1st Impression, Join the Forum?

My first impression of these forums is there are a lot of fake audiophiles who don't really know anything about this hobby or the science of sound in general. Many folks simply fall back on marketing jargon and spew ignorance like expensive speaker cables or power cords change sound. I don't think they're the most prevalent on here, but they are definitely the loudest. And those type of fake audiophiles are part of the reason this hobby is dying
 

I feel the exact same way, but then I drink a cup of coffee, go on a run or tend to the garden, maybe play fetch with the dog early in the morning, and then I feel all is well in the world. It’s weird how fresh air and staying off the internet can provide a different perspective. 

@toro3 I can't agree more. Locking oneself away in a room with audio equipment and becoming an assessor as a lone individual does not bear fruit that has sustenance that is good to be shared.

Added to the loner audiophile is the outside world being discovered through different platforms, i.e, commercial orientated audio sites or forums. This only results in deprived experiences and further influential steering towards cultivating a fruit that is not ripening.

Changing a lifestyle and a perspective goes a long, long way to create a new enthusiasm; the mundane can't prosper when positivity is the cornerstone.

Getting out takes individuals into new spaces, and new encounters are a certainty. There is history written where an individual entering an unusual environment encountered another individual, with the result being new ideas, of which changes took place for design that became the Industry objective.

@squared80 The audiophile attitude, which is influenced by the activities practised from the 50s through to the past decade, is near extinction. There are now billions of humans interested in musical encounters as a result of using designs that are electronic. Most audio systems seen in use today are battery-powered and create no inconvenience when using their very attractive portability. 

Portable Audio Systems will soon have the highest-quality audiophile Earsets and Buds, which in many cases will supersede the traditional headphones seen as the high-end designs for listening.

In the current audiophile experience, I am indulged in socialness on both sides; I encourage music encounters the 'Old Way'; I get weak-kneed about an engineering or electronics project I am being introduced to. Also, I am an audio club member who socially participates as host to guests or am a guest at audio-related arranged meetings. Today, I have been in email correspondence with 12 Audio Group members who are expressing their interest in information that has been distributed.

As an accurate description, more people than I have ever had in a social circle in traditional audio are communicating with me about music and their methods selected to create a musical encounter for entertainment. These individuals, who are a small cross-section of the billions referred to, I can state without any concerns, are putting in more daily listening time per person than anybody ever has who would qualify as an enthusiast. 

Take a look: "Global paid music streaming subscriptions surpassed 830 million in 2025, representing a steady march toward the one-billion-user milestone. When factoring in ad-supported and bundled free accounts, total monthly active users across all major platforms cross the 2.5 billion mark globally". 

 "Fauna most likely to survive a global catastrophe are small, adaptable, and highly resilient organisms that can endure extreme conditions, allowing them to outlast mass extinctions". 

Are not the current users of battery-powered portable audio devices the equivalent of: "small, adaptable, and highly resilient organisms that can endure extreme conditions"    

No.

I don’t know about "fake" but the hobby/pursuit has certainly changed. In the process, some history and context has been lost; post-WWII, this was the province of DIY types, buying raw drivers, building cabinets, wiring up amps (or kits); the skills and attitude came from a massive amount of surplus and the training in radio/military.

Many evolutions since then. Far more commercialized, obviously. The legacy press is locked into a dance with the manufacturers chasing an ever smaller cohort for increasingly expensive "stuff" that is styled as a "luxe" good, or has exotic materials or is a "veritable bargain" at 100s of K dollars. I think people get skeptical, find a disconnect and look to the fora for grounded views.

At the same time, the digital, portable, small form factor, cost effective "iPhone" style is today’s currency, partly because of how people live- they aren’t necessarily centering a room on a traditional hi-fi.

I’m an old school guy but find curiosity to be the driving force. I post less here than I once did; I’m probably in the minority though don’t claim expertise, engineering chops or knowing everything about the latest and greatest. I think part of this is a natural evolution of web fora- in exotic cars, 20 plus years ago, folks still had and talked about vintage Italian sports cars that are today, not only unobtanium, but unappealing to the driver who prefers the visceral experience, stick gear box and real "Corinthian" leather. (actually Connolly hides, but another "thing").  Today, crazy battery hybrid paddle shifting space machines. It’s a different mindset altogether.

I don’t begrudge anybody their lack of knowledge; but I do see an aimlessness that is less disciplined-- not so much ’by the numbers’-- the spec/material driven measurement approach is an even more vital part after a lot of fatigue in the subjective school of flowery prose. There are no gurus, there should be no gatekeepers. We learn by listening and sometimes by mistakes. And of course, you have to look at the impact of "social media"- which has an entire culture that has nothing to do with the ostensible subject matter, e.g. audio, cars, watches, wine, whatever. In short, we went from hands-on hobbyists with skills (well, not claiming that much for me) to luxe goods Instagram moments. (Part of it may be age, point of entry, access and exposure but that’s a whole different set of criteria). Good luck, have fun.  

@pindac you type eloquently. Agree with what you said, especially concerning portable audio where I think a good portion of future audiophiles are going in this somewhat unreachable market and hobby some of us take for granted.

As for this forum, it’s taught me a lot. I’m in my mid-40’s which is much younger than the average age (mid-60’s) of members which generally includes experience. I’ve never heard the term “fake audiophile” but I chuckle whenever I recite the term in my mind. All I know is that if you’re participating in an audio forum like Audiogon you’re probably an audiophile - whether you like it or not; whether you do or don’t become susceptible to the superficial sweetener that registers just as sweet in my mind :)