Activity varies with the topic, MHO. With the advent of 'PC-fi', there's interest in adapting one's current system to the 'new standard of standardness'; that's where there's the typ. 'Q&A' happening. Those who've made a substantial investment already seem to have hunkered down and will only make a move 'sideways' to something that's either come on the market at a price point they can live with or 'trade across' to something they've lusted for that's become available used.
The 'hi-end' market has become so esoteric and pricey that having to choose between a nice pair of monoblocks or a car 'update' or covering the kid's college tuition or co-signing for a house makes matters moot.
I spent the bulk of my time on the DIYA forums of my choice, because that's what I can afford and where my primary interests lie. The bulk of the new gen market is 'into' the iThing/PC/Bluetoothed/AV interconnectability realm, and 'hi-end' to them is what they have NOW. Irregardless that us 'old timers' listen to this stuff and shake our heads in disbelief or at worse disgust. Until and unless they hear something that will make them pause and ponder, that's where the 'bleeding edge' IS, and will remain, the Moore's Law moving target.
I'm not surprised by this. If I didn't know better, due to 'age and experience', I'd be part of that chase too. Now I'm just picky as to what I let into my life, and the level of extremism I'm willing to go to.
I've consciously set 'the bar' a bit lower, as age and knowledge has superseded mere gadget lust. Age, because I don't have 'dog whistle' hearing anymore. Knowledge, as in recognition of the previous and that copper can be made only so pure and the pursuit of more zeros right of the decimal point becomes more of a bragging point than a unbiased A/B test in a listening environment that looks like a NASA facility....
...and I don't want one of those, either...anymore. I used to have a pile that was occasionally referred to as the 3rd member of the household and was just short of having a manual to get it up and running. The SAF was reached at that point....
I have Something Similar at this time, but it's not in the 'general living area'. The GLA has something far simpler, but still has too many remotes for her taste; fortunately ONE does suffice for most daily distractions...
Time has changed the playing field; forums for the new field are Elsewhere. Those of us who care about such are Here. We're in decline. 'Twas always thus. Maybe we can be the shoulders that get stood upon if we're lucky....
The 'hi-end' market has become so esoteric and pricey that having to choose between a nice pair of monoblocks or a car 'update' or covering the kid's college tuition or co-signing for a house makes matters moot.
I spent the bulk of my time on the DIYA forums of my choice, because that's what I can afford and where my primary interests lie. The bulk of the new gen market is 'into' the iThing/PC/Bluetoothed/AV interconnectability realm, and 'hi-end' to them is what they have NOW. Irregardless that us 'old timers' listen to this stuff and shake our heads in disbelief or at worse disgust. Until and unless they hear something that will make them pause and ponder, that's where the 'bleeding edge' IS, and will remain, the Moore's Law moving target.
I'm not surprised by this. If I didn't know better, due to 'age and experience', I'd be part of that chase too. Now I'm just picky as to what I let into my life, and the level of extremism I'm willing to go to.
I've consciously set 'the bar' a bit lower, as age and knowledge has superseded mere gadget lust. Age, because I don't have 'dog whistle' hearing anymore. Knowledge, as in recognition of the previous and that copper can be made only so pure and the pursuit of more zeros right of the decimal point becomes more of a bragging point than a unbiased A/B test in a listening environment that looks like a NASA facility....
...and I don't want one of those, either...anymore. I used to have a pile that was occasionally referred to as the 3rd member of the household and was just short of having a manual to get it up and running. The SAF was reached at that point....
I have Something Similar at this time, but it's not in the 'general living area'. The GLA has something far simpler, but still has too many remotes for her taste; fortunately ONE does suffice for most daily distractions...
Time has changed the playing field; forums for the new field are Elsewhere. Those of us who care about such are Here. We're in decline. 'Twas always thus. Maybe we can be the shoulders that get stood upon if we're lucky....