How do we get more people excited about HiFi?

[Petrushka]

So if we accept this is the truth, we have to specify what people can't hear. Many adults can't hear above 17 kHz for example. There is almost never important music there (some harmonics and noise).

Most boomers can’t hear above 10k.

 

[Petrushka]

I agree. We already see that with streaming versus theatrical releases. When a new album “drops” and you can just do it via streaming, the sense of anticipation and focus isn’t there.



+1. Sonos has its well publicized “meltdown” from the new app glitches, and they have lost a billion dollars of market capitalization — BUT they are still worth 1.4 Billion.

When Masimo bought Sound United
that was only $1B.

Sonos does 2 ch, surround sound with upfiring Atmos, headphones, HDMI eARC amps, and even dabbles in automotive.

Roon is the only Sonos competitor in the Multiroom wireless, Unlimited services niche.

 

[Timcognito]

I count 84 sites, not sure what this post all about. You know those TV commercials in the US that make fun of becoming your parents. This post is about the parents urging their kids to become like them.

Daily.Audio

Grab the latest Hi-Fi news and reviews from content creators and media outlets from all over the world. We pull sources from blogs, online magazines, and even YouTube. Find out what the best headphones, speakers, and amplifiers are. You could even take a peek into the audiophile forums. All from...

daily.audio

 

[Timcognito]

Roon is the only Sonos competitor in the Multiroom wireless, Unlimited services niche.

What about Bluesound? Roon only supports Qobuz and Tidal.

 

[Audiofire]

Most boomers can’t hear above 10k.

They're doing well. Violin might have harmonics above 10 kHz. Only electronic instruments really have a higher (audible) spectrum.

 

[Alice of Old Vincennes]

Looks like a lost cause regarding yonger people. My daughter (28) is brought up with a high-end set in combination (in my former home) with an excellent acoustics. So she knows how liqued a quality audio system could sound. My current setup is in my attic mancave with a bad acoustics but DSP corrected such that it come close to the sound of my former home. Basicly the daughter is really not interested in high fidelity audio more IE headphones. Basicly she does not have the patience or need to listen longer than 1,5 minutes to music to occupied with here phone. The same with here mother. Is that a familiar observation. ?

Yes. Similar 50 years ago. Separates, including AVR'S, appeal to a niche crowd compared to general population. In the 60's my Mom was in love with her 6 transistor 9v battery AM FM at the beach

 

[Petrushka]

What about Bluesound? Roon only supports Qobuz and Tidal.

I did not know that. At least it supports your own files.

This makes the Sonos meltdown even more disturbing.

 

[dualazmak]

They're doing well. Violin might have harmonics above 10 kHz.

Yes, I actually "measured/observed" a few of excellently recorded violin tracks and intensively discussed about your point!
Excellent Recording Quality Music Albums/Tracks for Subjective (and Possibly Objective) Test/Check/Tuning of Multichannel Multi-Driver Multi-Amplifier Time-Aligned Active Stereo Audio System and Room Acoustics; at least a Portion and/or One Track being Analyzed by Color Spectrum of Adobe Audition in Common Parameters: [Part-11] Violin Music
- https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/multi-channel-multi-amplifier-audio-system-using-software-crossover-and-multichannel-dac.12489/page-33#post-1332948

 

[mglobe]

As I think back to the 60’s and 70’s, dedicated music systems were much more prevalent than now. As I and others have pointed out, the world was different, with less to compete with music for people’s attention, and with systems that were not portable, and took up room. However, thinking back, “true hifi” systems in the 60’s like my father’s AR2A’s driven by an amplifier I can’t remember, having a Dynaco tuner, and a Dual turntable were outliers. Most homes had at best a console system with being kind, mediocre sound. In the late 60’s and 70’s stereos became more ubiquitous, but even those were often not all that great. Lots of people had them, but few really knew much about them. The number of hobbyists who dug into the details and carefully assembled a really good sounding system was pretty small. Bigger on a percentage basis than now? Certainly. I wonder how much bigger.

 

[Palladium]

We want the youngsters to be interested in Hi-Fi in order to justify our own obsession. For many of us it has been painful to realize that good quality sound is for most people not nearly as important as it is to us. Normal people understand that the tiny differences we worry about are not worth worrying about.

Exactly. They can easily spend more than Airpods etc but yet get worse sound and less convenience.

 

[dualazmak]

Only electronic instruments really have a higher (audible) spectrum.

I believe not always so...
Just for a typical example, please refer to my post #592 on my project thread.
The thread "Music for Testing Treble (High Frequency) Sound" (hosted by myself) would be also your reference and interests, I assume.

 

[Cecill]

I think the industry has failed to demonstrate the young generation how fun good sound quality is.

There’s no such thing as "fun" in the world of hi-fi. Disappointment? Absolutely. Spending money before you really know what you’re doing? Definitely. Ruining the decor of your room with acoustic treatments? Unfortunately, yes.

If the audio industry succeeds in captivating the younger generation, we can’t ignore their growing curiosity. Eventually, they’ll reach a point where acoustic treatments become essential for appreciating good sound, along with finding the ideal listening position and speaker placement. All of this likely requires a dedicated room, understanding family members, and, above all, the time and will to sit down and truly listen.

Simply put, there's no fun in hi-fi.

The message is clear: just get some headphones. And that’s exactly what the younger generations end up doing.

 

[Purité Audio]

Contemporary loudspeakers have made much of the ‘traditional’ passive treatment ( ie the stuff touted by many manufacturers) redundant .
EQ for the low bass is essential.
Keith

 

[Cecill]

To reinvigorate the hobby the first and most important part is for the industry and those that represent it to stop with the snake oil and present factual evidence for a product.

See what you mean, but it comes across a bit like asking, "Can we all just stop lying and be honest from now on?"

 

[Petrushka]

See what you mean, but it comes across a bit like asking, "Can we all just stop lying and be honest from now on?"

This is like asking people to stop wanting sports cars, diamonds, and other luxury goods. There is absolutely no functional difference between a natural and a synthetic gemstone, but there is a price difference.

Status is a function.

Supermarkets have an entire aisle devoted to herbal medicine. None of it is objectively useful.

 

[Snarfie]

The only stereo these day's the family listen regulary to is the Bose Wave an than for most DAB radio. When the daughter visits she can stream here audio by Bluethoot connectivity to the Bose Aux. That excited it could get regarding Hifi over here in the living room.

 

[Cecill]

Contemporary loudspeakers have made much of the ‘traditional’ passive treatment ( ie the stuff touted by many manufacturers) redundant .
EQ for the low bass is essential.
Keith

Interesting.
What about sound reflections from the ceiling, paneled floors, side and rear walls? Are these acoustic challenges now addressed by the latest contemporary loudspeakers? And is it no longer necessary to place speakers equidistant from the side walls?

 

[Purité Audio]

Increasingly contemporary designs have constant directivity and also cardioid , on and off-axis are the same, less output behind the speaker , which negates the need for passive absorption which is often only effective over a small portion of the FR.
A symmetrical placement is still advisable.
Keith

 

[Petrushka]

$200 Sonos speakers have room correction. That is the future. Placing speakers for best sound will never be mainstream.

Room treatment will be a thing only if it is decorative and comes from IKEA.

 

[Holmz]

Hello,

a few decades ago HiFi was a popular hobby and in almost every living rooms was some audio equipment. Most HiFi people from today know these times and miss these times.

The rise of the computer, video games and the internet shifted the focus of a lot of people away from HiFi. A whole young generation wasn't that interested in HiFi. And HiFi as a hobby and a whole industry is now a small group of people.

Since the love for music and the potential desires for good audio quality of music, video games and movies hasn't faded a way, I think the industry has failed to demonstrate the young generation how fun good sound quality is.

If you are also a bit sad, that HiFi isn't very popular anymore there is the question how we can change that?

I think we have to hook the younger generation since most of the hobbies are formed in the age from about 12 to 28. Almost no one of this age group has ever heard a very good sounding audio system, so it isn't a surprise that only very few become hifi people.

Most of today's enthusiasts came from headphones since they are more popular in the younger generation and there was a hype with beats a decade ago.

From an industry perspective I think I is worth to get/ hire some influencers to show the younger generation that there is HiFi.

As a HiFi company with a good listening room it might be beneficial to invite local school music or engineering classes and let them play thier music in this room which is embedded in a factory tour.

As a HiFi dealer it might be interesting to get the gamers somehow into the store so that they will hear how good their games can sound.

What are your thoughts about the whole topic?

Best
Thomas

What is the point?
To help you in a business or marketing for real… or as a project for a course?

Otherwise it is like the people that knock on the door to talk about God.
If you are asking the converted here, i guess that makes sense… however most people shut the door when trying to peddle them something that they are not interested in talking about.