Speaker direction?

Calldr, I grew up listening to music in a basement with the lights out. The ipod generation will never understand the complete immersion that is possible with music. Not only has music been dumbed down, but the art of listening has as well...along with the discrimination to even recognise either abilities loss as important.

Believe it or not the iPod is the best thing to happen to music. It's not showing up right now, but this new generation will evolve to BETTER sound! because they are at least interested. The future for HD recordings that go hand in hand with Video/Movies is a bright future. You enjoy music like I do. But don't forget what we used to think sounded good...LOL! The NEW Audiophiles will not be as gullible. They are better at math..LOL! No 1,000.00 cable to make a 1,000.00 speaker sound better...LOL! The problem with Hi End audio sales is because the younger generation gets better sound out of an iPod than we did in the 70's with top gear in that time. The winners in high end audio will be those that can produce affordable products that preform at a rate to the money paid. We are guilty for spending 1,000.00 for 1% improvement..if that...LOL! This is the digital age and new Audiophiles will be a new breed.

I would disagree somewhat in the notion that new generation digital music listeners will ever evolve into an audiophile (best sense of the word intended). They may love what they are listening to, but most of what is being consumed is crap. Music appreciation has gone out the window for most of our kids growing during the whoring years of the music industry. MP3 formats emphasize conveinience mainly, over quality. I will allow however for the possibility that an improved playback technology may develop out of the current trends in consumer demands. The most troubling scenario at that point would then relate to what the majority would be listening to...I'm afraid it will be deeply disturbing, empty and poorly recorded. Funny really, we may have access to better, cheaper playback devices but no desire left for enjoying the potential of the format. Rod Serling warned about the decline of the arts back in the early 60's as it relates to the marketing and advertising industries. The more involvement they gain in driving the consumer toward a desired endpoint, the faster the decline of creativity and the mass audiences appreciation of original, important and thoughtfull art. Look to the decline in classical music venue attendance figures, soft jazz, rap and other dumbed down examples of what is now spewed out for mass consumption. The lowest common denominator has become the majority!! LOL