An audiophile under 30 does not exist? It may be our fault

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Going back to the topic. audiophiles always have been a rare breed. Eg dont have any friends who are audiophiles rather audiophiles who became friends due to the hobby itself.

lets expect the same statistic to continue ..its anyway not going to increase due to component systems . But appreciation for high quality music has increased due to good headphones and tats one for the headphone guys !

This hobby in its current form will be extinct. Music will be a constant, and new technology will redefine the way music is consumed to suit the tastes and needs of a changing age demographic.

If I had any investment in Harbeth stocks, I would quickly sell them to buy sonos or devialet

 

[corElement]

Umm, I'm living proof to the contrary. I started building my setup at 16 and reached a state I was happy at by 24. I paid for everything myself. today I'm 38 and still cling to the hobby and have a pretty decent ear.

 

[arj]

This hobby in its current form will be extinct. Music will be a constant, and new technology will redefine the way music is consumed to suit the tastes and needs of a changing age demographic.

If I had any investment in Harbeth stocks, I would quickly sell them to buy sonos or devialet

ha ha..old fogeys like me who listen to old music will still stick on to olde vinyl and cds one more time while the next gen increases the stock price of spotify
I doubt if any audiophile setup is public limited other than Harman...who are not necessarily a audiophile co. This hobby was and will remain a small hobby practiced by few who found different levels of Geekiness in music reproduction !

it might die with this generation, space will only become more of a premium with time and newer music only available in digital streaming formats.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Umm, I'm living proof to the contrary. I started building my setup at 16 and reached a state I was happy at by 24. I paid for everything myself. today I'm 38 and still cling to the hobby and have a pretty decent ear.

Glad to see some light at the end of the tunnel . But you young sir, are an exception rather than the norm .

 

[corElement]

Glad to see some light at the end of tunnel . But you young sir, are an exception rather than the norm .

I think it has a lot to do with culture. I had other friends similar to me when I was growing up in Calcutta. I've always noticed those kids who grew up listening to Indian music were far less analytical and critical of sound quality compared to those who were into the latest international music and movies. It's only later with music in india trying to mimic international quality that the quality of Indian music changed and a similar degree of criticality emerged, however even so it's still not quite there because before that happened the era of cheap high quality headphones took off. Can't say there has ever been an era of cheap high quality hifi setups.

Eitherway I disagree with this hobby is going extinct. There are plenty of youth interested in it abroad. I've met many, but yes. quantity is few.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

I think it has a lot to do with culture. I had other friends similar to me when I was growing up in Calcutta. I've always noticed those kids who grew up listening to Indian music were far less analytical and critical of sound quality compared to those who were into the latest international music and movies. It's only later with music in india trying to mimic international quality that the quality of Indian music changed and a similar degree of criticality emerged, however even so it's still not quite there because before that happened the era of cheap high quality headphones took off. Can't say there has ever been an era of cheap high quality hifi setups.

Eitherway I disagree with this hobby is going extinct. There are plenty of youth interested in it abroad. I've met many, but yes. quantity is few.

There will be none more happier than myself if proved wrong

 

[jls001]

The cost of admission for a good-sounding in-ear earphones have fallen drastically in the last couple of years because there is so much activity and competition in that space, mainly from Chinese OEMs. In terms of performance $20 or less IEMs of 2022-23 now compete with $100+ IEMs of two years ago. In contrast an entry-level conventional audio chain consisting of speakers, amplifiers, streamers, etc still remains beyond the reach of younger folks, while the cost continues to escalate. And the space to set it all up remains the biggest deterrent. Also, let's not forget that for the young it's hip to be seen wearing a chunky headphone or a shiny IEM in public spaces while commuting or cycling or working out in the gym.

 

[Sean de Silva]

The cost of admission for a good-sounding in-ear earphones have fallen drastically in the last couple of years because there is so much activity and competition in that space, mainly from Chinese OEMs. In terms of performance $20 or less IEMs of 2022-23 now compete with $100+ IEMs of two years ago. In contrast an entry-level conventional audio chain consisting of speakers, amplifiers, streamers, etc still remains beyond the reach of younger folks, while the cost continues to escalate. And the space to set it all up remains the biggest deterrent. Also, let's not forget that for the young it's hip to be seen wearing a chunky headphone or a shiny IEM in public spaces while commuting or cycling or working out in the gym.

You couldn't have expressed this more succinctly. I'm pleasantly shocked to see an explosion in the use of over-the-ear headphones. A wonderful sight to behold. So heartening to know that people are genuinely taking the time to listen to music while on the go...audiophile or otherwise!

 

[Hari Iyer]

Any female audiophiles? Not come across one yet.

 

[corElement]

Any female audiophiles? Not come across one yet.

My mother is the only female audiophile I know, that's how I got into it.

 

[Hari Iyer]

My mother is the only female audiophile I know, that's how I got into it.

My definition of an audiophile is as per this link https://www.dagogo.com/the-obsessive-compulsive-audiophile/
shared by FM @Analogous

 

[square_wave]

I was at an audio show in the UK recently. I saw many people around the age of 30. Way more than what I have seen at Indian shows. Bunch of ladies too. But they were not the mainstream youngster demographic. Normal ( mainstream ) people will never get into it.

Back in the day, it was a different story! Options for entertainment were way lesser than what you get now. Music and movies needed to happen around the entertainment system in the living room and a component music system was the only option. Many people who were not even audiophiles bought them. Many people in our generation became audiophiles because of "accidental exposure" to such systems.
Nowadays, people have so many options and people are very specific about what they want and how they want it served. I have noted that the youngsters who like audiophilia are super specific about what they expect out of such a system. More so than many seasoned audophiles of our era for whom an audio system at home was a normal thing. The youngsters need to justify it to their peers so they make sure they get exactly what they want.

The hobby will remain but it will remain very niche. So brands who do not design and sell gear that don't satisfy an upcoming generation that are super specific about what they want will vanish.

 

[Subbu68]

I guess we all grew up on radios and stereo systems in general... Atleast I did. So that has remained as my medium for consumption. I could never warm up to headphones. This generation is different. My daughter likes cycling with her earbuds on. And she listens to music while going to sleep through the same.

The main reason I think is that musical preference is such a personal thing. And the younger generation prefer having their privacy enjoying the same. I think the only way I can draw my daughter into my room is by installing a headphone rig there that performs better than her current BT buds.

Not much different from my case. at least my daughter shuns MP3, Apple Music. For her hostel room she has taken a CD ROM and CDs with her to play them on her laptop and uses a Tivoli Model One BT as her speaker.

 

[Subbu68]

Not much different from my case. at least my daughter shuns MP3, Apple Music. For her hostel room she has taken a CD ROM and CDs with her to play them on her laptop and uses a Tivoli Model One BT as her speaker.

Missed to add, ripped her favs to ALAC for use on iTunes. She's been an Apple girl since 2012.

 

[Nitin K]

I was at an audio show in the UK recently. I saw many people around the age of 30. Way more than what I have seen at Indian shows. Bunch of ladies too. But they were not the mainstream youngster demographic. Normal ( mainstream ) people will never get into it.

Back in the day, it was a different story! Options for entertainment were way lesser than what you get now. Music and movies needed to happen around the entertainment system in the living room and a component music system was the only option. Many people who were not even audiophiles bought them. Many people in our generation became audiophiles because of "accidental exposure" to such systems.
Nowadays, people have so many options and people are very specific about what they want and how they want it served. I have noted that the youngsters who like audiophilia are super specific about what they expect out of such a system. More so than many seasoned audophiles of our era for whom an audio system at home was a normal thing. The youngsters need to justify it to their peers so they make sure they get exactly what they want.

The hobby will remain but it will remain very niche. So brands who do not design and sell gear that don't satisfy an upcoming generation that are super specific about what they want will vanish.

Very true, a lot of the young generation have a lot of OTT options prefer using ear buds headphones and sound bars. Have seen very few new gen being attracted to music/HT separates.

 

[k-pad]

Nice share, Analogous. As always lighting the match and throwing it under seats

On a serious note, after reading the piece, here is what I gather:
1. The writer is a retailer, albeit boutique.
2. He clearly laments that gear doesn't sell in this age group, and not that this group has lost itself to good music.

His fix:
Gift expensive gear! Of course
--

Now, consider this:
One FM who I respect has handed his late teen a great rig. It was a hand me down. And the kid loves it. And takes care of it.
This kid will most likely end up being an audiophile at whatever age.
Now, that is how audiophilia gets passed down - put the love of good sound into kids and they will figure out their own journeys from there.
--

I grew up with cassettes and the only thing I was bothered about was listening to as much as possible (was it on a 2 gazillion watt PMPO Akai or BPL, I don't remember today )

But I did figure out how to remove the fused grill and ensured that the drivers were always brushed clean. And to keep cassettes clean. And labelled well. That can also count as audiophilia, right?

Next phase of love for good sound was identifying cinemas that paid attention to sound and patronising them.

And then life happened. And till Covid happened, love for good sound took a back seat. In fact, all sound took a back seat.
--

Today, when I visit my schoolmates (all of us 40+) a majority of whom are also just as how I described myself above, all have some kind of 'system' so to speak - ranging from boat soundbars with weird subs to rigs that make me blush.

What was the one thing that has remained among all of us? The love for good sound, whatever one-word we use to describe us. Am not gonna use that word again.

As much good sound as our lives can afford - that should be the motto of true Au***phi***cs.
--

As an aside, what I said above has been mirrored by the petrolheads among my childhood friends. We spent out childhood trying to lay our hands on an RX100, or a Lancer, even if for an afternoon or, orgasmically, for a day, and that experience stayed with us for the rest of our lives. Today, all of us -- mirroring what i said above about 'systems' -- are happy owners of some kind of machine that makes us feel alive - again starting from XPulses or Dukes and going right up to Porshes and Maserattis.

To sum it up, this boutique seller should actually be pandering to whoever is willing to buy the gear he is selling to instead of lamenting that there are not enough young people walking into his store.

And as with everything in life, those in their 40s and 50s are the real customers for any business, be it the biggest spend of one's life (homes), or the second biggest (vehicles) or third biggest (hobbies).

Businesses get their monies from those above 40 and are fairly well off.

Just my two bits. Thank you for the share.

PS: Signed, an FM who is trying not to become that OCA referenced in one of your recent posts

 

[sachinchavan 15865]

Unless it’s a ‘hand me down’ most of us think of separates only after we start earning (because they cost) and after we have our own home (because of the space and pride of ownership). Also, younger lot prefers music they can carry with them. In my college I had the Walkman, today‘s youth has it over the mobile phone.

And yes, audiophilia can be pursued even through personal music players and headphones - you can get as hi-fi as you want listening through buds and cans.

 

[Yelamanchili manohar]

Nice share, Analogous. As always lighting the match and throwing it under seats

On a serious note, after reading the piece, here is what I gather:
1. The writer is a retailer, albeit boutique.
2. He clearly laments that gear doesn't sell in this age group, and not that this group has lost itself to good music.

His fix:
Gift expensive gear! Of course
--

Now, consider this:
One FM who I respect has handed his late teen a great rig. It was a hand me down. And the kid loves it. And takes care of it.
This kid will most likely end up being an audiophile at whatever age.
Now, that is how audiophilia gets passed down - put the love of good sound into kids and they will figure out their own journeys from there.
--

I grew up with cassettes and the only thing I was bothered about was listening to as much as possible (was it on a 2 gazillion watt PMPO Akai or BPL, I don't remember today )

But I did figure out how to remove the fused grill and ensured that the drivers were always brushed clean. And to keep cassettes clean. And labelled well. That can also count as audiophilia, right?

Next phase of love for good sound was identifying cinemas that paid attention to sound and patronising them.

And then life happened. And till Covid happened, love for good sound took a back seat. In fact, all sound took a back seat.
--

Today, when I visit my schoolmates (all of us 40+) a majority of whom are also just as how I described myself above, all have some kind of 'system' so to speak - ranging from boat soundbars with weird subs to rigs that make me blush.

What was the one thing that has remained among all of us? The love for good sound, whatever one-word we use to describe us. Am not gonna use that word again.

As much good sound as our lives can afford - that should be the motto of true Au***phi***cs.
--

As an aside, what I said above has been mirrored by the petrolheads among my childhood friends. We spent out childhood trying to lay our hands on an RX100, or a Lancer, even if for an afternoon or, orgasmically, for a day, and that experience stayed with us for the rest of our lives. Today, all of us -- mirroring what i said above about 'systems' -- are happy owners of some kind of machine that makes us feel alive - again starting from XPulses or Dukes and going right up to Porshes and Maserattis.

To sum it up, this boutique seller should actually be pandering to whoever is willing to buy the gear he is selling to instead of lamenting that there are not enough young people walking into his store.

And as with everything in life, those in their 40s and 50s are the real customers for any business, be it the biggest spend of one's life (homes), or the second biggest (vehicles) or third biggest (hobbies).

Businesses get their monies from those above 40 and are fairly well off.

Just my two bits. Thank you for the share.

PS: Signed, an FM who is trying not to become that OCA referenced in one of your recent posts

Very well put across. I couldn't agree more