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Revitalizing AK

I noticed that many people have stopped posting over the last year or so. Maybe one issue is that AK is more Vintage Centric than other places. One can get bored with posts about the same old gear day in and day out. I like to learn about Newer gear so I frequent other sites where that is more the norm. I also belong to a few FB groups where people post about more modern gear. I like the people here and some of the off topic threads, but they usually spiral downward.
 
Leaving aside the specifics or categories of the discussions/debates herein (and for the most part, they mirror other audio sites, but for general or broad membership bias), as a real community, in a virtual presence experience, the overall culture or vibe is very open, diverse, and colourful (by way of characters). Me likey...
 
Mingo said:
Bad experience?
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Not really, just nothing actually new. More like new and improved of the same old song. It would have been more fun with a friend, but my last remaining audio buddy had family related obligations that weekend. He wanted to attend and if it happens again next year he will regardless of what his "powers that be" may say. We'll see. :biggrin:
 
I'm a little late to the conversation but I will add that I am back to AK after years of absence or just browsing. I found once FB hit I started using it for everything, but as FB has devolved and degraded its become full of folks eager to share their knowledge on subjects they have absolutely no clue about, or just trolling. I find I have come back to dedicated forums. They are generally far more civil and informative. The car groups I am in have become entirely useless from all the knuckle-dragging idiots that need to post every stupid thought that comes to their heads.
 
This forum is in kind of an interesting demographic position. We've got a lot of boomers and maybe even still some silents who grew up when the golden age of hi-fi was new, and who witnessed the transition from tube to solid-state firsthand. There are X-ers like me who may have grown up with older stuff in the house (8-tracks, anyone?) and still respect it (except maybe for those 8-tracks), but may have gone digital for primary listening (hello Qobuz). And now we've got millennials and Z kids latching onto the magic of tubes and vinyl based on what they've heard from parents or people on the internet. Lots of them get referred here from places like reddit (guilty) to seek the advice of the "elders" on how to fix that loud hum from their "new" Magnavox Astro-Sonic console or how to hook up that Fisher tube amp. As the boomers die away and the younger generations take over, it's natural that the knowledge base for older gear will diminish accordingly, and the number of posts may decrease as well...but it's nice to know that some younger people will carry forward the basics that they've gleaned.
 
Perhaps another reason for low post count, as suggested earlier, is the wealth of information stored here.

If you Google Magnavox 8802, AK appears as the first match with threads containing everything you need to know to get one functioning.
 
Many who post about vintage audio are either flippers or hoarders and want to know how much something is worth and/or how to do a quick fix to maximize their profits. Since bargains have pretty much dried up, so has their interest. Then there are those, as @Lavane suggested, that are here to get info and move on.
 
I'm relatively new also (3 years, 1K posts) and I'm also on the forums most days, some for way too long. Overall AK is pretty good I think - good reference info in the old threads and (mostly) helpful facts for questions. This reference info is far from complete and also somewhat difficult to find, so new postings are still very valid and repeated/partially repeated advice by veterans is still necessary.

I see AK as a metaphor that reflects some of the social dichotomies of our age (young vs. old, new vs. vintage, rich vs. poor, thrifty vs. spendy, faith vs. science, etc.).

It took a little while to get used to things, especially that there are some hot buttons and there are some members who are stubborn and/or have sharp elbows. But overall it's very positive. I don't see a decline in activity really. If there was one way to improve it I suggest that new members be welcomed more explicitly, and perhaps veterans should be more reserved with new posters so they aren't overwhelmed by conflicting advice.
 
OBMG74 said:
Perhaps another reason for low post count, as suggested earlier, is the wealth of information stored here.

If you Google Magnavox 8802, AK appears as the first match with threads containing everything you need to know to get one functioning.
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That is true. I often answer my own questions before posting by Googling "audiokarma"+whatever I'm looking for.
 
Hello Ak members,

I'm pretty new to Ak. It's been just over a year. To me this forum is awesome! I decided to join when my interest in vintage audio became rekindled when my teenage nephews and nieces showed interest. For me Ak is a wealth of info. on vintage equipment and vintage music. I have used Ak to help with my quest to source knowledge about vintage equipment that I have bought in the last year.

Vintage audio is a great hobby, very much like antiquing but with better satisfaction as I get to experience equipment that I have never had or even seen previously. Currently I'm learning and exploring tube audio, I have never owned or utilized tube equipment before so the information is very interesting. In addition, for me it also helps me to expand my love for different genres of music as I find myself drawn more towards vintage jazz as I would like to open a Kissa Jazz cafe/listening lounge in the near future.

We have some local vintage vinyl stores in my city which are also promoting the buying/selling/restoring of vintage equipment so that is helping with keeping the vintage audio hobby alive in my local vicinity. I am hoping that the people that are truly interested in vintage audio promote Ak as a forum that is well worth joining. I will definitely be promoting the forum from my end.

I know that I have learned a lot and hopefully have helped some other members in my year of participation. I'm looking forward to many more posted and learning more in order to socialize and share with others.
 
C Hart said:
I'm relatively new also (3 years, 1K posts) and I'm also on the forums most days, some for way too long. Overall AK is pretty good I think - good reference info in the old threads and (mostly) helpful facts for questions. This reference info is far from complete and also somewhat difficult to find, so new postings are still very valid and repeated/partially repeated advice by veterans is still necessary.

I see AK as a metaphor that reflects some of the social dichotomies of our age (young vs. old, new vs. vintage, rich vs. poor, thrifty vs. spendy, faith vs. science, etc.).

It took a little while to get used to things, especially that there are some hot buttons and there are some members who are stubborn and/or have sharp elbows. But overall it's very positive. I don't see a decline in activity really. If there was one way to improve it I suggest that new members be welcomed more explicitly, and perhaps veterans should be more reserved with new posters so they aren't overwhelmed by conflicting advice.
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This you see a lot. I've been guilty of it my self once or twice. First forgetting to welcome the new member first. Even though you may be trying to be helpful it can come off as being dismissive, or blunt when it really wasn't meant to be. The new member may give very vague info on what they need help with. So the answer can wind up sounding rude.
Things along the lines like, "There isn't much that can be done with such vague info." "You haven't given use anything to go on here to help you with your problem." Others may chime in similarly. You get the idea.
This tends to run them off not to be seen again. If properly welcomed first and ask questions about what it is they may be wanting to repair in a nicer tone, who knows they may show more of an interest in this hobby and hang around.
 
MegaHurts said:
I think a lot of things can be found by searching the existing threads. I've fixed many things just by searches alone, and have posted my fixes when not found previously. That said, between this forum and an other one, I sometimes find less help than hoped and end up resolving my issue and posting it. Might be because there is less knowledge on less known gear? I've had great help for Yamaha and Pioneer gear here, other stuff has felt more 'on your own'
Not sure how to revitalize AK. Do people spend time looking and reading old threads for issues or just pop in with new questions without researching? I'd be less inclined to answer something I know has been discussed in multiple threads. Just thinking out loud.
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I think some new visitors with questions may have expectations that minimal work on Thier part is needed. Whether that's doing searches or checking back in regularly to respond to posters responses.
 
I’ve been here awhile and I’m on the music forum’s posting exclusively. Things just roll on there day after day. Haven’t seen or noticed any big decline. I personally have talked to great new members, And have seen a bunch leave. I just do my thing. Still a great place to hang out after all these years. Much mellower than say 10/15 years ago
 
Lavane said:
This you see a lot. I've been guilty of it my self once or twice.
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same here, need to check myself once in awhile
Lavane said:
The new member may give very vague info on what they need help with. So the answer can wind up sounding rude.
Things along the lines like, "There isn't much that can be done with such vague info." "You haven't given use anything to go on here to help you with your problem." Others may chime in similarly. You get the idea.
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there are also seasoned members who will give a short answer without considering the OP's experience, knowledge or skill level.

A typical response from those who should know better is " just recap it", which is pretty lazy in my opinion
 
I'm young(ish), and I just joined this past November. I also just got into learning about repair/restoration in January. I am doing everything I can to learn all of the knowledge contained within the posts and minds here. I'm also reading EE/circuitry books in my free time to learn. I'm also extremely computer literate, and I am pretty skilled at digging quickly through posts or Google searches to find and learn things. I try best I can to be the type to not ask a question unless I've done everything I can to figure it out on my own.

I really like this forum and have already made friendships with a lot of very nice people.

My hope is to help keep AK alive, and to one day go from being the person asking for help on repairs/etc. to the one answering them. It'll be a long learning journey, but I am determined, eager, and willing to listen and learn. AK has rightfully earned its legendary status and I hope that one day I'll be able to carry the torch in whatever way I'm able to.
 
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