Unfortunately, this article is accurate

We always seem to come back to whether an “audiophile” is a music lover, an equipment lover, or varying degrees of both.  Higher concert attendance (and prices), subscriptions to streaming services, and sales of physical music media all point to a strong continued appreciation of music.  If the appreciation of live and recorded music remains high, then isn’t the issue primarily the delivery mechanism for listening to music?  The Internet, higher computing power, smaller devices, and the expectation of electronic solutions at one’s fingertips all contribute to the changing perspective that today’s younger people have compared to what most of us experienced.  A large, expensive home audio system is no longer required for musical enjoyment.  Are you still an audiophile if you listen to music through an iPhone and ear buds?

A.I. article or not there are some things to consider here. For example:

My son is 15. He loves my "old school" as he calls it ARC tube gear. He occasionally, when invited, likes to listen to a cool song on my Wilsons. But is he curating a system like I did at 15? No way. He builds his own gaming computers, and has some Bryston Tiny T and Subwoofer as audio for his gaming (from me, not is own purchase)  but does not seek out music. Nor do his friends. Lately his interests are in a Gale Banks exhaust system for his diesel Excursion. Not a car stereo. 

I can name names of kids over 16 who don’t drive, and don’t care to. I have no idea why- but it’s common. 

I read a study from a credible source that says kids are having the least amount of sex of any generation since records were kept in the US. (Obviously they don’t know what it’s like to get it on sweatily with Whole Lotta Love cranking on the car stereo) Poor chaps. 

Why do these kids shun all the stuff I loved as a youth?  I have no clue- bit it’s NOT a good thing IMO! 

Hello all, there are some deep observations in some of these posts.  To me it’s each generation that determines their own priorities.  However these generations listen/hear or select their media of choice regardless of equipment, price , genre.  I I will encourage all to just;

Enjoy the music. 

Maybe I'm lucky, but I've been encouraged by some youth at my church that expressed an interest in playing records. I was able to set up up a brother and his sister with each having their own systems. The young man got a used vintage 25w/ch JVC receiver with a pair of Polk T15 speakers mounted on stands, and someone from church donated a Denon LP 45F turntable to the cause, that I mounted a Sumiko Moonstone cartridge on ( i had it laying around and wasn't using it). For his sister, I put together a used Denon turntable with a Fosi BT20A amp with Bluetooth and a Fosi X2 phono preamp, and some Pinnacle 3000 stand mounted speakers. They were both very happy and it all cost less than a pair of budget bookshelf speakers. I heard their parents were listening to their records on the kids systems, so I put something together for them as well! All very inexpensive, but providing decent sound and helping to grow their interest in the hobby!

I always ask audiophiles, how old were you when you bought your first real pair of decent speakers?  For me it was 40.  The kids were a little older, I had a little disposable income for the first time, and I had time to sit and listen as a destination activity.  There are exceptions, but I think many audiophiles grew into it in middle age.  That's why I don't worry about twenty-somethings being thrilled with ear buds.