Why do all audio forums on the internet seem "dead" ?


Traffic is very low today vs 2000!

Are most audiophiles "set" with their systems, and no longer care?

Are 90% of audiophiles close to retirement, or retired and broke?

Most older "classic" audio equipment also does not show up for sale anymore IMO.
don_c55

Showing 2 responses by french_fries

Now that the Absolute Sound Mag. is waxing so enthusiastically about Meridian's MQA technology, we are going to have to adjust our thinking all over again about getting even more realism out of our systems.  I already have invested in CD's, Tapes, Vinyl, and an IPAD and MAC-Mini 
formats, and yes, i am weary of even more technology that is superseding what i have already spent an obscene amount of money on.
And, with amplifiers costing over $150K and the latest speaker tech (Magico, Wilson, Focal, etc.) that HAS to be the next thing on my shopping list, i enjoy the pretty pictures for a few minutes, and then
put on the radio so i don't even have to get up anymore. 
    OTOH, when and if a store can sell off all my present gear and set up all this new stuff customized for my room, all guaranteed to thrill me beyond my wildest expectations, i will make out ONE check to make it happen. 
Maybe....
I have one more observation which may be overly simplistic, but with the advent of the compact disc and digital audio, the quest for high-end sound from this VERY-convenient-to-use format was a huge stimulant
in the market.  I recall fierce competition to reduce "jitter" and other artifacts, not to mention a herculean effort to perfect the analog circuitry
as well (i.e. Levinson, Spectral, Meridian, etc.).  The endless comparisons to vinyl (are we there yet?) also caused an additional (and very necessary) wave of improvements in everything else, even wall outlets and the thickness
of power cables.  So now digital IS pretty darn good and truly enjoyable
to listen to, even for hours on end, and is still as easy as pie to get the music going without much if any physical effort.  You can even stream
music which is the ultimate couch-potato audiophile dream machine.
So i go back to my original argument that, while a $5,000 pair of speakers used to be SOTA, today even $50,000 may not be quite enough money to get the very best that's out there. Ditto for amps,
wire, etc.  And in the meanwhile, and BTW thanks to the HUGE improvement in the way CD's are recorded and manufactured, i am
(sorry to have to say this) SATISFIED- at least 95% anyway.  Can you blame me?  
   So when i see a gorgeous pair of speakers in an audio magazine for $90,000, i admire them for several minutes, read part of the review, and then give the issue to someone else to read.