproducing system is tens of times the cost of the software collection, something is amiss.

[Lawrence001]

If my kit had been bought to be a 'status symbol' it would fail miserably - apart from a few friends and family, the only visitors we've had in the last 6 months were a gas engineer doing our annual boiler check and two Jehovah's Witnesses (who to be fair did comment on my set up). Oh and a monthly visit from a Polish chiropodist, and she wouldn't notice if I'd added flashing disco lights.

It's more likely they would be thinking "silly sod, that kind of money would buy me ten years of Benidorm holidays", but like the ladies who go for cosmetic surgery, 'I'm doing it for me, not anyone else'.

Different with cars, watches, designer goods, they are out there in the wider world impressing much larger numbers.

You actually invite the Jehovah's Witnesses in? Is that so you've got someone to show your hifi off to?

[Macca]

Yes I agree that the 'size of the music collection' should not be a criterion for an audiophile, but when the cost of the reproducing system is tens of times the cost of the software collection, something is amiss.

If they bought the system after the age of streaming began they may not own any 'software' at all so the cost ratio of system to music collection would be infinite, but they still might have a very high quality system and spend 10 hours a day listening to it. Not an audiophile?

[Pigmy Pony]

You actually invite the Jehovah's Witnesses in? Is that so you've got someone to show your hifi off to?

No, I had Homes under the Hammer on the telly at the time That's enough to ensure any visits are brief.

Really, it was a cold morning, and I couldn't imagine my neighbours being big on hospitality, so it was an act of kindness. Plus, I find it hard to say no to anyone - if I was a woman I'd probably have thirty kids by now

[Pigmy Pony]

I don't think I've ever encountered that, at least not overtly, but people say they have. I suppose it can confer some status if your social group are into hi-fi.

Size of the record collection is no longer a gauge of anything, anyone can have millions of records just by paying a £9.99 a month subscription.

In any case that 'size of the music collection' thing was always just another form of snobbery. Someone can love music but simply not afford to buy lots of records. Maybe they just have the radio, it's still listening to music.

The only person who has visited my house ever, with an interest in hifi and music is Firebottle and you - I bet that makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside

[Pigmy Pony]

There are people who choose hifi that makes their music sound good, then there's those who buy music that makes their hifi sound good. I suspect owners of 'status' kit are in the latter group.