What do you think of the AoS forum?

[Pigmy Pony]

This is my favourite forum as I find it easy to get on with everyone, but maybe that's because there aren't many people to fall out with anymore.

No, it's because the wrong 'uns don't last long, and there have been one or two.

[Barry]

Thanks for your comments so far Guys. It good to know that most of you, so far, are happy with the Forum as it is. But what we were hoping for is suggestions and ideas in order to increase the traffic and activity.

I don't think AoS has lost its way, and just stating the obvious in that three of the most prolific posters are no longer active is something that we are all aware of, and is not particularly helpful.

We could of course just plod along as we are, but I was hoping for some ideas that would attract new members and hopefully increase posting activity.

[Pigmy Pony]

Thanks for your comments so far Guys. It good to know that most of you, so far, are happy with the Forum as it is. But what we were hoping for is suggestions and ideas in order to increase the traffic and activity.

I don't think AoS has lost its way, and just stating the obvious in that three of the most prolific posters are no longer active is something that we are all aware of, and is not particularly helpful.

We could of course just plod along as we are, but I was hoping for some ideas that would attract new members and hopefully increase posting activity.

IMO AoS as a community audio and music forum is unique and just about perfect. It's the rest of the world that's wrong. I'll put my thinking cap on, but it no longer fits right since I lost all my hair

We're all music enthusiasts on here, we just don't bang on about it 24/7. If I browse other forums it's like spending time in an unfamiliar town, and returning here is like coming home to family and friends

Not very helpful I know. Sorry about that.

[Pigmy Pony]

What about some low-cost promotional products bearing the AoS logo? Ofc I don't know how low-cost it would turn out to be. I'd chuck a few quid towards getting it going.

Maybe something that could be worn by members attending audio shows, bake offs etc. to get the name out there and to help identify us to each other at such meets.

I like the branded key-locator fobs, I'm always losing my keys

https://www.vistaprint.co.uk/promoti...a32tALCnHfkemW

[Barry]

Wow that's a bit 'left field ', but I admire the boldness of your thinking. It would need to be something completely visible such as a T-shirt or baseball cap; neither of which look good on me. But that’s not to discourage others.

[Alex_UK]

“Make AoS Great Again” baseball caps could work!

[Tim]

“Make AoS Great Again” baseball caps could work!

I'll have 2 please

[Alex_UK]

[Maelstrom]

Afternoon All,

As someone who joined/engaged relatively recently – and who was frankly a bit nervous about dipping a toe back into the hi-fi world after decades away – I hope my perspective might be useful.

What's kept me here: The patience. Honestly, I came in knowing almost nothing about modern gear, streaming, or even what I wanted. Not once did anyone make me feel stupid. The advice has been thoughtful, the disagreements civil, and the collective wisdom genuinely staggering. That's rare online, and it's worth protecting.

What might put newcomers off – and I'll be honest here: The forum looks old. Really old. The colour scheme, the layout, the fonts – it feels like a site that hasn't had a visual refresh since the early 2000s. For a younger or more design-conscious potential member, that might be enough to click away before reading a single post. I don't say that to be cruel – just truthful. A cleaner, more modern skin would work wonders.

Structure-wise: It could also do with a bit of a reorganising. There are a lot of sub-forums, some of which feel very quiet. I'd suggest:

• *Archiving threads that haven't seen a reply in, say, five years. Not deleting – just moving to a read‑only archive.
  *Regrouping similar topics.
  *A single, prominent "Start Here" or "New Member? Read This First" sticky. One place, not more.

Ideas to enliven things:

• *A monthly "listening diary" thread – what did you actually *listen to* this month, not what gear did you buy?
  *A show-and-tell for second-hand bargains. Everyone loves a good "look what I found on gumtree/FB/ebay for £50" post.
  *Maybe a buddy system? Pair a newer member with an old hand for a few weeks to help with a specific project. I'd have killed for that.

One small thing: The "Jokes & Funnies" section is great, but it's a bit buried. A weekly pinned humour and a 'Rant' thread on the main board might remind people that this hobby is supposed to be *fun*.

But honestly? You're doing something right. I came here lost, lonely in a new house, and not sure I still loved music. Now I have a system that makes me smile every evening. That's down to the people here, not the software.

Happy to help if any of these ideas are worth pursuing.

All the best,

Alistair

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[Pigmy Pony]

“Make AoS Great Again” baseball caps could work!

Or "Piggurs was right about everything" That works for me