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

[SLS]

I doubt it.

[hole46]

The difference is that a Rolex or other very expensive watch is something everyone accepts is a status symbol. A hi-fi not so much, maybe it was for a few years from mid 70s to mid 80s but now?

Do they listen to their hifi music on their Rolex?


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[hornucopia]

As I turn the volume down…..my partner is not keen on music ‘all the time’’…..
I still have enough gear to have a system in each room, plus …thanks Ali….my iPod/idecco/Ether2 headphone set-up for bedtime listening.
But hearing is declining……test next week…….
Still, I’ve got to 79. And still got the Hafler kit I bought in 1970!

[Pete The Cat]

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.

1. Agree. Audiophilia surely involves an interest in optimising sound reproduction and the equipment required to do this. The motivation for the latter is the former and not, for example, to demonstrate one's wealth.

2. Me neither. Additionally, ability to choose preferred version/mastering; ability to hear releases not on the streaming network for whatever reason; and risk of fait accompli price increase.

3. Yup.

[Ali Tait]

As I turn the volume down…..my partner is not keen on music ‘all the time’’…..
I still have enough gear to have a system in each room, plus …thanks Ali….my iPod/idecco/Ether2 headphone set-up for bedtime listening.
But hearing is declining……test next week…….
Still, I’ve got to 79. And still got the Hafler kit I bought in 1970!

Good 'phones those, glad you're still enjoying them. :-)

[Barry]

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?

If they disposed of their 'software', then that was their decision, but it is not something I would have done. Relying on streaming services does not guarantee you quality reproduction. These services will tailor the software to suit the customer, which increasingly are those who listen via smartphones/earbuds.

The cost ratio would only be infinite if the streaming service was free, which it is if you are willing to put up with invasive advertising or a limit to how many times you can skip tracks. If you are willing to pay an, albeit small, fee you are still not guaranteed the highest quality of reproduction.

[Macca]

If they disposed of their 'software', then that was their decision, but it is not something I would have done. Relying on streaming services does not guarantee you quality reproduction. These services will tailor the software to suit the customer, which increasingly are those who listen via smartphones/earbuds.

The cost ratio would only be infinite if the streaming service was free, which it is if you are willing to put up with invasive advertising or a limit to how many times you can skip tracks. If you are willing to pay an, albeit small, fee you are still not guaranteed the highest quality of reproduction.

Well you don't have to tell me, extent of my streaming is to check out stuff on Youtube. CD only in the main system, the only way to guarantee you have the best master and so the best sound.

But streaming has been going more than 15 years so there'll be a lot of people now with expensive systems that have never bought any physical media.

Physical media is only about 11 percent of music revenue now.

I think CD will have a comeback, albeit modest, sales of them are slowly rising as more people cotton on.

[Barry]

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.

Possibly, but they would be a small group and certainly not likely to be a member of any audio forum (least of all AoS !).

However there are some people who I suspect do choose the music to make the equipment sound good. They are manufacturers demonstrating their audio wares at audio shows. One of the reasons why I have stopped attending the shows.

[Pigmy Pony]

[QUOTE=Barry;1401886]Possibly, but they would be a small group and certainly not likely to be a member of any audio forum (least of all AoS !).

However there are some people who I suspect do choose the music to make the equipment sound good. They are manufacturers demonstrating their audio wares at audio shows. One of the reasons why I have stopped attending the shows.[/QUOTE]

Yeah that is one of Macca's pet peaves, Manufacturers' demonstrators using simple sounds (like two sticks knocked together) that no one's ever heard of, making direct comparisons all but impossible. You see it all the time at shows, and we tend to dismiss them as worthless dems.

[Alex_UK]

Just picking up on the subject of streaming quality. The inference that sample/bit rate will reduce at the supplier's will is illogical in my opinion - Spotify have (finally) responded to subscriber pressure and moved to "lossless" (CD quality) - but Tidal and Qobuz both offer "hi-res" as one of their USP's - so I doubt they will ever go backwards - particularly now that very high speed broadband is available almost everywhere for a reasonable cost. For me, 15 years ago I was spending at least £150 a month on CDs and to a lesser extent vinyl - I spend £40 odd a month on a family Spotify subscription and Tidal - the latter being my preferred choice for "proper" listening. Currently playing an album on Tidal that is 24bit, 192Khz - and there is no other way to listen to it at that quality. I do still buy CDs for stuff I can't stream (then rip and stream them) and some vinyl - in both cases especially to support artists I am a big fan of, but overall I have saved a lot of money not buying CDs "unheard" and that only ever get one or two plays.

Digressing from the original point, somewhat - but in general I do agree that we are "dying out" - my daughter had a system setup in her room of some of my spare kit, but hardly used it, and is happy to listen to her music via headphones, or bluetooth speakers. Me personally I have moved towards powered speakers in most rooms now, rather than a rack of separates, and the Triangle "All In One" speaker "system" is among some of the best sound I have enjoyed at home - I personally see this as the area where hi-fi will continue to evolve, combined with network streaming, with Vinyl (and now CD) becoming more of a niche interest - but for the youngsters, it's not really about the sound quality in my opinion but more about the visceral experience of owning and handling the medium.