Theory on Why There Aren't More Audiophile

[TonyJZX]

Op is kind of describing all passtimes.

eg. I quite enjoy a scotch or any spirits

but does anyone want to pay for 12 y.o single malt?

and so in this country you have to work more than an few hoursto buy a bottle of piss and so... i understand why the government levies taxes on alcohol

i also think that *most* people will find even a 2.1 system too much trouble

and that the nadir was hit with AC 5.1 and that sort of sound quality and pic fidelity is 'good enough' in 2024

people have said that the best sound system people have is the Bose or H/K in their Hundai

a quick sort of experiement is that the VAST majority of people are FINE with the sound that comes out of your average no name LCD TV

now you guys... tell me how terrible the average LCD TV sounds

i used to get logitech 2.1 pc speakers and that would immediately lift the sound to something bearable

and yet when they listen to my Infinity 7.1 setup they go... this is better but wouldnt spend this kind of money

but they will spend 5 figs on a swimming pool they use in the summer

 

[Doodski]

i also think that *most* people will find even a 2.1 system too much trouble

My buddy Brian is not into subs... He considers his JBL 305 Mk II to be more than sufficient as a desktop speaker but never hesitates to call out a car audio system. 2.1 Is simply too much as he sits on a 10" sub woofer and never uses it.

 

[Timmy]

The one phenomenon that baffles me most when it comes to (technically interested) Audiophiles: The very, very, very typical Audiophile of that sort is male. I’d guess that the percentage of women between us is way below 5%.

I’m not too sure why this is so. It may have to do with some female talent to focus on the content of a reproduced piece of music and not to waste any of their precious time on brooding over its (audio-technical) form.

 

[Brian Hall]

Luxury items have always been attractive and goal setting stuff for most people though.

Soundbars actually sound pretty good now, so most would think they are set after getting one. Most of my friends around here just have a soundbar for their tv and nothing else.

 

[Brian Hall]

But... The selection of gear for a low price is better than it has ever been. There are few excuses now.

Yes. Where and how do they hear about it though?

 

[TurtlePaul]

Soundbars actually sound pretty good now, so most would think they are set after getting one. Most of my friends around here just have a soundbar for their tv and nothing else.

I was going to point out something similar. There are less audiophiles in part because soundbars, car stereos, computer speakers and most headphones sound ‘good enough’ now. Nothing like the 1970s car AM radio or the 1980s cassette mini boom box or 1990s TV with built in 3” speaker.

Also people can casually walk around with $200-400 headphones (Sony WH1000 XM, Bose QuietComfort, Apple AirPod Max) and yet we don’t consider them audiophiles.

 

[Brian Hall]

The one phenomenon that baffles me most when it comes to (technically interested) Audiophiles: The very, very, very typical Audiophile of that sort is male. I’d guess that the percentage of women between us is way below 5%.

I’m not too sure why this is so. It may have to do with some female talent to focus on the content of a reproduced piece of music and not to waste any of their precious time on brooding over its (audio-technical) form.

There are exceptions of course, but more males like to mess around/tinker with complicated "stuff". Audio equipment can come across as pretty complicated with different types of wires and plugs.

 

[TurtlePaul]

There are exceptions of course, but more males like to mess around/tinker with complicated "stuff". Audio equipment can come across as pretty complicated with different types of wires and plugs.

In addition with the tinkering, many men have aesthetic desire. However, machisimo means that men avoid expression via non-functional objects. That is why we see audio for men’s interior design, mechanical watches for jewelry, car culture for public display of style, etc. Each of these items are ‘useful’ even if they are more jewelry than anything else.

Women don’t pursue these hobbies in part because they can achieve stylistic self expression through non-functional items like fashion, ornamental jewelry, interior design, etc.

 

[Timmy]

She:
Man! I haven’t heard »Superman Lover« for an eternity! You know – I simply adore its animalistic political incorrectness! Let’s d a n c e , Baby!!

He:
Naah, I only use this tune as my spatial infrasonic reference. I mean, don’t you know that I have some more measurements to do, Shakira?!

 

[phoenixdogfan]

I think it has something (a lot maybe) to do with the fact that the hobby is sedentary and indoor and solitary and not especially attractive to the opposite sex. Guys spend more than comparable amounts on motorcycles, ATV, snowmobiles, Sea Doo's, hot rods, but hobbies like that tend to bring in wives, buddies, girl friends, get the participant off his couch and into the great outdoors, and enhance or exhibit one's physical fitness.

I personally think that makes a world of difference. When a guy is spending that kind of money on himself, it is a lot more likely to be socially approved if it's something that can be enjoyed and appreciated with and by everyone else in his social circle. High end audio is, I think, not exactly like that.

 

[DVDdoug]

I don't consider audio to be a "hobby" but I did a quick search and on this list it doesn't show-up at all, although music is ranked #33.

I consider audio to be an "interest". Occasionally, I've built speakers, audio electronics, and other electronics, and I consider that a hobby.

 

[MattHooper]

The one phenomenon that baffles me most when it comes to (technically interested) Audiophiles: The very, very, very typical Audiophile of that sort is male. I’d guess that the percentage of women between us is way below 5%.

I think there is often truth in some caricatures.

There’s the old saying:

Give a woman a piece of technology and she will ask: “what can this do for me?”

Give a man a piece of technology and he will ask: “what can this do?”

Guys just tend to be tinkers, attracted to gadgets almost for their own sake in terms of playing with them, pushing and prodding to see what they can make the technology do.

Obviously there are plenty of exceptions, but let’s face it this does seem to be the trend. That’s why virtually every audio review starts off with an enticing technical story about the shiny new gadget.

 

[D-O-Tampa]

I think this topic has been covered before