The Death of the Audiophile – A Slow Slide to Oblivion.

About a week ago I was looking through the stats in my YouTube channel. I’m not a ‘YouTuber’, as anyone who has watched one of my videos will know!    “..I love you, but sooner or later, you’re going to have to face the fact you’re a goddamn moron.”

But it’s fun every once in a while, to throw something out there into the world of social media, to see if anything will stick. I posted ‘The Audiophile Song‘, which was a spoof video, and it did quite well, attracting about 21,000 views at the time of writing. So, I thought, well…people like funny stuff about audiophiles. So, I made another ‘funny’ video – Audiophiles in the Wild, and it did less well (LOL). My spoof video career is over..

“Strikes and gutters, ups and downs.”

Anyway, YouTube provides analytics data with every video, which is available to the channel owner. So, I looked closely at two videos with contrasting subject matters, the first video featured a Krell KSA 80 amp and at the time of writing this there have been 10,000 views:

[Note! – Before you start foaming at the mouth, I know that the decline of the high-end audio industry isn’t a journalistic scoop, nor is the fact that we’re almost all old blokes.]

Krell KSA80 Review Video: https://youtu.be/lGeEYO2x8r0

Female – 0%
Male – 100%

13–17 years 0%
18–24 years 0%
25–34 years 0%
35–44 years 0.9%
45–54 years 13.5%
55–64 years 44.4%
65+ years 41.3%

As you can see, pretty much all of the traffic is from guys 45 years old and above, with 40+% from guys over 65!!

The second video was a spoof (song) on Audiophiles that was shared a lot and watched by a lot of audiophile spouse, so the stats were slightly different, but not much. At the time of writing, 21,000 views:

The Audiophile Song: https://youtu.be/sFoUht6QA0o

Female 2.4%
Male 97.6%

13–17 years 0%
18–24 years 0%
25–34 years 0%
35–44 years 5.9%
45–54 years 18.6%
55–64 years 35.5%
65+ years 40.1%

I started a thread on Audiogon to discuss the above and it’s had a fair bit of engagement, around 130 comments and 5,000 views, at the time of writing this. And it’s fair to say there has been some valid push-back.

“Yeah, well, you know, that’s just, like, your opinion, man.”

The thread, and the data I published, and also some of the thread comments, prompted an article on headphonesty.com which subsequently did the rounds on social media, forums, Facebook etc. The article is well written and covers the subject more extensively than I had tried to do in my Audiogon thread. Here it is – 40% of Audiophiles May Be Gone Soon, and No One Is Replacing Them

The article from Headphonesty discusses the shrinking audiophile community, noting that 40% of its members may soon vanish due to aging, and no younger generation is stepping in to replace them. The traditional audiophile hobby has been seen as elitist and expensive, turning away younger people who prefer more accessible, modern audio technology like wireless earbuds and streaming. To survive, the community must adapt by focusing on affordable, practical solutions that appeal to modern lifestyles, ensuring the love for high-fidelity audio can continue.

Before I get into the detail, I think it’s best to address some of the push-back that I encountered over on Audiogon, as some of it is valid and will likely be on your mind as you read through what follows. Here are some of the comments, along with my rebuttals, where applicable:

1. Your video was about a vintage Krell amp, that’s why it was watched only by old people. I posted two videos, picked to represent both extremes of potential viewership. The Krell video would attract older people, the rap song would attract younger people. But the YT stats on gender and age were basically the same.
2. It’s just two videos, a small sample size, what use is the data from two videos? Is it a sample size of two (videos) or 32,000 (the number of people who watched them).
3. Why are you surprised that a video about an amplifier made when Ronald Reagan was president would only attract older viewers.  Make a video about a portable Bluetooth loudspeaker and see if the demographics change. – Again, I covered this in #1 above, and on the subject of cheaper stuff, I think the portable Bluetooth loudspeaker demographic are doing okay, they’re not the focus here.
4. I think the demographics would be the same 20 years ago and in 20 years (forward).  Maybe. But the percentage of young people engaging with the videos is striking. It’s almost nonexistent. Will there be enough for the high-end hobby to survive another 20 years?
5. Look at cheap audio man channel, or Andrew Robinson, and the story changes. ChiFi, Head-Fi, Emotive etc. But they’re reviewing cheaper mass-market products. That’s not the focus here, we’re looking at high-end audio.

Unnatural Selection

Audiophiles like you and me, we’re a dying breed. 40% of us will be dead in a few years and there’s nothing coming through to replace us. 99% of audiophiles are 45 years old or older. Over 40% of audiophiles are 65 years old or older! And we’re all blokes, which comes as no real surprise. [If you’re a lady audiophile reading this, I didn’t mean to trigger you…feel free to leave a comment below].

Taking a look at this with a simplistic Darwinian lens and what other conclusion can you draw – it’s about the survival of the fittest. Audiophiles, in an evolutionary sense, are not only an endangered species, their demise within a relatively short timeframe is all but guaranteed. We’re extravagant, wastefully inefficient and lossy, we do harm to the planet, and….quite simply – we’re bonkers!

“This is a very complicated case, Maude. You know, a lotta ins, lotta outs, lotta what-have-yous.”

We’re situated in a tech-dominated world and a Darwinian process of cultural and technological selection has already decided that we’re not needed, hence it’s rapidly replacing us. There was a golden age where musical fidelity was king. It’s gone now and we’re relics from a bygone era where once our proclivity for good sound quality made us the fittest. The landscape has shifted. Streaming services, convenience, and portability have become the dominant forces, and the traits that once defined audiophiles—attention to minute sonic details, willingness to invest in high-end gear—no longer provide the same adaptive advantages.

“It’s all a goddamn fake, man. It’s like Lenin said, ‘You look for the person who will benefit, and—,’ uh—uh—you know—.”

Today’s technology favors mass consumption, wireless convenience, and digital ease over the painstaking pursuit of perfection. The broader population’s ears have “adapted” to compressed audio formats like MP3s and streaming, an environment where good enough trumps perfection.

Survival now favors the species that can prioritize convenience, accessibility, and affordability. Audiophiles, with their devotion to rare and expensive equipment, have been outcompeted by tech-savvy listeners who prioritize speed and availability. We’re a niche relic—a vestigial trait of a bygone era.

Recently, I’ve taken a step back from being an active participant in audiophilia, both as a hobbyist and a part-time reviewer. I’ve removed my audiophile tinted glasses, and seeing the hobby without that filter really reveals just how absurd it all can be. The hub of most audiophile activity, whether you care to participate or not – is social media, and more specifically, audiophile forums.

Audiophile forums? They can sometimes be a digital cesspool for the malcontented, a breeding ground where disgruntled self-proclaimed experts nitpick every trivial detail, bickering endlessly over cable burn-in and imaginary soundstage differences. Not always, but sometimes..

Audiophile forums can often turn what should be a joyful exploration of sound into a toxic loop of dissatisfaction. Instead of celebrating the love of music, they often focus on unattainable perfection, with endless debates over gear and setups. Egos can dominate these spaces—and there’s often a hierarchical system where people with the most expensive systems command the most respect.

The sense of community often erodes as trivial arguments over cables or DACs take center stage, overshadowing the true purpose: the enjoyment of music. “This will not stand, ya know, this aggression will not stand, man.”

Of course that’s an exaggeration, but you don’t have to look hard to find many examples of elitism, negativity, and psychological bullying in audiophile forums.

For newcomers, these forums are often their first stop after experiencing great sound for the first time, whether at a dealer, a friend’s house, or a tradeshow. But instead of fostering excitement and curiosity, they find themselves in the middle of a debate over who owns the most expensive system. Imagine stepping into a hobby you’re slowly becoming quite passionate about, only to see discussions of $50,000 speakers dominating the conversation. It’s overwhelming and alienating. And don’t even think about challenging the status quo on what constitutes audiophile-accepted musical genres! “I had a rough night, and I hate the f*cking Eagles, man.”

For many, it’s enough to make them turn away, fearing they’ll never fit in unless they can afford the same astronomical setups.

Rather than inviting new audiophiles into a welcoming, inclusive space, these forums push them out with gatekeeping and snobbery. They prioritize bragging rights over musical appreciation, and in doing so, they may very well be hastening the decline of the hobby itself. Instead of fostering growth and enthusiasm, they create an environment where only a select few feel they truly belong, driving away potential newcomers who could have carried the audiophile community into the future.

Why do experienced audiophiles participate in these forums? For most audiophiles, there’s no other way to meet like-minded individuals. We’re such a niche that it’s difficult to find a couple of audiophiles down the street with whom we can talk face to face. And as soon as you remove the element of personal contact, it turns into the wild west. Keyboard warriors who feel they can say whatever the heck they like from behind the safety of their computer screens. Audiophile forums are the latter-day equivalent of a dating app – except no one actually gets to have sex. Thus lies the Darwinian twist: instead of breeding new and sustainable life into the hobby, these forums become an echo chamber of frustration, and many topics posted with honest intentions quickly devolve into a cesspool of bitterness, mockery and hate. In evolutionary terms, audiophiles are stuck in a feedback loop—debating cables, amps, and outdated vacuum tubes, while the world moves on around us. We’re the isolated species, refusing to adapt, slowly drifting toward extinction. Survival of the fittest? Maybe. But in this case, it’s the survival of the flexible, and audiophiles, clinging to their ideals, have simply failed to evolve.

Is there Any Hope for us, Anything We Can Do?

Let’s face it: the audiophile hobby, as we know it, is on life support. Sure, you could dream up some grand, coordinated effort by industry giants with deep pockets to reverse the tide, but who’s going to lead that charge?

For decades now, the big players have been too busy cranking out cheap, disposable tech to care about the soul of high-end audio. They’ve fueled the race to the bottom, selling mass-market plastic junk that’s good enough for the average earbud-wearing streamer. And those few who are still carrying the torch for true audiophile gear? Small, boutique companies scraping by, more concerned with surviving the next few years than planning for some utopian audiophile future spanning generations. They’re not exactly thinking in millennia here.

So, while we sit around waxing nostalgic about the days when people actually cared about sound quality, the reality is we need to do more than just tweak a few marketing strategies or create yet another overpriced cable. “The royal we?”

No, this calls for a broader cultural shift, a top-down reimagining of what high-end audio could be in a world that values convenience over quality.

What Would a Survival Plan Look Like?

If you’re one of those annoying ‘glass half full’ types, then consider this: If we want to pull this hobby back from the brink of extinction, someone needs to think bigger—way bigger. But, I hear you say: “I can’t be worrying about that sh*t. Life goes on, man.”

1. Redefine the Identity of the Audiophile Hobby

• Cultural Rebranding: The audiophile community is often perceived as exclusive, overly technical, and expensive—an image that can alienate younger, more diverse audiences. Many look at the hobby and think we’re wasting money, sitting alone listening to old music on pricey setups. Whether it’s 70s rock or centuries-old classical, there’s an impression that audiophiles are disconnected from modern culture. To change this perception, we need to reframe the hobby. Instead of focusing on expensive equipment, we should emphasize the experience of enjoying music – equipment should become the byproduct of an experience, the means to an end.

2. Create a Bridge Between Tradition and Modernity

• Embrace Modern Cultural Movements: Audiophilia needs to align itself with the values of younger generations. These values include sustainability, creativity, and individuality. Show how high-end audio equipment, with its focus on craftsmanship and longevity, fits into the sustainability narrative by offering a superior alternative to mass-market, disposable electronics. Those tube amps are relics from the past, but they’ve survived fifty years – how many sets of wireless buds would you go through in the same period?

3. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Audiophiles!

• DEI: I hate the bloody term, but let’s face it, the perception of audiophilia has been male-dominated and technocratic for decades. To attract younger and more diverse audiences, there needs to be some effort to reflect the diversity of modern society. Encourage women, and younger individuals to take leadership roles at audiophile events, publications, and businesses. I’m sick of walking into a booth at an audio show and seeing some fat, sweaty bloke in his sixties, rubbing his hands and talking about imaging and soundstages. They’re part of the problem, a cultural DEI makeover could help make this thing sexier and more appealing to younger folk. And don’t forget, you’ve got the male audience nailed down, but it isn’t like there’s only one other gender to go after, there has to be at least five, six, seven. right? “Mr. Treehorn treats objects like women, man.”
• Partnerships with Diverse Creators: Collaborate with artists, musicians, and content creators from diverse backgrounds who can bring new energy and perspectives to the audiophile world. Their involvement can reshape the image of what it means to appreciate high-end sound. I like the work that the OJAS guy is doing, Devon Turnbull I think his name is. He’s young(ish), trendy, quite cool, and he’s flogging horn gear for chrissakes…we need to inspire more people like him, lots more!  Even if you own an audio business and you’re that stereotypical fat balding guy that I mentioned earlier, couldn’t you just hire someone to front things at tradeshows? I don’t mean get a couple of hookers on the payroll, but surely you know a local artist, musician, smoothy bar owner, who could come along for a few days and help present a different image at tradeshows? 

4. Build Community-Centric Platforms with Owners and Moderators Who Understand the Task!!

• Shift from Exclusivity to Community: Audiophile forums have, for too long, operated as echo chambers for elitism, where only the most experienced—or the loudest—voices dominate, and everyone else is expected to fall in line. These places basically stifle newcomers from getting involved. If the audiophile community wants to survive, the owners and moderators of these forums need to step up and take on more responsibility in fostering an environment more conducive to civil discourse and more accessible to newbies. Moderators, in particular, need to take an active role in shaping the culture of these platforms. They should enforce guidelines that promote respectful discussions and challenge the toxic behavior that often creeps in. That means calling out the elitist attitude that shuts down discussions, and—dare we say it—preventing people from being twats when someone dares to suggest that $10,000 speaker cables aren’t required to enjoy good sound. There’s room for everyone in the hobby, and it’s time the forums reflect that – they have a responsibility.

So while I’m at it, here’s my top 5 forums, from best to worst when it comes to civility and inclusivity: [These are just the ones that I actively browse, I’m sure there are many others to consider].

1 – Steve Hoffman Forums – There’s a lot of non-audio related blather but mostly there’s civil and respectful discourse where people get along. “Just take it easy, man.” Posts on their ‘Music Corner’ outnumber posts in ‘Audio Hardware’ by around 3:1, which is refreshing.

2 – Audiogon – Audiogon isn’t the place that it was when I joined there in 2001. It can be a hostile, snarky environment and it takes a lot to get a moderator out of bed. “You’re not wrong, Walter. You’re just an asshole.” But it’s highly trafficked and you can get a broad range of opinions and inputs from knowledgeable people if you ask the right questions. A special mention for Tammy, who looks after customer service on the selling side of Audiogon, she’s a rare gem.

3 – AudioCircle – a fairly neutral and passive environment. If you’re a snowflake and you need a safe space to air your feelings, head on over there and put a free beer on my tab if you want to.

4 – Audio Asylum – I don’t spend much time there nowadays. Its format is archaic and so are some of the members, but there’s a lot of good conversation and good information if you can figure out how to use their search function to sift through the dross.

5 – What’s Best Audio and Video Forum. – A community of elites with a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Sure, there’s plenty of name-calling and finger-pointing, but there’s also camaraderie, with moments of praise and mutual respect—“Hey, nice marmot.”

While moderation can feel a bit heavy-handed at times, it’s still a place where those climbing the ladder to elitism can gather, relax, and enjoy the climb…

Of course there’s also many Facebook groups, they generally sit somewhere around #5 and #1 above, and Instagram is worthless. YouTube is okay but you’re generally getting one person’s opinion which is largely unchallenged.

5. Redefine High-End Audio as Art

• High-End Audio as a Cultural Artifact: It’s what Devon at OJAS is doing and it’s where I got the idea. I think this is a bit fringe and certainly needs fleshing out but look at what OJAS is doing and take his lead. Like fine art, music equipment can be viewed as an expression of taste, craftsmanship, and individuality. This could attract creatives and individuals interested in design, fashion, and art who may otherwise not engage with audiophile culture. OJAS recently presented at a NYC art exhibition where they set up a functional (horn based) system as an art installation. As someone who has owned three art galleries in a different life, well, I wish I’d had the idea back then.
• Collaborations with the Art and Design World: So why not develop partnerships with artists and designers to create audio products that are not only sonically superior but also visually stunning and culturally resonant. Then co-op with the artist and present functional art-audio installations at galleries, art shows, etc. These kinds of collaborations can spark interest in younger audiences who value art, aesthetics and creativity as an experiential commodity. I think in some sense companies like Linn Audio in the UK embraced this path a couple decades ago and they’ve been quite successful at it without leaving the audiophile community behind. Lifestyle products, while not exactly art, per se, attract people initially through their aesthetic design, ease of use and accessibility, and then perhaps almost secondarily, through sonic abilities.

6. Create Shared Cultural Events

• Festival-Like Experiences: Rather than hosting the typical audiophile shows and expos, create immersive experiences where people can enjoy music in a high-quality environment as part of a festival or concert. This moves the focus from the equipment to the cultural and social experience, making it more attractive to broader audiences. Though I’ve never been in one, I’m fascinated with the concept of an ‘audio cafe’. Though it’s a niche within a niche, I wonder how the concept could be applied more broadly.
• Public Collaborations: Collaborate with museums, galleries, or tech events (such as SXSW) to showcase high-end audio as part of a larger cultural conversation. This can make the hobby more visible to people who may not otherwise encounter it.

CAH September 2024

CAH Owner/Editor

Owner, Editor, designer, and writer of articles and papers on such diverse topics as audiophile industry products, law and legal, natural health industry, and executive recruitment.

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