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The Mainstreaming of Audiophilia

So I found this just goofy enough to be fun: I picked up the May issue of GQ today and found in it a feature which takes a survey of cost-no-object material goods and provides a verdict for each on whether they're worth it. Among the few worth-it winners: Wilson Audio's Alexandra X-2, at $148,000 a pair (hence the speakers forum). The losers include Kobe beef, white truffles, pricey golf clubs, and a night in the Ty Warner suite at Four Seasons (all of which go for a lot less).

It seems to me I've lately seen a decent amount of mainstream press coverage of audiophile goods and issues, from news coverage of the evils of dynamic compression to general-readership features on great headphones, high-end speakers, and the wonders of vinyl. I was wondering if anyone else had noticed incidences of this trend and if we might compile a list--it seems positive to me, and a possible outgrowth of, or reaction against, iPod mania.
ablang
ablang OP
165 posts
 
I'm not so sure about the boomer demographic alone being the target, as part of what I'm interested in here is the depiction of great audio equipment not only as a pleasure but as a component of--in this example--the (for many aspirational) good life. I agree, Chadnliz, that some people might look at six-figure speakers and scoff, but many might scoff at the $1.5 million Bugatti the article I mention features, too. Both look pretty cool, are well crafted, and exemplify what's possible at the top of the scale. Even if the examples are out of reach, they get people's interest--and I've seen lower priced gear like Pro-Ject's USB TT featured elsewhere.

I live in a college town and in the past year have started to see Grado SR60s and SR80s and some decent Sennheiser cans replacing earbuds and Bose. Media exposure can't hurt--and I think the message is getting in through people's ears.
tgrisham
1,179 posts
 
I think it is a great trend toward enjoying music at home. Interesting that as the youngest generation drifts toward simplicity and portability, we drift toward quality and the unique. It is a great time to be in this hobby as long as we don't take ourselves too seriously. The quality of the gear is outstanding, and sometimes expensive. I wonder what the relative cost is compared to the best of the 50s and 60s, McIntosh, etc.
samujohn's avatar
samujohn
291 posts
 
The relative cost appears to be several time higher. In the era of the $500 McIntosh, a luxury car was around $5000, so adding a zero to the price gets one in the ballpark. Today we have lots of pieces that sell for three to five times that amount. Recordings, on the other hand, are cheaper. Monophonic records were $3.98 and stereo records were a whopping $5.98!
tripper
223 posts
 
Ablang--You sure that isn't A-bling?
ablang OP
165 posts
 
Ha! Not on my salary. :)
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