I'm not dead yet! I'm up to my eyeballs in a live steam engine and I like to build audio stuff. But I would never call myself an "audiophile". That I associate with those with more money than sense and things like Peter Belt nonsense. Those that keep their cables off the ground with idiot constructions costing more than my complete audio setup.
Other than that I do believe that the only thing wrong with the world is overpopulation.
Exactly!
I built a bluetooth speaker with my young nephews (one of them actually asked me after seeing my speaker project). It was a great experience for them and much more for me.
This speaker made a lot of impression and is very welcome at parties.
Many young people are not taught how to be self-effective.
However, there is a huge (online) community of young and not-so-young makers, 3d-printers, mini-computer builders. Connecting with others is the best way not to end as a dying breed. So diyAudio may be the saviour of the audio world!
See? 🙂
Maybe we should shift away from the audiophilie, back to the DIY ?
Maybe we should shift away from the audiophilie, back to the DIY ?
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There's way too much BS in this hobby and my kids simply aren't interested in such nonsense in the same way I am.
My son, still at Uni, has a nice pair of floor standing speakers with an old Marantz receiver and he loves it, listens to his TV through it - his TV is modern and his source for all things sound. So enjoyment of good sound from good equipment is alive and well with the younger generation in my family.
My son, still at Uni, has a nice pair of floor standing speakers with an old Marantz receiver and he loves it, listens to his TV through it - his TV is modern and his source for all things sound. So enjoyment of good sound from good equipment is alive and well with the younger generation in my family.
I'm with the 'modern audio is already good' crowd. I think to really set the hook, one has to have a crap piece of equipment and then hear the improvement that an upgrade can make. Then you'll keep chasing that dragon.
Another item is that we've gotten so good a DIY... It's really amazing what folks can and have accomplished with some of the projects I read about on here. But it takes so much more from the builder when the bar has been raised like that.
Consider a woofer, a random box, a piezo or maybe a tweeter + calculator crossover. It would not sound good relative to easily available products, and the reaction from the group here would be disdain. This sort of thing is the entry ramp, it used to be an easy win. Less so, now. More complex projects are amazing, but harder to undertake.
Another item is that we've gotten so good a DIY... It's really amazing what folks can and have accomplished with some of the projects I read about on here. But it takes so much more from the builder when the bar has been raised like that.
Consider a woofer, a random box, a piezo or maybe a tweeter + calculator crossover. It would not sound good relative to easily available products, and the reaction from the group here would be disdain. This sort of thing is the entry ramp, it used to be an easy win. Less so, now. More complex projects are amazing, but harder to undertake.
He doesn't, I build them.
My son has better ears than I do- because he's a musician and because he's younger.
When my kid went off to school (Uni as you call it), I thought he would be the only student in the dormitory with a turntable and LPs. He wasn't.
He also used the Marantz 1030 for his video games and home theatre front speakers.
When he graduated, he had about 100 LPs he bought himself. I gave him a tube amplifier and the Polk RTA-12s I bought when I was in the military.
Many dead people do not sign off or log out anymore nor do they announce they have passed away. Also possible new members do not introduce themselves or just lurk here. This may have influence on the real numbers.
Yes, we are.
The German Community (DIY-HiFi Forum and the HiFi Forum) is not as active as it used to be. I would say the same is true for HiFi Youtuber, on top of that the Age Group that grew up with HiFi is getting older and people have (generally) speaking less money for fancy stuff like speaker.
Marketing has a lot to do with it too, they make people thing that you can have the sound of PA speaker in a shoebox, speakers as furniture are no longer en vogue.
Especially the last one is a big one, let me give you one example for why people have less money: The average rent here in my area, (middlerhinevalley, where the river Mosel meets the river rhine) went up roughly 20% in 6 years, some villages 18% and others more like 25%.
Germany is in a recession due mismanagement and company's left or threaten to leave to God know where.
Sorry guys, went a little offtopic here😳
I am not sure whether we are a dying breed or whether individuals who are not specifically wired to be makers of whatever just need more time to get there. About 20 years ago I met a bunch of younger people as they joined our local audio group, they are all still with it, but they're much older now. There has not been a commensurate number of new members in recent years in that age bracket.
I decided at something like 8yrs old that someday I would be an EE, some are called I guess. Music was always an important part of my life (although I cannot make music to save my life) I was wired that way - most however are not. Today I manage a small EE group at work and outside of me there is no one in the department who designs and builds electronic equipment as a hobby. Of more concern perhaps is the fundamental lack of practical experience and knowledge of first principles or even what common components are - I have seen this countless times in interviews, and I also see it in a lot of the younger people I work with. We are not the only ones who are endangered, I think society as a whole is transitioning in the direction of the Eloi, [H.G Wells reference] users of technology without the slightest understanding of how it works or even a grasp of the basic science behind the everyday things they take for granted. (There is an awful lot I don't know, but I know enough to know that what I know is very little?)
I guess as has been suggested we can lead and try to seek out those who might be interested if given the opportunity.
I decided at something like 8yrs old that someday I would be an EE, some are called I guess. Music was always an important part of my life (although I cannot make music to save my life) I was wired that way - most however are not. Today I manage a small EE group at work and outside of me there is no one in the department who designs and builds electronic equipment as a hobby. Of more concern perhaps is the fundamental lack of practical experience and knowledge of first principles or even what common components are - I have seen this countless times in interviews, and I also see it in a lot of the younger people I work with. We are not the only ones who are endangered, I think society as a whole is transitioning in the direction of the Eloi, [H.G Wells reference] users of technology without the slightest understanding of how it works or even a grasp of the basic science behind the everyday things they take for granted. (There is an awful lot I don't know, but I know enough to know that what I know is very little?)
I guess as has been suggested we can lead and try to seek out those who might be interested if given the opportunity.
I've been told I am what is referred to as a "retro grouch". I think it's supposed to be an insult?
Seems peoples lives have become so complicated and filled with stuff they cannot do it all themselves.
Seems peoples lives have become so complicated and filled with stuff they cannot do it all themselves.
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Before retiring, I managed a university maker space. Laser cutters, machine tools, 3D printers, all the hand tools anyone could want.
I had a few students who made their own amplifiers and speakers. They were very good with CAD/CAM software, and a couple who could use the CNC milling machine. Even had one student who was good with the tool room lathe. One of those students made a Schröder tonearm.
These students gave me hope that the hobby will never die. There are still young people who want to apply the book knowledge to the actual practice of rolling up their sleeves and applying what they've learned to actually making a good sounding amplifier and speaker.
I had a few students who made their own amplifiers and speakers. They were very good with CAD/CAM software, and a couple who could use the CNC milling machine. Even had one student who was good with the tool room lathe. One of those students made a Schröder tonearm.
These students gave me hope that the hobby will never die. There are still young people who want to apply the book knowledge to the actual practice of rolling up their sleeves and applying what they've learned to actually making a good sounding amplifier and speaker.
Are we a dying breed? Maybe not dying, but certainly diminishing. I suspect there will be people who fit the audiophile definition for a long, long time to come, but in smaller numbers.
Both my youngest daughter and my oldest grandson love music and want equipment that will reproduce it well. However, I wouldn't call either of them audiophiles. And, I don't picture either taking on a DIY project. They would both be happy to inherit my stuff, but I don't think they have any interest in building their own. I am trying to inspire them, though.
Both my youngest daughter and my oldest grandson love music and want equipment that will reproduce it well. However, I wouldn't call either of them audiophiles. And, I don't picture either taking on a DIY project. They would both be happy to inherit my stuff, but I don't think they have any interest in building their own. I am trying to inspire them, though.
The dinosaurs are dying out but those of all ages are still enjoying music and it does not matter what they are using. The budget end of the market has come along leaps and bounds with great bang for buck with a sound that kills that of generations ago. This makes it more accessible without the stupid price and hype and can build a great little system for a small amount.
I've bought a few of these and surprised how good they can be and due to the low price there are less expectations. Yes I've built a lot of DIY and had some pricey gear but with cheaper gear the music enjoyment has not diminished and maybe increased as I am not falling into the trap of listening to the gear.
I've bought a few of these and surprised how good they can be and due to the low price there are less expectations. Yes I've built a lot of DIY and had some pricey gear but with cheaper gear the music enjoyment has not diminished and maybe increased as I am not falling into the trap of listening to the gear.
There is a DIY category for stompboxes, pedals, consoles, etc. They are not engineers but artists wanting to create interesting tones.
Just a note on this >
For a time years ago, I would (under written instruction) digitally edit one Amway seminar per week, creating a Master for duplication.
The interesting thing about the Amway motivational ethos was to emphatically stress the need for "Delayed Gratification" ...
To the best of my knowledge, Amway doesn't even exist anymore (?)
( multi-level marketing > PYRAMID ??? )
That is true. Many do not see their own potential or capabilities or think their (high) education will teach them everything. It won't. Uncertainty about practical real life matters being a large factor. Don't get me started on the YouTube habit, it makes youngsters even more insecure to see other people publishing highly edited and perfectly constructed (of course with help of professionals) and successfully finished projects. Secondly they think YouTube to be a kind of manual how to do stuff so one hand doing the job and in the other hand the smart phone with a video how to do it. Another phenomenon is that there is almost no motivation to know how every day life things work which I have trouble with to accept.
My strategy is to involve them and instruct them on the job by letting them how do it allowing mistakes. Often I get remarks that they are not made for this kind of work but afterwards they are enthusiastic about newly gained skills. When I grew up there was less choice and the adagio was "someone will have to do that so it better be you".
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I assume that many industry are alienating themselves from average consumer. High End in particular is becoming a niche.
Reminds of attending the Freiburg orchestra haus. Most of the audience was over 60 years old, most of the youngsters were from our local music Hocschule (university). A bit like most of the top expensive gear is mostly bought by the industry itself
Reminds of attending the Freiburg orchestra haus. Most of the audience was over 60 years old, most of the youngsters were from our local music Hocschule (university). A bit like most of the top expensive gear is mostly bought by the industry itself
Then, has anyone thought about the effective durability of electronic consumer goods today?
If you're happy with it, they work yes or no for a few years.
It seems they have a built-in timer (what was once called obsolescence), then it's not even worth repairing them... I remember once, the washing machine, the fridge, the CRT TV, lasted decades. And they were pretty easy to repair. It is no coincidence that if one goes looking, TV repairers are almost extinct...
If you're happy with it, they work yes or no for a few years.
It seems they have a built-in timer (what was once called obsolescence), then it's not even worth repairing them... I remember once, the washing machine, the fridge, the CRT TV, lasted decades. And they were pretty easy to repair. It is no coincidence that if one goes looking, TV repairers are almost extinct...