Gigantic
A big, big love
Thing is, the people I thought were old in the late 80’s when I first got into the hobby, are still the people that I think are old, only 35 years later…
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Do you think this hobby is dying ??
- Thread starter DVjorge
- Start date
onepixel
.
I wouldn't call it a hobby. For me it was more of a passion and love for the music, which became an obsession after I found AK, nearly 20 years ago. And it's been real fun!
My first real stereo was at 17 years old. Brand new Sansui 8080DB and SP-5500X speakers I got from a military base overseas. Inexpensive, discounted and didn't have to pay tax.
When I first joined AK, there were older folks, but most of us were still middle age (40s). Not to say there weren't people/members in their teens, twenties and thirties. In fact there were quite a few. The older guys they were really knowledgeable with lots of experience. I learned a lot and have become friends with many.
As for the gear, I amassed a lot of vintage classics. Back then because it was readily available, dirt cheap and or free. Quite a different story today. With the resurgence of vinyl, it's taken the price of everything else up with it. All the good stuff is gone or command exorbitant prices. What I paid $20 for, today people are happily paying over $1000. I can't believe what "newbies" are paying for used records. Especially when I bought them for $1 or less. There are still bargains, but many more are looking for it.
I've kinda come full circle. Sold off lots of stuff, but still have some classics. I've embraced newer technology and often use a network/Bluetooth receiver. The love of music is still strong and I still buy way too many new records and love digging through the $1 crates.
I recently got into buying used CDs for $0.50 - $1. People are dumping them for streaming and or downloads. Lots of really great music and some of the rarest stuff are on CDs. I was going to buy a new TT, but realized my 40+ year old Technics sounds superb. Getting a new CD player instead.
Enjoy the music!
My first real stereo was at 17 years old. Brand new Sansui 8080DB and SP-5500X speakers I got from a military base overseas. Inexpensive, discounted and didn't have to pay tax.
When I first joined AK, there were older folks, but most of us were still middle age (40s). Not to say there weren't people/members in their teens, twenties and thirties. In fact there were quite a few. The older guys they were really knowledgeable with lots of experience. I learned a lot and have become friends with many.
As for the gear, I amassed a lot of vintage classics. Back then because it was readily available, dirt cheap and or free. Quite a different story today. With the resurgence of vinyl, it's taken the price of everything else up with it. All the good stuff is gone or command exorbitant prices. What I paid $20 for, today people are happily paying over $1000. I can't believe what "newbies" are paying for used records. Especially when I bought them for $1 or less. There are still bargains, but many more are looking for it.
I've kinda come full circle. Sold off lots of stuff, but still have some classics. I've embraced newer technology and often use a network/Bluetooth receiver. The love of music is still strong and I still buy way too many new records and love digging through the $1 crates.
I recently got into buying used CDs for $0.50 - $1. People are dumping them for streaming and or downloads. Lots of really great music and some of the rarest stuff are on CDs. I was going to buy a new TT, but realized my 40+ year old Technics sounds superb. Getting a new CD player instead.
Enjoy the music!
The pursuit of high quality playback of recorded music is alive and well at my house. I have access to several new/used record shops, many of which have been there for years. Vintage gear is still plentiful in my area, if somewhat overpriced. And there are still a couple of places to get new home audio equipment a step, or two, or three, above Best Buy. But, if you're not lucky(?) enough to live near a mid-size or larger metropolitan area, options in the hobby can be quite limited.
Retrofier
New Member
I got into this when my grandfather was gifted a Fisher 220T in 1967 and the next year I convinced my dad that I was a competent enough little tike to handle a soldering iron. There was no turning back. Then some time in 1976 I walked to the mall to buy Frampton Comes Alive to play on my parent's KLH Model 11 and I got the bug to build speakers and amplifiers. Then I got my hands on a Realistic EQ, and then, and then, and then.... Now it's 2024 and I get just as excited by my projects as I did when I was 16! The difference is that my fun is correcting what the late 1970s engineers didn't know instead of wondering how they did it.
I look foward to being 100 years old and still enjoying playing my guitar and singing through my Pioneer and maybe even listening to a vinyl record which I have just started to do now and then. I have been pretty much vinyl free since the 80s.
I look foward to being 100 years old and still enjoying playing my guitar and singing through my Pioneer and maybe even listening to a vinyl record which I have just started to do now and then. I have been pretty much vinyl free since the 80s.
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Yeeterkeeter
Kermit the Frog
Right now I am in the midst of my transition from a newbie audiophile into one which has far more knowledge. I’ve gone from “I want this vague [blank] because of [blank]” to “I think this specific component would add to my audio rack because it is capable of these specifications” I’m not quite there in terms of fixing my own equipment (I tried with my turntable but realized that the entire tonearm section was worn out beyond repair) but I am getting close. A degree in electrical engineering couldn’t hurt as well
. Either way, I’m imparting my knowledge (read: obsession) of vintage audio onto others, trying to help them.
Dan13105
Well-Known Member
When I was a kid, I was given an all in one player with 8 track, cassette, and radio. When I was in my teens I was all about metal music and cds. Then went for quite a while as an adult without music at all, except the occasional radio or cd in the truck. Then we ended up inheriting a decent collection of classic rock LPs. I bought a better turntable to prevent damaging them, but quickly learned I did not like the sound of the Yamaha AVR I tried using. That is what started my adventures into vintage stereo and listening to music again.I started hearing songs I hadn't heard in years or known the artist of, but I remembered the lyrics and guitar parts. Now I don't know what I'd do without my stereo, I average probably 2.5 albums a day. I listen now mostly to classic rock on vinyl that is older than me, on a system that is also mostly older than me. If people like me can stumble back into this hobby, I don't think it's going anywhere, just having ups and downs. My youngest shows interest in the music and equipment, so likely he will inherit it when it's time to pass the torch on
It's as bad here in the USA. Sports betting everywhere, kids too distracted by Nashville glitz to actually sit down and listen, I mean really concentrate with no distractions, to music. Music is just the soundtrack to their social-media driven narrative, something in the background that they occasionally jiggle to. Of course I'm painting with a broad brush, there are countless examples of thoughtful young people that don't fit the mold, but the trend, IMHO, is not serious listening, and without serious listening, there is no point to hi fidelity.
RVT1K
Super Member
I have not gone though this -very long by now- thread but I see it is very similar to one I responded to a little while ago.
So I'll say the same thing...
I don't think it is dying but it was never very alive, either.
I have hardly ever know anyone with a "decent" stereo or who even cares much about it.
There will always be people like us who actually care about sound quality but we are few and far between. It just seems otherwise because we are all concentrated here.
So I'll say the same thing...
I don't think it is dying but it was never very alive, either.
I have hardly ever know anyone with a "decent" stereo or who even cares much about it.
There will always be people like us who actually care about sound quality but we are few and far between. It just seems otherwise because we are all concentrated here.
BobC63
Member
I say this as a "Boomer" myself (as most of here are):
We here almost all grew up with at least some minor association with vintage audio... Either our parents had the equipment; a relative maybe, or perhaps a neighbor or friend's parents. But we were exposed to it - and it was a part of our lives; even if it was a simple console unit or an inexpensive all-in-one or even a portable tape player.
We also grew up without the Internet - which has radically changed the way humans entertain themselves (much more visual-based; less reliant on sound in that music is often relegated to the background of a visual experience, such as a video game or streaming movie, instead of being THE sole entertainment medium itself).
Our children's (and now grandchildren's) generations don't have that nostalgia-based attachment. At least not with sound / music. They get nostalgic for old model video game consoles and iPods, etc. - not RtR / 8-track tape decks and cassette mix tapes, or even vinyl for that matter.
This is not anything new. Our parents are more enthralled with things like 1940s cars, jazz and swing dancing, WWII memorabilia, etc. than we ever were (for the most part).
My opinion is, this hobby, like pretty much any other hobby, will die a slow (but not complete) death as we do the same. It will never completely fade away because there are still Model T enthusiasts, Lionel train hobbyists, stamp collectors, etc. - but all these are only a fraction of the popularity they were 50 years ago.
Monetarily, this means that the 'value' of your equipment has a finite shelf life. It is NOT going to forever increase in value; in fact, as the hobby dwindles all but the absolute most rarest pieces are going to decline drastically in value... simply because the demand from younger enthusiasts simply won't be of sufficient volume to support the current high prices in view of what eventually will become a 'glut' of vintage audio equipment. Add in the fact that there will be even fewer people left around with the skillset to repair the equipment... well, you get the idea.
My advice is, enjoy what you have for as long as you can. Don't waste energy worrying about the 'value' long term; and IF you already have a horde of stuff with the intent that it's an "investment"... begin the divestment process sooner rather than later. While there are still people left with the desire and means to purchase your investment.
We here almost all grew up with at least some minor association with vintage audio... Either our parents had the equipment; a relative maybe, or perhaps a neighbor or friend's parents. But we were exposed to it - and it was a part of our lives; even if it was a simple console unit or an inexpensive all-in-one or even a portable tape player.
We also grew up without the Internet - which has radically changed the way humans entertain themselves (much more visual-based; less reliant on sound in that music is often relegated to the background of a visual experience, such as a video game or streaming movie, instead of being THE sole entertainment medium itself).
Our children's (and now grandchildren's) generations don't have that nostalgia-based attachment. At least not with sound / music. They get nostalgic for old model video game consoles and iPods, etc. - not RtR / 8-track tape decks and cassette mix tapes, or even vinyl for that matter.
This is not anything new. Our parents are more enthralled with things like 1940s cars, jazz and swing dancing, WWII memorabilia, etc. than we ever were (for the most part).
My opinion is, this hobby, like pretty much any other hobby, will die a slow (but not complete) death as we do the same. It will never completely fade away because there are still Model T enthusiasts, Lionel train hobbyists, stamp collectors, etc. - but all these are only a fraction of the popularity they were 50 years ago.
Monetarily, this means that the 'value' of your equipment has a finite shelf life. It is NOT going to forever increase in value; in fact, as the hobby dwindles all but the absolute most rarest pieces are going to decline drastically in value... simply because the demand from younger enthusiasts simply won't be of sufficient volume to support the current high prices in view of what eventually will become a 'glut' of vintage audio equipment. Add in the fact that there will be even fewer people left around with the skillset to repair the equipment... well, you get the idea.
My advice is, enjoy what you have for as long as you can. Don't waste energy worrying about the 'value' long term; and IF you already have a horde of stuff with the intent that it's an "investment"... begin the divestment process sooner rather than later. While there are still people left with the desire and means to purchase your investment.
Retrofier
New Member
I know a large number people that do have decent and often vintage stereos but guess what, I also have developed lots of guitar related gear and other audio thingies that leads me to these people. It would be like having a party with people from this site.
I have seen some increase in the hobby since the vinyl record has been making it's comeback. I'm not sure where that's going exactly or why, but it seems to have had an influence on the vintage stuff anyway. About five years ago I decided to experimentally restore and sell 13 Pioneers and I cannot possibly get the ready to restore units at those prices anymore. Most are at least double now and the higher end models are absurdly priced at times.
I also find it interesting that I know more people half my age involved in this hobby than I would ever expect. This goes for the music as well. People that could be my grandchildren into Pink Floyd or whatever from that era. You never know.
I have seen some increase in the hobby since the vinyl record has been making it's comeback. I'm not sure where that's going exactly or why, but it seems to have had an influence on the vintage stuff anyway. About five years ago I decided to experimentally restore and sell 13 Pioneers and I cannot possibly get the ready to restore units at those prices anymore. Most are at least double now and the higher end models are absurdly priced at times.
I also find it interesting that I know more people half my age involved in this hobby than I would ever expect. This goes for the music as well. People that could be my grandchildren into Pink Floyd or whatever from that era. You never know.
Retrofier
New Member
This is the reality, do it because you enjoy it and have fun. It's a wonderful thing to have a community like this but I see it as something in the moment. All of my past friends and family that were interested in old cars are long gone. Now I just enjoy my audio circuits and drive my Prius that I have never worked on.
Even if I sell a restored stereo it's most certainly at a loss. I care too much about making them perfect. It's not for profit or investment at all and the enjoyment is a powerful thing that even influences health.
I think that The very expensive High End of audio will keep on chugging along. Mid-fi, usually seen as two monkey coffin speakers and a receiver with a TT and maybe a tape deck, will likely fade into obscurity, swallowed by earbuds & smartphones. Home-brew stuff will always be a small but steady minority.
AK expensive or normal person expensive?
There are so many levels to this...
Chad Michael
Dissonant Rhino
The hobby certainly has NOT died in my home. In the last two months, I have purchased
- another pair of used speakers
- another turntable (new)
- another receiver (restored by local tech, circa '78 to '80)
- 9 records and 2 cd's, priced between $3 and $39
Few things bring this flavor of joy, especially when my 22 y.o. son listens to my setups and goes "WOW holy $#!t that sounds good!"
- another pair of used speakers
- another turntable (new)
- another receiver (restored by local tech, circa '78 to '80)
- 9 records and 2 cd's, priced between $3 and $39
Few things bring this flavor of joy, especially when my 22 y.o. son listens to my setups and goes "WOW holy $#!t that sounds good!"