there's a book called "Status and Culture: How Our Desire for Social Rank Creates Taste, Identity, Art, Fashion, and Constant Change" by W. David Marx. The title sums up the book's main assertion pretty neatly
I'm sure someone could write a good essay about how his arguments apply to audio as a hobby. I'm not an essayist, but I could make a few crude generalisations about how audio gear is used for social status:
- the nouveau riche might favour the expensive and gaudy: think Dan D'Agostino and Wilson. Many here would scoff at this stuff, but this gear does signify status among a certain class of people
- those who choose cheaper, equally (or better) performing gear are signalling status in a different way. specifically, when someone with the means to buy expensive gear chooses not to, I think it signals that they consider themselves above status seeking - an act that in itself signals a specific status. Casio was mentioned in this thread recently - when someone like Bill Gates wears a Casio, what does that mean? Does Gates just appreciate cheap, simple, functional, utilitarian products? Does he want to come across as approachable and down-to-earth, despite his unfathomable wealth? We ask ourselves - is Gates aware of Patek Phillipe, but he considers expensive jewellery to be crass, pointless, both (edit: and does he want us to be asking ourselves this question)?
- since I mentioned new money, what kind of audio equipment is associated with old money? Marx cites something like this an example: in old money, WASPy New England, a slightly beat up old Volvo signifies a level of taste in that community. it isn't a flashy Lambo, but it also isn't too cheap, disposable - it's "just so". Is the audio equivalent a vintage audio system? Maybe a small Bose system that doesn't overwhelm with the estate's antique furniture (honestly, I don't know - I'm not in that world)
Good post.
I’m still trying to grapple with just how pervasive “ buying for status” is among audiophiles and I still think that it is not very pervasive at all. Not that it doesn’t exist.
If I think back to the 70s, I suppose there was a sort of status thing with audio because most guys wanted a good stereo. And if you had a good stereo system, yeah you enjoyed showing it off.
I certainly remember some friends of mine into car audio, loving to show off their system with whatever new album Rush had released .
When my dad brought home KEF 105.2 speakers and carver amplification, the main joy was just being able to listen to it, but it was also really fun when friends came over who also really appreciated cranking up our stereo system with some earth, wind and fire or Van Halen or whatever. So yeah, we had a certain status from that I think.
But, having gotten high end audio around the mid 90s, that’s not something I perceived nearly as much among audiophiles. That was the time when people were used to using things like Walkman‘s and it wasn’t “ everybody needs a great stereo system” anymore. So it seemed like the audiophiles I met were a real niche and just sort of obsessives about gear and sound quality. Sure they enjoyed sharing the experience with somebody else who was also into it. But it didn’t come off as status seeking more about sharing enthusiasm.
And that’s something I wouldn’t want to mix up - personal satisfaction, enthusiasm, joy of sharing the experience - with status seeking.
Just trying to figure out what degree status might play a role in my own choices…
With my Home Theatre and two channel listening room that I spent an enormous amount of time designing (and a good portion of my disposable income). I don’t ever remember “status” per se being a reason for anything I bought or for the design, but rather everything was aimed at the type of experience I wanted to have in the room… and also of course any guests would have in the room.
When it was completed plenty of guests were very enthusiastic and that was wonderful and even part of the joy - being able to provide that experience, not just for me, but for others who appreciate it. And sure some pride. And I guess there was some status involved in the sense that my place became the go-to for friends who wanted to watch movies or who wanted to gather to watch sporting events.
But “status” itself was not something I was conscious of at all when selecting all the gear and designing the room.
(I don’t think my 2-channel gear would get much status points around here, given many probably think I overpaid for my gear, at least relative to what they would choose).
And as far as I can tell personal enthusiasm , and sharing that with other audiophiles, seems the mindset of the majority of audiophiles I’ve known, as well as interacted with online.
When some audiophiles accuse other audiophiles of seeking status I’m somewhat suspicious of this because it’s always “the other guy,” the other audiophile, who has the purported base, crass motivations “not me.”
And one thing anybody who has spent time shooting the shit on forums would have noticed: when somebody tries to characterize your own motivations in a debate, they are rarely accurate. Something to keep in mind when we’re trying to assess other people’s motivations.
Now in terms of being snobby… OK yeah I’ve certainly seen some snobby behaviour in the audiophile world, on this forum too as with every other audiophile forum. But that tends to be more about judging other audiophiles. I mean, take the the sentiment: “
I’m a rational audiophile who understands the technical aspects of audio gear, so I don’t overspend or get suckered into overpriced stuff like many audiofools do…”
I suppose that could be seen as a flipside of the snobby golden ears who sniff that such people don’t have the taste or hearing or budget to appreciate the finer gear. And claim “envy.” (so I think if an individual audiophile was claiming people envy his/her particular gear… yeah that would be snobby).
In the former sense, I certainly would be guilty of making some snobby comments about snake oil and audio suckers.
