Young people, none of them are into hifi.
- Thread starter No Money
- Start date
PastorTube
Well-Known Member
I was not judging anyone or any age group, nor am I a curmudgeon. When I was in High school most people thought I was odd because I used reel to reel and still bought vinyl (late 80’s) when cd’s were thought to be better, and had vacuum tube equipment. To each their own. What ever gets people to simply enjoy the music. It’s all about the music.
No Money
Super Member
Not aimed at you, but there seems to be a large number of people here who like to s*^t on young people because they aren't carbon copies of them, and don't want to do the things they did when they were young. I certainly didn't want to relive the youth of my father ...
Agreed, a 100 times over.
I spend a fair amount of time around younger people. Most love music, they just consume it differently to us, with portable music players and headphones (and some very nice ones) being prominent.
I also know a lot of people my age (somewhat advanced) who don't care at all about "hifi" and can't understand why anyone would spend money on "that stuff".
I gave my grandson a entry level setup when he was 9 and told him if he takes care of it and the records I gave him I'll get him a better system in a couple of years. So far so good.
sunrayjack12
Active Member
Well let's review some of the holy grail almost rules for a lot of us old farts, not me but a lot of us.
The listening area or room, the sweet spot, no multi tasking when listening to music.
The next is up in the air but we all have a preference.
Reel to reel, 8 track, cassette, album, cd , streaming and I'm sure I am leaving something out that I am not aware of.
We are old farts with boat anchors to listen to music on.
Most of this group has wives that absolutely would not shed one tear if the house burned down an took all the stereo and related stuff in the fire.
Hate to say it , but for just listening and doing stuff around the house some of these cheap light weight systems sound good.
There's a lot to be said for a cd that just plays by itself , steaming even better.
We love our stuff and can tell anyone why it's better and how wonderful it is, but it's our hobby and passion.
Everyone else has millions of songs in their pocket with really great ear buds for as cheap as 30 bucks.
Their will always be someone who wants some of our stuff in the future but they will never love it like we do.
How many of you own a gramophone and some jamming 78 records?
The listening area or room, the sweet spot, no multi tasking when listening to music.
The next is up in the air but we all have a preference.
Reel to reel, 8 track, cassette, album, cd , streaming and I'm sure I am leaving something out that I am not aware of.
We are old farts with boat anchors to listen to music on.
Most of this group has wives that absolutely would not shed one tear if the house burned down an took all the stereo and related stuff in the fire.
Hate to say it , but for just listening and doing stuff around the house some of these cheap light weight systems sound good.
There's a lot to be said for a cd that just plays by itself , steaming even better.
We love our stuff and can tell anyone why it's better and how wonderful it is, but it's our hobby and passion.
Everyone else has millions of songs in their pocket with really great ear buds for as cheap as 30 bucks.
Their will always be someone who wants some of our stuff in the future but they will never love it like we do.
How many of you own a gramophone and some jamming 78 records?
halkaloogie
The Jerk
After reading the article and then all the responses, I feel like I'm in the minority. Most of my friends have at least a passable stereo setup.
My kid and his friends are all very much into records. Before the apocalypse, it was common for him to bring over friends so they could play their own records on my system. And I've helped quite a few of his friends buy equipment over the years.
High end audio gear has always been a niche market, but my experience is that the interest is still very much alive with the younger generations.
My kid and his friends are all very much into records. Before the apocalypse, it was common for him to bring over friends so they could play their own records on my system. And I've helped quite a few of his friends buy equipment over the years.
High end audio gear has always been a niche market, but my experience is that the interest is still very much alive with the younger generations.
halkaloogie
The Jerk
TomBig58
Super Member
When I tell Alexa to "play some Dire Straits in the living room" she turns on my Yamaha AVR and TV, finds some on Amazon Music, and it plays through my Infinity CS 3008s...I can live with that.
....that being said I still listen to most of my music through the two channel setup nearby.
Lavane
Lunatic Member
For three of my kids that true also. But the one son that plays an instrument and really loves music is totally into hifi. He plays guitar and is really interested in how everything is done from playing to finished recorded product. His favorite medium is vinyl, not because its trendy, but because of how it sounds. But then he has been around it all his life. Its either records or music files. He never really got into CD's. He has way more records that I do. He does keep a lot of music files he plays in his car, or when he is out camping, etc. My other three its all ear buds and streaming music on a smart phone when they listen to it.
bluesky
Lunatic Member
Amen.
I've Never Had a smartphone or even a cell phone - (trackable dog leashes), never been on Facebook (a good place for young folks to get in trouble... if they ever want to get a 'real job' later in life), and I don't twit.
And... I don't need NO GPS.
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baeron
Lunatic Member
Einstein2003
Super Member
Semanon
Super Member
A couple of thoughts:
This stuff was the highest tech consumer stuff there was during the classic era, and that was part of the attraction. Those who truly loved the music stuck with the hobby. The others found some other shiny object.
Both of my college-age kids are into vinyl and have moderately good set ups. My son also has a $2,500+ gaming computer set-up that is technically complex and completely engaging. It is to him what hifi was to me. I wonder 30 years hence if he will be bemoaning that his kids aren't interested in first person shooter games.
This stuff was the highest tech consumer stuff there was during the classic era, and that was part of the attraction. Those who truly loved the music stuck with the hobby. The others found some other shiny object.
Both of my college-age kids are into vinyl and have moderately good set ups. My son also has a $2,500+ gaming computer set-up that is technically complex and completely engaging. It is to him what hifi was to me. I wonder 30 years hence if he will be bemoaning that his kids aren't interested in first person shooter games.
David_NC
Super Member
I always had some sort of music reproducing device ranging from a crappy plastic record player to my first real system put together over a couple years - a Pioneer cassette deck and SX-780, Technics turntable, and Bose 301's. I bought all this in '77-80, I believe. Over the years, my appreciation for good sound increased, and the quality of my equipment improved pretty regularly. I never did understand people who didn't enjoy music then, and I still don't now.
What I get from younger people now is that they either really appreciate the quality of the materials and construction of vintage equipment and really want to hear it, or they are OK with a BT speaker or earbuds. Most seem to be in the former group, fortunately. Tubes seem to fascinate them, as does my Dual 1219 when I set it up to change records. When they get over the wow factor of the old gear and start listening, it's really fun to watch as they begin hearing things in the music that they haven't previously. I always advise to put the phone and other distractions away and to close their eyes so that they won't be distracted. They usually look at me strangely or roll their eyes, but they eventually give in. Last time this happened, I looked over at a younger friend who didn't realize I'd come back into the room. He was sitting there, eyes closed, with a big smile. Afterwards, he asked if he could play the other side of that record; initially, he was indifferent to hearing it or not.
I'm putting together systems for a couple friends now. One had to have an early '70's receiver so he could play with the tuner - the pointer had to go most of the way down the dial with one good spin - though he actually does enjoy music. The other wants something with tubes; I'll see what I can put together for him. I've really gotten to enjoy introducing others to well reproduced music and (typically) vintage audio equipment.
(and yes, I read the article)
What I get from younger people now is that they either really appreciate the quality of the materials and construction of vintage equipment and really want to hear it, or they are OK with a BT speaker or earbuds. Most seem to be in the former group, fortunately. Tubes seem to fascinate them, as does my Dual 1219 when I set it up to change records. When they get over the wow factor of the old gear and start listening, it's really fun to watch as they begin hearing things in the music that they haven't previously. I always advise to put the phone and other distractions away and to close their eyes so that they won't be distracted. They usually look at me strangely or roll their eyes, but they eventually give in. Last time this happened, I looked over at a younger friend who didn't realize I'd come back into the room. He was sitting there, eyes closed, with a big smile. Afterwards, he asked if he could play the other side of that record; initially, he was indifferent to hearing it or not.
I'm putting together systems for a couple friends now. One had to have an early '70's receiver so he could play with the tuner - the pointer had to go most of the way down the dial with one good spin - though he actually does enjoy music. The other wants something with tubes; I'll see what I can put together for him. I've really gotten to enjoy introducing others to well reproduced music and (typically) vintage audio equipment.
(and yes, I read the article)
Ohighway
Wannabe Minimalist
I'm 68 and have been into listening to music on decent hifi/stereo equipment for as long as I can remember. My kids, 26, 25, 19 and 16................they've no interest in quality stereo equipment for music listening.
The audio equipment was/is MY thing. Their interests differ. The oldest boy is into computer programming, computer gaming and guns. The next boy is into computer gaming and waaaayyy into Japanese culture (to the point where he's now living and teaching English in Japan) , The third has his stuff...... Lacrosse and aiming to become a Marine. My daughter hates school but loves riding horses. However of all my kids, she is most inclined towards music enjoyment but even with her..... earbuds, headphones or a decent bluetooth speaker are all she needs or wants.
I don't lament this, nor am I confused by it. I have my interests. They have theirs. All is well.
The audio equipment was/is MY thing. Their interests differ. The oldest boy is into computer programming, computer gaming and guns. The next boy is into computer gaming and waaaayyy into Japanese culture (to the point where he's now living and teaching English in Japan) , The third has his stuff...... Lacrosse and aiming to become a Marine. My daughter hates school but loves riding horses. However of all my kids, she is most inclined towards music enjoyment but even with her..... earbuds, headphones or a decent bluetooth speaker are all she needs or wants.
I don't lament this, nor am I confused by it. I have my interests. They have theirs. All is well.
432HzBob
Lunatic Member
Play a few of their favorite songs on a Shibata needle, good amp and speakers and see if they want more.
We are in the Minimalist "handheld device" and screen era which has its good points but many down points too, mainly being, all the tech today is temporary, like vapor-ware, and designed to leave people with nothing tangible or physical to show for it in the end.
At least with old hi-fi gear, you have something to show for it and a common & compatible technology after 30-40-50 years.
We are in the Minimalist "handheld device" and screen era which has its good points but many down points too, mainly being, all the tech today is temporary, like vapor-ware, and designed to leave people with nothing tangible or physical to show for it in the end.
At least with old hi-fi gear, you have something to show for it and a common & compatible technology after 30-40-50 years.
So, I am in my early 20s, not that young in an absolute sense, but young in this crowd. I disagree with the notion that hifi is dead among young people, though I'll admit it's less popular than in the past.
First of all, there is a lot of interest in headphones among the younger crowd. I have gone to Can Jam in NYC multiple times, the average attendee there is probably about 30. I have seen teenagers as young as 13 or 14 at the event. Most young people start out with cheap headphones or earbuds thanks to prevalence of phones and streaming services, so it's natural that their upgrade path continues in that direction. Since this isn't a headphone forum, I suspect many here aren't exposed to that scene as much, but go visit /r/headphones or a forum like head-fi and you will see what I'm talking about. Given the amount of space (and room treatment) it takes to get good full-range sound from a speaker system, it makes sense that young people gravitate towards headphones, which you can listen to in your own bedroom without disturbing your roommates/parents or colonizing the living room. And with the sound quality you can get from some modern headphones, I definitely see the appeal, although I'll always prefer speakers. It's also the case that modern recordings tend to sound relatively good on headphones -- they make the crispness of synths and samples really pop, and you're not losing as much soundstage because there's less soundstage to begin with.
Another popular "hi-fi" item among young people is powered studio monitors, especially for those who are into DAW music production, which is fairly popular. I have a few musically-inclined friends with nice powered monitors, for near-field listening they sound quite good and I would consider them fully hi-fi.
But I think @Semanon makes a very good point that high-end gaming PCs have basically taken over the enthusiast electronics niche that hifi occupied for those who grew up in the 70s and 80s. I am involved in the computer scene as well -- I do competitive overclocking involving dry ice cooling and mods. Over the past few years, I have built a bunch of PCs for my friends and for children in my neighborhood. The appeal of this scene to younger people is obvious given how common gaming is and the fact that PC upgrades yield tangible improvements in performance. People are going to be interested in hardware that plays a big role in their daily life, and for most young people that's a PC moreso than a hifi setup. Also, the job market wants people with computer literacy now, and there's less instruction/interest in analog EE generally.
I think the hobby shoots itself in the foot as well. When young people hear "audiophile," they often think of $1,000 cables and other seemingly frivolous luxuries (if they even know what the term means). Obviously no 20-year-old wants to get into a scene where people are talking about their new $5,000 DAC; that's car money. This is another reason headphones are popular among young people: they are relatively affordable. You can get a $400 headphone setup that's considered to be quite good. My goal here isn't to start an argument on the question of tweaking and whatnot. But I do genuinely think the focus on unobtainium gear and expensive tweaks (looking at dealers and mags like Stereophile) pushes young people away. That's one reason I love Amir's work at ASR: it proves that really damn good sound can be had for a couple hundred bucks. It's why I love AK as well; we can post about and celebrate gear regardless of the price point.
PS: I did read the article, Devon Turnbull sounds like a great guy with a genuine love for vintage gear. However, the path into this hobby for most younger people is probably not 2A3 amps or buying VOTs for the dorm room. And I doubt more than 5-10% of those under 30 can afford the gear he sells.
First of all, there is a lot of interest in headphones among the younger crowd. I have gone to Can Jam in NYC multiple times, the average attendee there is probably about 30. I have seen teenagers as young as 13 or 14 at the event. Most young people start out with cheap headphones or earbuds thanks to prevalence of phones and streaming services, so it's natural that their upgrade path continues in that direction. Since this isn't a headphone forum, I suspect many here aren't exposed to that scene as much, but go visit /r/headphones or a forum like head-fi and you will see what I'm talking about. Given the amount of space (and room treatment) it takes to get good full-range sound from a speaker system, it makes sense that young people gravitate towards headphones, which you can listen to in your own bedroom without disturbing your roommates/parents or colonizing the living room. And with the sound quality you can get from some modern headphones, I definitely see the appeal, although I'll always prefer speakers. It's also the case that modern recordings tend to sound relatively good on headphones -- they make the crispness of synths and samples really pop, and you're not losing as much soundstage because there's less soundstage to begin with.
Another popular "hi-fi" item among young people is powered studio monitors, especially for those who are into DAW music production, which is fairly popular. I have a few musically-inclined friends with nice powered monitors, for near-field listening they sound quite good and I would consider them fully hi-fi.
But I think @Semanon makes a very good point that high-end gaming PCs have basically taken over the enthusiast electronics niche that hifi occupied for those who grew up in the 70s and 80s. I am involved in the computer scene as well -- I do competitive overclocking involving dry ice cooling and mods. Over the past few years, I have built a bunch of PCs for my friends and for children in my neighborhood. The appeal of this scene to younger people is obvious given how common gaming is and the fact that PC upgrades yield tangible improvements in performance. People are going to be interested in hardware that plays a big role in their daily life, and for most young people that's a PC moreso than a hifi setup. Also, the job market wants people with computer literacy now, and there's less instruction/interest in analog EE generally.
I think the hobby shoots itself in the foot as well. When young people hear "audiophile," they often think of $1,000 cables and other seemingly frivolous luxuries (if they even know what the term means). Obviously no 20-year-old wants to get into a scene where people are talking about their new $5,000 DAC; that's car money. This is another reason headphones are popular among young people: they are relatively affordable. You can get a $400 headphone setup that's considered to be quite good. My goal here isn't to start an argument on the question of tweaking and whatnot. But I do genuinely think the focus on unobtainium gear and expensive tweaks (looking at dealers and mags like Stereophile) pushes young people away. That's one reason I love Amir's work at ASR: it proves that really damn good sound can be had for a couple hundred bucks. It's why I love AK as well; we can post about and celebrate gear regardless of the price point.
PS: I did read the article, Devon Turnbull sounds like a great guy with a genuine love for vintage gear. However, the path into this hobby for most younger people is probably not 2A3 amps or buying VOTs for the dorm room. And I doubt more than 5-10% of those under 30 can afford the gear he sells.
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